Automating the Migration of an ISP Network Infrastructure from MPLS to SRv6

Abstract

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) increasingly face the operational and scalability limitations of legacy Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks in meeting the demands of modern services such as cloud computing, 5G, and IoT. Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6) has emerged as a promising next-generation technology that leverages the IPv6 architecture to deliver a flexible, programmable, and simplified data plane, eliminating the need for legacy signaling protocols such as LDP and RSVP-TE. However,migrating from MPLS to SRv6 in a live ISP environment is a complex undertaking that carries significant risk of service disruption when performed manually. This dissertation studies the key concepts behind ISP network infrastructure, MPLS technology, Segment Routing, and SRv6, analyzes the technical and operational challenges of migration, and examines the coexistence strategies and migration paths available to operators. The work proposes an automated approach to facilitate the transition from MPLS to SRv6, aiming to reduce human intervention, minimize configuration errors, and support the modernization of ISP infrastructure.