Multicast Label Distribution Protocol (MLDP)

Overview of MLDP-Based MVPNs

Multicast Label Distribution Protocol (MLDP) provides extensions to the Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) for the setup of point-to-multipoint (P2MP) and multipoint-to-multipoint (MP2MP) Label Switched Paths (LSPs) in Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS} networks. For customers interested in moving to a label-based Multicast VPN (MVPN) solution, Cisco offers MLDP-based MVPNs.

Benefits

• Based on over 15 years of IP Multicast expertise, experience, and innovation using Cisco IOS Software
• An innovative unified control and forwarding plane that allows service providers and enterprises to transit MVPN traffic using multipoint LSPs (P2MP and MP2MP)
• State aggregation to minimize core states
• MPLS capabilities, such as Fast Reroute, that can now be applied to multicast traffic
• Seamless support of migration from generic routing encapsulation (GRE) and IP Multicast VPNs
• No need to manage customer premise equipment, enable multicast routing in the core, or use link-state routing protocol extensions to support MLDP
• Minimal cost associated with meeting bandwidth requirements of applications such as high-definition video
• Based on industry standards

• Core of Multicast VPNs (PDF - 449 KB)

  Learn why MLDP is the technology of choice for the MVPN core.

• MLDP-Based MVPN Configuration Guide

  Learn how to configure MLDP-based MVPN.

• Configuring MLDP-Based MVPN on 7600

  Learn to configure MLDP-based MVPN on the Cisco 7600.