A new approach to construct multicast trees in MPLS networks

Abstract

In this paper, we present a new approach to construct multicast trees in MPLS networks. This approach utilizes MPLS LSP between multicast tree branching node routers in order to reduce forwarding states and enhance scalability. In our approach only routers that are acting as multicast tree branching node for a group need to keep the forwarding state for that group. All other non-branching node routers simply forward data packets over traffic engineered unicast routes using MPLS LSP. We can deduce that our approach can be largely deployed because it uses for multicast traffic the same unicast MPLS forwarding scheme. In this paper we briefly discuss MPLS, the multicast scalability problem, merging the two technologies, related works and different techniques for forwarding state reduction. We evaluate the approach and present some related issues to conclude finally that it is feasible and promising.