Network-Wide MPLS VPN Traffic Visibility

Given the importance of Layer 3 MPLS VPN services as well as the size and complexity of their underlying networks, Service Providers need global visibility into the routing and traffic dynamics across the entire network in order to effectively respond to dynamically changing conditions and customer requirements. Yet, while many MPLS VPN traffic analysis tools promise global visibility, they are based on traditional network management approaches that fall far short of meeting this need by offering data only on Provider Edge (PE) router to Customer Edge (CE) router interfaces, with no visibility into core network dynamics or comprehensive views into individual customer VPNs. Even with these limitations, traditional network management methods exact a heavy toll on the network and operational budgets in terms of required traffic flow collection or deployed hardware probes .

VPN Traffic Explorer uniquely combines Packet Design’s patent-pending route analytics technology, Netflow/IPFIX traffic flow analysis, and MPLS control plane protocol awareness to deliver an integrated view of the entire network’s VPN routing and traffic dynamics with minimal network overhead, allowing engineers for the first time to answer critical questions such as:

• Which routers and links are (or were) carrying a specific VPN customer’s traffic?
• Are all the sites of a customer’s VPN connected and reachable to each other through the VPN network?
• What is the breakdown of traffic by Class of Service (CoS) on any given link in the network?
• What is the growth trend for a VPN customer?
• If current VPN traffic growth continues, will the current QoS configurations in the network still be valid in the future or will network changes or capacity upgrades be needed?
• Will adding a new customer impact meeting existing customer SLAs?

Without VPN Traffic Explorer’s network-wide understanding of MPLS VPNs, network managers are left to guess at root causes of customer issues, how to sufficiently plan for customer growth, and how to prevent configuration mistakes.