Abstract: A destination router label is added to Pseudo Wire encapsulated data packets for crossing a Multiple Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network. Data arrives at a PW function, which performs PW encapsulation, further adding a PWE control word and a PWE label. The PW function also adds a destination router label (DRL). The DRL is configured at PW creation time with a PW control message (that is, an unsolicited LabelMap message) to a specific edge router. The packet may then be sent to a Traffic Engineering (TE) function, which uses the DRL to make the routing decision for the packet. The routing decision includes adding a PSN tunnel label to replace the DRL label for crossing the transport network. The rest of the processing is conventional PWE3 transport on MPLS; that is, when the packet is received at a second PW function, it removes the PW encapsulations and forwards the packet based on the contents of the PWE label.

Abstract: The signaling for establishing a Pseudo Wire (PW) that crosses a Multiple Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network is augmented to permit decoupling the PW processing and encapsulation from a Provider Edge (PE) or Customer Edge (CE) router. Configuration of a PW triggers the augmented PW signaling that traverses from the destination PW processing function to the origin PW processing function. The signaling may use Traffic Engineering (TE) tunnels set up a priori and, in the upstream CEs (or PEs) uses the embedded PW origin IP address to make routing decisions for the signaling packet. The rest of the signaling processing is conventional PWE3 signaling on MPLS.

Abstract: A destination router label is added to Pseudo Wire encapsulated data packets for crossing a Multiple Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network. Data arrives at a PW function, which performs PW encapsulation, further adding a PWE control word and a PWE label. The PW function also adds a destination router label (DRL). The DRL is configured at PW creation time with a PW control message (that is, an unsolicited LabelMap message) to a specific edge router. The packet may then be sent to a Traffic Engineering (TE) function, which uses the DRL to make the routing decision for the packet. The routing decision includes adding a PSN tunnel label to replace the DRL label for crossing the transport network. The rest of the processing is conventional PWE3 transport on MPLS; that is, when the packet is received at a second PW function, it removes the PW encapsulations and forwards the packet based on the contents of the PWE label.