# Configuring L2VPNs

You can configure one or more instances of a Layer 2 Virtual Private Network (L2VPN), referred to as L2VPN instances, on the router. An L2VPN, sometimes referred to as Virtual Private Wire Service (VPWS), is a BGP-MPLS application that has much in common with BGP/MPLS VPNs. L2VPNs employ layer 2 services over MPLS to build a topology of point-to-point connections that connect end customer sites in a VPN. L2VPNs provide an alternative to private networks that have been provisioned by means of dedicated leased lines or by means of layer 2 virtual circuits that employ ATM or Frame Relay. L2VPNs enable the sharing of a provider’s core network infrastructure between IP and L2VPN services, reducing the cost of providing those services.

For details about configuring and using L2VPNs, see Configuring VPWS.