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Mpls outrage
The document discusses MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) and suggests it may have become popular due to its abbreviation rather than its technical merits. It notes MPLS is often associated with Minneapolis and speculates this is not a coincidence. Trends in MPLS publications and working groups are shown increasing sharply from 1996-2003. Potential benefits of MPLS discussed include providing an "intellectual honeypot" for inferior research, simplifying conference reviews, and enabling more advanced research in other areas by attracting less capable researchers. Hiding topology and avoiding "hop count penalties" when moving from ATM to MPLS are also mentioned as benefits.
Mpls outrage
- 1. MPLS Considered Helpful Bruce Davie bsd@cisco.com Outrageous 2003 1
- 2. • I’m notbitter Outrageous 2003 © 2003, Bruce Davie 2
- 3. MPLS • Widely believedto stand for “Multiprotocol Label Switching” Would it have been more popular if “IP switching” were not already taken? • But in reality MPLS is short for “Minneapolis” Outrageous 2003 © 2003, Bruce Davie 3
- 4. The Midwestern GrassyKnoll • As MPLS becomes more and more dominant in the IETF, the IETF keeps circling back to Minneapolis • Coincidence or conspiracy? You be the judge. Outrageous 2003 © 2003, Bruce Davie 4
- 5. MPLS Trends MPLS Books Published (p.a.) MPLS Working Groups MPLS Internet Drafts ℵ0 12 Sigcomm Papers 6 1996 1997 1998 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Outrageous 2003 © 2003, Bruce Davie 5
- 6. MPLS Trends MPLS Books Published (p.a.) MPLS Working Groups MPLS Internet Drafts ℵ0 12 6 0 Sigcomm Papers 1996 1997 1998 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Outrageous 2003 © 2003, Bruce Davie 6
- 7. MPLS Benefits #1& 2 • An intellectual honeypot for demonstrably inferior research • Simplication of Sigcomm Review process If (title contains “MPLS”) then strong_reject = true else review paper • Research on more advanced algorithms possible Outrageous 2003 © 2003, Bruce Davie 7
- 8. • I’m notbitter Outrageous 2003 © 2003, Bruce Davie 8
- 9. The Shenker Experiment •Davie, B., and Shenker, S. The impact of steganography on service differentiation: a game-theoretic approach • Davie, B., and Shenker, S. Solving the major problems in routing, addressing, congestion and scaling using MPLS: a game-theoretic approach Outrageous 2003 © 2003, Bruce Davie 9
- 10. MPLS Benefit 3:TTL hiding • Providers can hide the internal topology from pesky grad students • Moving from ATM to MPLS carries no “increased hop count penalty” • Ongoing research: TTL incrementing for IP Outrageous 2003 © 2003, Bruce Davie 10
- 11. MPLS Benefit 4:Spam Protection • Need an IP address to receive spam • I’m rejecting all packets that have an IP header right above the L2 header • Here is my MPLS label – don’t tell the spammers Appplication data (generic viagra advert) Transport Header IP Header (optional) MPLS label = 01100110001101100101 L2 Header Outrageous 2003 © 2003, Bruce Davie 11
- 12. MPLS-based spam protection •MPLS labels are link-local in scope If you tell my label to spammers, I can pick another one (new business card needed) • Research How you ensure the right label is on your packets when they arrive at my link Virtual business card distribution protocols Outrageous 2003 © 2003, Bruce Davie 12
- 13. • I’m notbitter Outrageous 2003 © 2003, Bruce Davie 13