Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
The QoS EXP Matching feature allows you to classify and mark network traffic by modifying the Multiprotocol
Label Switching (MPLS) experimental bits (EXP) field in IP packets. This module contains conceptual
information and the configuration tasks for classifying and marking network traffic using the MPLS EXP
field.
• Finding Feature Information, on page 1
• Prerequisites for Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP, on page 1
• Restrictions for Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP, on page 1
• Information About Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP, on page 2
• How to Classify and Mark MPLS EXP, on page 3
• Configuration Examples for Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP, on page 8
• Additional References, on page 11
• Feature Information for Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP, on page 12
Finding Feature Information
Your software release may not support all the features documented in this module. For the latest caveats and
feature information, see Bug Search Tool and the release notes for your platform and software release. To
find information about the features documented in this module, and to see a list of the releases in which each
feature is supported, see the feature information table at the end of this module.
Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support.
To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.
Prerequisites for Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
• The router must be configured as an MPLS provider edge (PE) or provider (P) router, which can include
the configuration of a valid label protocol and underlying IP routing protocols.
Restrictions for Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
• MPLS classification and marking can only occur in an operational MPLS Network.
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Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Information About Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
• MPLS EXP classification and marking is supported on the main router interfaces for MPLS packet
switching and imposition (simple IP imposition and Ethernet over MPLS (EoMPLS) imposition) and on
Ethernet virtual circuits (EVCs) or Ethernet flow points (EFPs) for EoMPLS imposition.
• MPLS EXP classification or marking for bridged MPLS packets on EVCs or EFPs is not supported.
• MPLS EXP marking is supported only in the ingress direction.
• If a packet is classified by IP type of service (ToS) or class of service (CoS) at ingress, it cannot be
reclassified by MPLS EXP at egress (imposition case). However, if a packet is classified by MPLS at
ingress it can be reclassified by IP ToS, CoS, or Quality of Service (QoS) group at egress (disposition
case).
• If a packet is encapsulated in MPLS, the MPLS payload cannot be checked for other protocols such as
IP for classification or marking. Only MPLS EXP marking affects packets encapsulated by MPLS.
Information About Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP Overview
The QoS EXP Matching feature allows you to organize network traffic by setting values for the MPLS EXP
field in MPLS packets. By choosing different values for the MPLS EXP field, you can mark packets so that
packets have the priority that they require during periods of congestion. Setting the MPLS EXP value allows
you to:
• Classify traffic
The classification process selects the traffic to be marked. Classification accomplishes this by partitioning
traffic into multiple priority levels, or classes of service. Traffic classification is the primary component
of class-based QoS provisioning. For more information, see the “Classifying Network Traffic” module.
• Police and mark traffic
Policing causes traffic that exceeds the configured rate to be discarded or marked to a different drop
level. Marking traffic is a way to identify packet flows to differentiate them. Packet marking allows you
to partition your network into multiple priority levels or classes of service. For more information, see
the “Marking Network Traffic” module.
MPLS Experimental Field
The MPLS experimental bits (EXP) field is a 3-bit field in the MPLS header that you can use to define the
QoS treatment (per-hop behavior) that a node should give to a packet. In an IP network, the DiffServ Code
Point (DSCP) (a 6-bit field) defines a class and drop precedence. The EXP bits can be used to carry some of
the information encoded in the IP DSCP and can also be used to encode the dropping precedence.
By default, Cisco IOS Software copies the three most significant bits of the DSCP or the IP precedence of
the IP packet to the EXP field in the MPLS header. This action happens when the MPLS header is initially
imposed on the IP packet. However, you can also set the EXP field by defining a mapping between the DSCP
or IP precedence and the EXP bits. This mapping is configured using the set mpls experimental or police
commands. For more information, see the “How to Classify and Mark MPLS EXP” section.
Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
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Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Benefits of MPLS EXP Classification and Marking
Benefits of MPLS EXP Classification and Marking
If a service provider does not want to modify the value of the IP precedence field in packets transported
through the network, they can use the MPLS EXP field value to classify and mark IP packets.
By choosing different values for the MPLS EXP field, you can mark critical packets so that those packets
have priority if network congestion occurs.
How to Classify and Mark MPLS EXP
Classifying MPLS Encapsulated Packets
Note MPLS EXP topmost classification is not supported for bridged MPLS packets on Ethernet virtual circuits
(EVC) or Ethernet flow points (EFP).
SUMMARY STEPS
1. enable
2. configure terminal
3. class-map [match-all | match-any] class-map-name
4. match mpls experimental topmost mpls-exp-value
5. end
DETAILED STEPS
Command or Action Purpose
Step 1 enable Enables privileged EXEC mode.
Example: • Enter your password if prompted.
Router> enable
Step 2 configure terminal Enters global configuration mode.
Example:
Router# configure terminal
Step 3 class-map [match-all | match-any] class-map-name Creates a class map to be used for matching traffic to a
specified class, and enters class-map configuration mode.
Example:
• Enter the class map name.
Router(config)# class-map exp3
Step 4 match mpls experimental topmost mpls-exp-value Specifies the match criteria.
Example:
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Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Marking MPLS EXP on All Imposed Labels
Command or Action Purpose
Note The match mpls experimental topmost
Router(config-cmap)# match mpls experimental
command classifies traffic on the basis of the
topmost 3
EXP value in the topmost label header.
Step 5 end (Optional) Returns to privileged EXEC mode.
Example:
Router(config-cmap)# end
Marking MPLS EXP on All Imposed Labels
Perform this task to set the value of the MPLS EXP field on all imposed label entries.
Before you begin
The router supports MPLS EXP marking only in the ingress direction.
In typical configurations, marking MPLS packets at imposition is used with ingress classification on IP ToS
or CoS fields. However, generic matching with the class default value is supported with other ingress attributes
such as vlan.
Note For IP imposition marking, the IP precedence value is copied to the MPLS EXP value by default.
Note For EVC configuration, a policy map that performs matching based on the CoS and that sets the EXP imposition
value should be used to copy CoS values to the EXP value.
Note The set mpls experimental imposition command works only on packets that have new or additional MPLS
labels added to them.
SUMMARY STEPS
1. enable
2. configure terminal
3. policy-map policy-map-name
4. class class-map-name
5. set mpls experimental imposition mpls-exp-value
6. end
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Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Marking MPLS EXP on Label Switched Packets
DETAILED STEPS
Command or Action Purpose
Step 1 enable Enables privileged EXEC mode.
Example: • Enter your password if prompted.
Router> enable
Step 2 configure terminal Enters global configuration mode.
Example:
Router# configure terminal
Step 3 policy-map policy-map-name Specifies the name of the policy map to be created and
enters policy-map configuration mode.
Example:
• Enter the policy map name.
Router(config)# policy-map mark-up-exp-2
Step 4 class class-map-name Creates a class map to be used for matching traffic to a
specified class, and enters class-map configuration mode.
Example:
• Enter the class map name.
Router(config-pmap)# class prec012
Step 5 set mpls experimental imposition mpls-exp-value Sets the value of the MPLS EXP field on all imposed label
entries.
Example:
Router(config-pmap-c)# set mpls experimental
imposition 2
Step 6 end (Optional) Returns to privileged EXEC mode.
Example:
Router(config-pmap-c)# end
Marking MPLS EXP on Label Switched Packets
Perform this task to set the MPLS EXP field on label switched packets.
Before you begin
Note The set mpls experimental topmost command works only on packets that are already MPLS encapsulated.
Note The router supports MPLS EXP marking in the ingress direction only, and does not support MPLS EXP
classification or marking for bridged MPLS packets on EVCs or EFPs.
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Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Configuring Conditional Marking
SUMMARY STEPS
1. enable
2. configure terminal
3. policy-map policy-map-name
4. class class-map-name
5. set mpls experimental topmost mpls-exp-value
6. end
DETAILED STEPS
Command or Action Purpose
Step 1 enable Enables privileged EXEC mode.
Example: • Enter your password if prompted.
Router> enable
Step 2 configure terminal Enters global configuration mode.
Example:
Router# configure terminal
Step 3 policy-map policy-map-name Specifies the name of the policy map to be created and
enters policy-map configuration mode.
Example:
• Enter the policy map name.
Router(config)# policy-map mark-up-exp-2
Step 4 class class-map-name Creates a class map to be used for matching traffic to a
specified class, and enters class-map configuration mode.
Example:
• Enter the class map name.
Router(config-pmap)# class-map exp012
Step 5 set mpls experimental topmost mpls-exp-value Sets the MPLS EXP field value in the topmost label on the
output interface.
Example:
Router(config-pmap-c)# set mpls experimental
topmost 2
Step 6 end (Optional) Returns to privileged EXEC mode.
Example:
Router(config-pmap-c)# end
Configuring Conditional Marking
To conditionally set the value of the MPLS EXP field on all imposed label, perform the following task:
Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
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Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Configuring Conditional Marking
Before you begin
Note The set-mpls-exp-topmost-transmit action affects MPLS encapsulated packets only. The
set-mpls-exp-imposition-transmit action affects any new labels that are added to the packet.
SUMMARY STEPS
1. enable
2. configure terminal
3. policy-map policy-map-name
4. class class-map-name
5. police cir bps bc pir bps be
6. conform-action [set-mpls-exp-imposition-transmit mpls-exp-value | set-mpls-exp-topmost-transmit
mpls-exp-value]
7. exceed-action [set-mpls-exp-imposition-transmit mpls-exp-value | set-mpls-exp-topmost-transmit
mpls-exp-value]
8. violate-action drop
9. end
DETAILED STEPS
Command or Action Purpose
Step 1 enable Enables privileged EXEC mode.
Example: • Enter your password if prompted.
Router> enable
Step 2 configure terminal Enters global configuration mode.
Example:
Router# configure terminal
Step 3 policy-map policy-map-name Specifies the name of the policy map to be created and
enters policy-map configuration mode.
Example:
• Enter the policy map name.
Router(config)# policy-map ip2tag
Step 4 class class-map-name Creates a class map to be used for matching traffic to a
specified class, and enters policy-map class configuration
Example:
mode.
Router(config-pmap)# class iptcp • Enter the class map name.
Step 5 police cir bps bc pir bps be Defines a policer for classified traffic and enters policy-map
class police configuration mode.
Example:
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Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Configuration Examples for Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Command or Action Purpose
Router(config-pmap-c)# police cir 1000000 pir
2000000
Step 6 conform-action [set-mpls-exp-imposition-transmit Defines the action to take on packets that conform to the
mpls-exp-value | set-mpls-exp-topmost-transmit values specified by the policer.
mpls-exp-value]
• In this example, if the packet conforms to the
Example: committed information rate (cir) or is within the
conform burst (bc) size, the MPLS EXP field is set to
Router(config-pmap-c-police)# conform-action 3.
set-mpls-exp-imposition-transmit 3
Step 7 exceed-action [set-mpls-exp-imposition-transmit Defines the action to take on packets that exceed the values
mpls-exp-value | set-mpls-exp-topmost-transmit specified by the policer.
mpls-exp-value]
• In this example, if the packet exceeds the cir rate and
Example: the bc size, but is within the peak burst (be) size, the
MPLS EXP field is set to 2.
Router(config-pmap-c-police)# exceed-action
set-mpls-exp-imposition-transmit 2
Step 8 violate-action drop Defines the action to take on packets whose rate exceeds
the peak information rate (pir) and is outside the bc and be
Example:
ranges.
Router(config-pmap-c-police)# violate-action drop • You must specify the exceed action before you specify
the violate action.
• In this example, if the packet rate exceeds the pir rate
and is outside the bc and be ranges, the packet is
dropped.
Step 9 end (Optional) Returns to privileged EXEC mode.
Example:
Router(config-pmap-c-police)# end
Configuration Examples for Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Example: Classifying MPLS Encapsulated Packets
Defining an MPLS EXP Class Map
The following example defines a class map named exp3 that matches packets that contains MPLS
experimental value 3:
Router(config)# class-map exp3
Router(config-cmap)# match mpls experimental topmost 3
Router(config-cmap)# exit
Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
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Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Example: Marking MPLS EXP on All Imposed Labels
Defining a Policy Map and Applying the Policy Map to an Ingress Interface
The following example uses the class map created in the example above to define a policy map. This
example also applies the policy map to a physical interface for ingress traffic.
Router(config)# policy-map change-exp-3-to-2
Router(config-pmap)# class exp3
Router(config-pmap-c)# set mpls experimental topmost 2
Router(config-pmap)# exit
Router(config)# interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
Router(config-if)# service-policy input change-exp-3-to-2
Router(config-if)# exit
Defining a Policy Map and Applying the Policy Map to an Egress Interface
The following example uses the class map created in the example above to define a policy map. This
example also applies the policy map to a physical interface for egress traffic.
Router(config)# policy-map WAN-out
Router(config-pmap)# class exp3
Router(config-pmap-c)# shape average 10000000
Router(config-pmap-c)# exit
Router(config-pmap)# exit
Router(config)# interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
Router(config-if)# service-policy output WAN-out
Router(config-if)# exit
Example: Marking MPLS EXP on All Imposed Labels
Defining an MPLS EXP Imposition Policy Map
The following example defines a policy map that sets the MPLS EXP imposition value to 2 based
on the IP precedence value of the forwarded packet:
Router# configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)# class-map prec012
Router(config-cmap)# match ip prec 0 1 2
Router(config-cmap)# exit
Router(config)# policy-map mark-up-exp-2
Router(config-pmap)# class prec012
Router(config-pmap-c)# set mpls experimental imposition 2
Router(config-pmap-c)# exit
Router(config-pmap)# exit
Applying the MPLS EXP Imposition Policy Map to a Main Interface
The following example applies a policy map to Gigabit Ethernet interface 0/0/0:
Router# configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)# interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
Router(config-if)# service-policy input mark-up-exp-2
Router(config-if)# exit
Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
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Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Example: Marking MPLS EXP on Label Switched Packets
Applying the MPLS EXP Imposition Policy Map to an EVC
The following example applies a policy map to the Ethernet Virtual Connection specified by the
service instance command:
Router# configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)# interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
Router(config-inf)# service instance 100 ethernet
Router(config-if-srv)# xconnect 100.0.0.1 encapsulation mpls 100
Router(config-if-srv)# service-policy input mark-up-exp-2
Router(config-if-srv)# exit
Router(config-if)# exit
Example: Marking MPLS EXP on Label Switched Packets
Defining an MPLS EXP Label Switched Packets Policy Map
The following example defines a policy map that sets the MPLS EXP topmost value to 2 according
to the MPLS EXP value of the forwarded packet:
Router# configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)# class-map exp012
Router(config-cmap)# match mpls experimental topmost 0 1 2
Router(config-cmap)# exit
Router(config-cmap)# policy-map mark-up-exp-2
Router(config-pmap)# class exp012
Router(config-pmap-c)# set mpls experimental topmost 2
Router(config-pmap-c)# exit
Router(config-pmap)# exit
Applying the MPLS EXP Label Switched Packets Policy Map to a Main Interface
The following example shows how to apply the policy map to a main interface:
Router# configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)# interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
Router(config-if)# service-policy input mark-up-exp-2
Router(config-if)# exit
Example: Configuring Conditional Marking
The example in this section creates a policer for the iptcp class, which is part of the ip2tag policy
map, and attaches the policy map to the Gigabit Ethernet interface.
Router(config)# policy-map ip2tag
Router(config-pmap)# class iptcp
Router(config-pmap-c)# police cir 1000000 pir 2000000
Router(config-pmap-c-police)# conform-action set-mpls-exp-imposition-transmit 3
Router(config-pmap-c-police)# exceed-action set-mpls-exp-imposition-transmit 2
Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
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Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Additional References
Router(config-pmap-c-police)# violate-action drop
Router(config-pmap-c-police)# exit
Router(config-pmap-c)# exit
Router(config-pmap)# exit
Router(config)# interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/1
Router(config-if)# service-policy input ip2tag
Additional References
Related Documents
Related Topic Document Title
Cisco IOS commands Cisco IOS Master Commands List, All Releases
QoS commands Cisco IOS Quality of Service Solutions Command Reference
Classifying network traffic “Classifying Network Traffic” module
Marking network traffic “Marking Network Traffic” module
Standards and RFCs
Standard/RFC Title
No new or modified standards are supported, and support for existing standards has not been modified.
MIBs
MIB MIBs Link
No new or modified MIBs are supported, and To locate and download MIBs for selected platforms, Cisco
support for existing MIBs has not been software releases, and feature sets, use Cisco MIB Locator
modified. found at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/go/mibs
Technical Assistance
Description Link
The Cisco Support and Documentation website provides http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/support/index.html
online resources to download documentation, software,
and tools. Use these resources to install and configure
the software and to troubleshoot and resolve technical
issues with Cisco products and technologies. Access to
most tools on the Cisco Support and Documentation
website requires a Cisco.com user ID and password.
Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
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Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Feature Information for Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Feature Information for Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
The following table provides release information about the feature or features described in this module. This
table lists only the software release that introduced support for a given feature in a given software release
train. Unless noted otherwise, subsequent releases of that software release train also support that feature.
Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support.
To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.
Table 1: Feature Information for Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
Feature Name Releases Feature Information
QoS EXP Matching Cisco IOS XE Release 3.5S QoS EXP matching allows you to
classify and mark packets using the
MPLS EXP field.
In Cisco IOS XE Release 3.5S, this
feature was introduced on the Cisco
ASR 903 Router.
Classifying and Marking MPLS EXP
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