[c-nsp] VRF question

[Pete Templin]

dave bernardi wrote:

> How many of you are running a native MPLS backbone and was the major
> determining factor VPN, QoS, or other?

I'm only running native MPLS in one POP (other POPs aren't Cisco yet). 
We've got several target uses for it:

1) MPLS VPNs.  We partner with ISPs in various areas and let them sell 
our voice services with their data.  Previously, we'd policy route the 
traffic to them, which was an ugly solution.  Now, the VRF makes life 
very neat and tidy.  We'll then be able to let the ISP offer services in 
our other markets, which we don't allow right now (we require that they 
have a presence in any market where they want to sell services).

2) MPLS Traffic Engineering.  We're big enough to have geographic 
diversity, but not big enough to be able to easily manipulate IGP 
metrics and rebalance traffic.  MPLS TE will be a cost saver once we get 
the right hardware in place.

3) (This one's classifed.  Email me privately if you're curious.)

pt