Switching in IP Networks: IP Switching, Tag Switching and Related Technologies (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Networking)

Label switching, an economical and efficient technique for message forwarding in IP networks, is fast becoming a widely deployed solution for improving performance, scalability, and functionality. Written by leading experts in the field, this guide explores the underlying technology of label switching and provides a detailed analysis and comparison of approaches developed by Ipsilon, Cisco, Toshiba, and IBM. It also compares label switching with conventional routing, culminating in a discussion of the Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) standard now being developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETP).

This bookAA€A”the result of a rigorous review process by key designersAA€A”is an invaluable resource to network engineers and designers for evaluating the use of label switching in their own networks.

* Explains the benefits and limitations of label switching technology
* Compares performance, scalability, and robustness of IP Switching, Tag Switching, Cell Switching Router (CSR), and Aggregate Router-based IP Switching (ARIS)
* Reveals how label switching simplifies IP over ATM integration problems
* Presents the latest snapshot of the MPLS standard, which incorporates the strengths of several of the approaches discussed

This book gives an excellent description of different label switching techniques implemented by different vendors at the time, such as IBM, Toshiba, Ipsilon and cisco. This breaks down the chapters on vendor by vendor basis, explains their implementation and then at the end compares all the different approaches.

Even though Yakov and Davie are both from cisco, you can't tell it from reading the book because they have presented the implementations in total impartiality and fairness and only judging the implementations on its technical merits.

After reading the book, you'd understand fundamentals like FEC, label stack encoding, LDP and various techniques/signaling to carry label switching information.

If you want to buy a book om MPLS today, you should go for the latest edition of this book, titled, 'MPLS technology and applications'.


Great introductory book for label switching techniques ....   August 1, 2000
 4 out of 5 found this review helpful

There is no doubt about this great written book. The reason I only gave this book 4 starts is that I bought the book of "MPLS : Technology and Applications " from the same authors before this one. The coverage and contents between those two books are quite the same - Douh !. My suggestion is that just buy the "MPLS" one if you do not care about CSR and ARIS stuffs too much.


Check this out   December 12, 1998
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

This book delivers. Outstanding discription of concepts and very good reference sites.


Must read for network professionals   December 2, 1998
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Outstanding descriptions and comparisons of various switching technology models. Presents the nuts and bolt of switching and what they mean in terms of performance, scalability, etc. Also, some outstanding references. Clear writing style. Tough concepts sometimes seem simplistic, until incorporated into the models. Must read.