The Complete MPLS Fundamentals Masterclass by Arash Deljoo

Name: The Complete MPLS Fundamentals Masterclass by Arash Deljoo
Rating: 4.8 (343 reviews)

Build a Strong MPLS Foundation and Master the Core Technologies Behind Modern Service Provider Networks

Created byArash Deljoo

Last updated 7/2026

English

English [Auto],Spanish [Auto],

What you'll learn

Understand core MPLS architecture concepts, including how RIB, FIB, LIB, and LFIB operate in control and data planes.
Explain MPLS label structure, enable MPLS on routers, and analyze label assignment behaviors.
Compare IP lookup versus label lookup and understand how packet forwarding differs in MPLS networks.
Apply load-balancing logic for labeled and unlabeled paths and understand how MPLS ECMP decisions are made.
Analyze IP TTL and MPLS TTL behavior, identify routing loops, and interpret traceroute results in MPLS environments.
Configure LDP, form LDP neighbor relationships, and validate label distribution in MPLS networks.
Implement advanced LDP features such as inbound/outbound label filtering, transport addresses, authentication, and session protection.
Control label advertisement using prefix and peer ACLs and understand how to protect the network from unwanted label exchange.
Understand different MPLS modes—including distribution, retention, and control modes—and how each affects LSP creation.
Explain the historical evolution from Tag Switching to MPLS and understand how label switching technologies developed.
Analyze MPLS label stack depth and evaluate how deep label stacks impact forwarding and service design.
Configure and verify MPLS LDP operations on Cisco IOS-XR devices, including inbound and outbound filtering.

Course content

8 sections • 23 lectures • 13h 50m total length

MPLS Fundamentals Course Introduction7:43
RIB and FIB with Control Plane and Data Plane Essentials36:21
1- RIB: Routing Information Base
2- FIB: Forwarding Information Base
3- Control-Plane
4- Data-Plane
RIB and FIB with Control Plane and Data Plane Essentials Quiz
Understanding RIB , FIB , LIB and LFIB in MPLS1:33:02
1- RIB : Routing Information Base
2- FIB : Forwarding Information Base
3- LIB : Label Information Base
4- LFIB: Label Forwarding Information Base
5- Label Distribution Process with LDP
6- Follow the Labeled Packet
7- PHP : Penultimate Hop Popping
8- Push and Swap and Pop Process
Understanding RIB , FIB , LIB and LFIB in MPLS Quiz

MPLS Label Structure and Enablement Basics49:49
1- MPLS Label : Label Value - EXP bits - BoS - TTL
2- Enabling MPLS : Interface Config - IGP Config
3- MPLS Label in OSI Model
4- Type Value of MPLS in Data-Links Protocols
MPLS Label Structure and Enablement Basics Quiz
Understanding IP Lookup and Label Lookup25:49
1- Label Operation introduction
2- IP Lookup Versus Label Lookup introduction
3- Push , Swap , Pop , Untagged/No Label , Aggregate operations introduction
Understanding IP Lookup and Label Lookup Quiz
Load Balancing Rules Between Label Paths and IP Paths16:59
1- Load Balancing Labeled Packets introduction
2- Load Balancing Labeled Packets with same outgoing label introduction
3- Load Balancing Labeled Packets with different outgoing label introduction
4- Load Balancing Labeled Packets rule between Label and IP path introduction
Load Balancing Rules Between Label Paths and IP Paths Quiz

IP TTL Behavior and Its Role in Routing and Traceroute36:01
1- IP TTL : Time to Live
2- Usage of IP TTL
3- Traceroute Process and using of TTL
4- Routing Loop
IP TTL Behavior and Its Role in Routing and Traceroute Quiz
MPLS TTL Behavior and Its Impact on Packet Forwarding28:19
1- MPLS TTL : Time to Live
2- Interaction between IP and TTL
3- Usage of MPLS TTL
4- Routing Loop in MPLS Domain
MPLS TTL Behavior and Its Impact on Packet Forwarding Quiz
MPLS Traceroute and ICMP Return Mechanisms1:01:34
1- MPLS TraceRoute
2- The Mechanism of Sending back of ICMP Error Messages
3- Follow the Packet in Traceroute
MPLS Traceroute and ICMP Return Mechanisms Quiz

LDP Configuration and MPLS Label Distribution Essentials1:25:06
1- TDP : Tag Distribution Protocol Overview
2- MPLS LDP Configuration [ Interface-Config , IGP-Config ]
3- LIB : Label Information Base Table Monitoring Concepts
4- The Process of Propgation IP-TTL and MPLS-TTL
5- How we can protect provider network from discovery with customer?
LDP Configuration and MPLS Label Distribution Essentials Quiz
LDP Neighborship Fundamentals1:23:36
1- LDP Message
2- LDP Discovery Process
3- LDP Router-ID
4- LDP Label Space Types : Per-Platform / Per-Interface
5- LDP Neighborship Process
LDP Neighborship Fundamentals Quiz

Advanced LDP Operations and Mechanisms1:16:41
1- LDP Discovery Process Details
2- LDP Session Establishmnets Details
3- LDP Initialization Message Contents
4- LDP Housekeeping
5- Error Notification / Advisory Notification
6- Keep-Alive / KA Interval / Hold-Time
7- Hello / Interval / Hold-Time
8- Label Distribution Modes [ Unsolicited Downstram and Downstream-on-Demand ]
9- MPLS Mode [ Frame-Mode and Cell-Mode ]
Advanced LDP Operations and Mechanisms Quiz
Controlling Label Advertisement in LDP32:49
1- Controlling the Advertisement of Labels via LDP
2- Prefix-ACL
3- Peer-ACL
Controlling Label Advertisement in LDP Quiz
MPLS LDP Inbound Label Binding Filtering10:22
1- MPLS LDP Inbound Label Binding Filtering
2- Filter out incoming label bindings from an LDP neighbor
MPLS LDP Inbound Label Binding Filtering Quiz
LDP Transport IP Address Essentials18:53
1- LDP Transport IP Address Function
2- LDP Transport IP Address Configuration
3- LDP Transport IP Address Considerations
LDP Transport IP Address Essentials Quiz
LDP Authentication Fundamentals in MPLS45:51
1- MPLS LDP Required and Not-Required Password
2- MPLS LDP Neighbor Command Authentication
3- MPLS LDP Option Command Authentication
4- MPLS LDP Fallback Command Authentication
LDP Authentication Fundamentals in MPLS Quiz
LDP Session Protection in MPLS Networks45:48
1- MPLS LDP Session Protection
2- MPLS LDP Session Protection Usage
3- MPLS LDP Session Protection Configuration
4- MPLS LDP Session Protection Monitoring
5- MPLS LDP Session Protection Customization
LDP Session Protection in MPLS Networks Quiz

Understanding Different MPLS Modes30:28
1- Different MPLS Modes : Downstream-on-Demand (DoD) label distribution mode , Unsolicited Downstream (UD) label distribution mode
2- Label distribution mode : Liberal Label Retention (LLR) mode , Conservative Label Retention (CLR) mode
3- LSP control mode : Independent LSP Control mode , Ordered LSP Control mode
Understanding Different MPLS Modes Quiz
The Evolution of MPLS and Tag Switching7:19
1- History of MPLS
2- Tag Switching Networks
3- Tag Switching Terminology : TAG,TDP,TFIB,TSR,TSP
4- Label Switch Terminology :Label,LDP,LFIB,LSR,LSP
The Evolution of MPLS and Tag Switching Quiz

MPLS LDP Configuration in IOS-XR11:49
1- MPLS LDP Configuration with Interface Configuration Method
2- MPLS LDP Configuration with IGP Configuration Method
3- MPLS LDP Verification
4- MPLS LDP other Parameters Configuration
MPLS LDP Configuration in IOS-XR Quiz
MPLS LDP Outbound Filtering in IOS-XR13:32
1- MPLS LDP Outbound Filtering Introduction
2- MPLS LDP Outbound Filtering Configuration
3- MPLS LDP Outbound Filtering Verification
MPLS LDP Outbound Filtering in IOS-XR Quiz
MPLS LDP Inbound Filtering in IOS-XR10:16
1- MPLS LDP Inbound Filtering Introduction
2- MPLS LDP Inbound Filtering Configuration
3- MPLS LDP Inbound Filtering Verification
MPLS LDP Inbound Filtering in IOS-XR Quiz

Requirements

A basic understanding of networking concepts such as IP addressing, routing, and subnets.
Familiarity with Cisco IOS or similar network operating systems is helpful but not mandatory.
Some knowledge of routing protocols (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, or RIP) will make learning smoother.
Access to a lab environment such as GNS3, EVE-NG, Cisco CML, or physical routers for hands-on practice.
A willingness to learn step-by-step and explore MPLS through practical examples.
No prior MPLS or LDP experience is required—the course explains all fundamentals from scratch.

Description

Master MPLS from the ground up and build a strong foundation in one of the most important technologies used in modern service provider and enterprise networks.

This course is designed to make MPLS clear, practical, and easy to understand. Instead of simply memorizing commands, you will learn how MPLS works behind the scenes and develop the knowledge required to understand real packet-forwarding behavior. Complex concepts are explained step by step, supported by practical demonstrations and hands-on network labs.

Throughout the course, you will explore how routers make forwarding decisions and how MPLS changes the traditional IP forwarding process. You will gain a clear understanding of the control plane and data plane and see how routing and forwarding information is created, maintained, and used by network devices.

You will also learn how MPLS labels are generated, distributed, and used to forward packets across an MPLS-enabled network. Through detailed examples and packet-level analysis, you will see exactly what happens to traffic as it travels from router to router.

A major part of the course focuses on Label Distribution Protocol operations. You will move from fundamental concepts to more advanced mechanisms and learn how MPLS networks can control label advertisement, improve session resiliency, and secure protocol relationships.

The course also explores important forwarding behaviors, troubleshooting techniques, and operational details that every MPLS engineer should understand. Practical verification commands and traffic analysis help connect theoretical concepts to real network behavior.

In addition to Cisco IOS-based demonstrations, you will gain practical exposure to MPLS operations in Cisco IOS-XR, helping you understand how MPLS is deployed in service provider environments.

Whether you are preparing for advanced Cisco certifications, working as a network engineer, or planning to enter the service provider networking field, this course will give you the strong MPLS foundation needed to confidently continue toward advanced technologies such as MPLS L3VPN, MPLS L2VPN, Traffic Engineering, and Segment Routing.

Start building your MPLS expertise today and understand the technology beyond the configuration commands.

Who this course is for:

Network engineers who want to build strong, practical skills in MPLS, LDP, and service provider technologies.
Students preparing for Cisco certifications such as CCNP Enterprise, CCNP Service Provider, or CCIE.
Engineers working in enterprise or service provider environments who need to understand MPLS forwarding, TTL behavior, and label distribution.
IT professionals transitioning into ISP or telecom roles who want hands-on MPLS experience.
Learners who want to master LDP configuration, troubleshooting, and advanced control mechanisms.
Anyone seeking to improve their networking fundamentals and boost their job opportunities with high-demand MPLS skills.
Motivated beginners with basic routing knowledge who want to enter the world of service provider networking.

The Complete MPLS Fundamentals Masterclass by Arash Deljoo

What you'll learn

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Course content

Course Introduction & Core MPLS Foundations3 lectures • 2hr 17min

MPLS Labels and Packet Forwarding Basics3 lectures • 1hr 33min

TTL Behavior in IP and MPLS Networks3 lectures • 2hr 6min

LDP Foundations and Basic Operations2 lectures • 2hr 49min

Advanced LDP Operations6 lectures • 3hr 50min

MPLS Modes & Historical Background2 lectures • 38min

MPLS Label Stack Operations1 lecture • 2min

MPLS in IOS-XR3 lectures • 36min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: