Both MPLS and leased lines are related to WAN (Wide Area Networking). These are the connections that are used to transport data across a wide range of populations, but there are differences between their working principles which make them different and let people choose among them. So here are a few differences among them.
MPLS vs Leased line
The main difference between MPLS and leased lines is the type of connectivity between them. In the MPLS process, the connection is made as a huge mess providing connection to different places, but in the case of the leased line, the connectivity is private between the provider and the user. The leased line is the point-to-point connectivity.
MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) is a type of wide-area network which is distributed in a full mesh system. It has data packets that are transported from one node to the other and are assigned labels at each node to make the router be known with the route till it reaches the destination.
A leased-line is also called a private network. This is so-called because the connection is between the provider and the user. The data is transferred from point to point. It is much secured as it has physical separation between every connection. It is distributed among each customer and not shared among different users.
Comparison Table Between MPLS and Leased Line
| Parameters of Comparison | MPLS | Leased Line |
| Type of connectivity | Multipoint or point-point | Point-point |
| Security | High level due to logical separation | Most secured due to physical separation. |
| Setup skill required | High skill resource required for setup | Moderate to less skill is required for setup. |
| Distribution among customers | Shared across multiple customers | Individual customers |
| Performance | An improved performance especially spoke to spoke. | Low performance in spoke-to-spoke communication. |
What is MPLS?
MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) is a type of wide-area network which is distributed in a full mesh system. It has data packets that are transported from one node to the other and are assigned labels at each node to make the router be known with the route till it reaches the destination.
This new technology and modern form of the wide-area network are replacing the old forms. It is highly secure due to the logical separation among the connectivity. This type of WAN is scalable and protocol-independent. It is distributed as packets of data to the customers, which are then accepted by the routers respectively.
This Multi-Protocol Label Switching needs highly skilled engineers to set up the mesh connection. This is a highly updated system of data distribution. MSPL can summarize other network protocols; hence its name has the word “multiprotocol” in it.
Its connection mesh depends on the Label switch router, Label edge router, Provider router, Label distribution protocol, and Labeled switched paths. These are some of the most important points for the distribution of the data.
What is Leased Line?
A leased-line is also called a private network. This is so-called because the connection is between the provider and the user. The data is transferred from point to point. It is much secured as it has physical separation between every connection. It is distributed among each customer and not shared among different users.
A leased line is mostly used by businesses to connect distant offices. The leased line is always active. It can carry voice, data, or both of them from one place to the other. In these connections, the rent is paid on a monthly basis to the provider. It is highly secured due to the physical separation feature.
A leased line can be used as telephone connections, data, or internet connections. This connection is very easy to set up as it is not so modern technology as compared to MPSL. It does not need highly skilled engineers for the setup. This is a point-to-point connection which means that the connection is only between the provider and the user.
It is distributed separately to individual customers. This type of wide-area network is highly secure due to its physical separation feature. This, though, has low performance in the spoke-to-spoke feature. This connection is a contract between the provider and the user that the connection is always active and paid to the provider for the service on a monthly basis.
Main Differences Between MPLS and Leased Line
- MPLS has multipoint or point-to-point connectivity, whereas the leased line has only point-to-point connectivity.
- Multi-Protocol Label Switching is highly secured due to the logical separation between the connections. On the other hand, the leased line is also much secured due to the physical separation among the connections.
- MPLS is a very technologically improved system and needs high skill person to set up the connection but leased line, on the other hand, are easier to set up and does not need highly skilled engineers to set the connections.
- MPLS is distributed to the customers in a full mesh way like the users share the connections. On the other hand, the leased line is only serviced to a single user. It is provided from the provider to the user only. So it is also known as the private connection.
- Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) has a high performance special in spoke to spoke, but the leased line has low performance in this field of spoke to spoke.
Conclusion
Wide area networking is very common in this high-speed internet era. Here the two types of WAN connections, MPSL, and Leased line, are discussed. The full form of MPSL is Multi-Protocol Label Switching. It is a type of connection that works on a full mesh basis and is distributed to customers in a multipoint system. It is distributed on a data packet basis, newly labeled at each node of connection.
On the other hand, a leased line is one to one connection, is very secure, and is widely used for business purposes. So when there is a point to select between these two WAN connections a detailed knowledge is needed for the correct choice to be made.
References
- https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF02094336.pdf
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/1189709