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Label Switched Path (LSP) Ping/Trace Reply Mode Simplification
draft-akiya-mpls-lsp-ping-reply-mode-simple-00

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Document Type
This is an older version of an Internet-Draft whose latest revision state is "Replaced".
Authors Nobo Akiya , George Swallow , Carlos Pignataro , Loa Andersson , Mach Chen
Last updated 2013-11-01 (Latest revision 2013-09-19)
Replaced by draft-ietf-mpls-lsp-ping-reply-mode-simple, RFC 7737
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draft-akiya-mpls-lsp-ping-reply-mode-simple-00
Internet Engineering Task Force                                 N. Akiya
Internet-Draft                                                G. Swallow
Updates: 4379 (if approved)                                 C. Pignataro
Intended status: Standards Track                           Cisco Systems
Expires: March 23, 2014                                     L. Andersson
                                                                 M. Chen
                                                                  Huawei
                                                      September 19, 2013

     Label Switched Path (LSP) Ping/Trace Reply Mode Simplification
             draft-akiya-mpls-lsp-ping-reply-mode-simple-00

Abstract

   This document adds two reply modes to be used by Multiprotocol Label
   Switching (MPLS) Label Switched Path (LSP) Ping and Traceroute: one
   reply mode to indicate reverse LSP and one reply mode to allow
   responder to choose reply mode from pre-defined set.  This document
   also adds an optional TLV which can carry ordered list of reply
   modes.

   This document updates [RFC4379].

Requirements Language

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
   document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [RFC2119].

Status of This Memo

   This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the
   provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.

   Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering
   Task Force (IETF).  Note that other groups may also distribute
   working documents as Internet-Drafts.  The list of current Internet-
   Drafts is at http://datatracker.ietf.org/drafts/current/.

   Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months
   and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any
   time.  It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference
   material or to cite them other than as "work in progress."

   This Internet-Draft will expire on March 23, 2014.

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Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2013 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
   document authors.  All rights reserved.

   This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
   Provisions Relating to IETF Documents
   (http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of
   publication of this document.  Please review these documents
   carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect
   to this document.  Code Components extracted from this document must
   include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of
   the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as
   described in the Simplified BSD License.

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
   2.  Problem Statements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   3.  Solution  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     3.1.  Reply via reverse LSP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     3.2.  Reply via pre-defined preference  . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     3.3.  Reply Mode Order TLV  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   4.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
   5.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     5.1.  New Reply Mode  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     5.2.  New Reply Mode Order TLV  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   6.  Acknowledgements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   7.  Contributing Authors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   8.  References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
     8.1.  Normative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
     8.2.  Informative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
   Authors' Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8

1.  Introduction

   MPLS LSP Ping, described in [RFC4379], allows initiator to encode
   instructions (Reply Mode) on how responder is to send response back
   to the initiator.  [I-D.ietf-mpls-return-path-specified-lsp-ping]
   also allows initiator to encode a TLV (Reply Path TLV) which can
   instruct responder to use specific LSP to send response back to the
   initiator.  Both approaches are powerful as they provide ability for
   the initiator to control the return path.

   It is, however, becoming increasingly difficult for an initiator to
   select the "right" return path to encode in MPLS LSP echo request
   packets.  Consequence of initiator not selecting the "right" return
   path encoding can result in false failure of MPLS LSP Ping and

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   Traceroute operations, due to initiator not receiving back expected
   MPLS LSP echo reply.  Resulting from an effort to minimize such false
   failures, implementations may result in having different "default"
   return path encoding per LSP type and per operational type.
   Deviating "default" return path encoding, potentially, per vendor per
   LSP type per operational type can drift this technology from
   consistency axle.  Thus it is desirable to have a single return path
   encoding which works across wide range of LSP types and operational
   types.

2.  Problem Statements

   It is becoming increasingly difficult for implementations to
   automatically supply a workable return path encoding for all MPLS LSP
   Ping and Traceroute operations across all LSP types.  There are
   several factors which are contributing to this complication.

   o  Some LSPs have control-channel, and some do not.  Some LSPs have
      reverse LSP, and some do not.  Some LSPs have IP route in reverse
      direction, and some do not.

   o  LSRs on some LSPs can have different available return path(s).
      Available return path(s) can depend on whether responder is a
      transit LSR or an egress LSR.  In case of bi-directional LSP,
      available return path(s) on transit LSRs can also depend on
      whether LSP is completely co-routed, partially co-routed or non-
      co-routed.

   o  MPLS LSP echo request packets may falsely terminate on an
      unintended target which can have different available return
      path(s) than intended target.

   o  MPLS LSP Ping operation is expected to terminate on egress LSR.
      However, MPLS LSP Ping operation with specific TTL values and MPLS
      LSP Traceroute operation can terminate on both transit LSR(s) and
      egress LSR.

   Except for the case where responder node does not have an IP route
   back to the initiator, it is possible to use Reply Mode of value 2
   (Reply via an IPv4/IPv6 UDP packet) in all cases.  However, some
   operators are preferring control-channel and reverse LSP as "default"
   return path if they are available, which are not always available.

   When specific return path encoding is being supplied by users or
   applications, then there are no issues in choosing the return path
   encoding.  When specific return path encoding is not being supplied
   by users or applications, then implementations require extended logic
   to compute, and sometimes "guess", the "default" return path

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   encodings.  If a responder received a MPLS LSP echo request
   containing return path instruction which cannot be accommodated due
   to unavailability, then responder implementations often drop such
   packets.  This results in initiator to not receive back MPLS LSP echo
   reply packets.  Consequence may be acceptable for failure cases (ex:
   broken LSP) where MPLS LSP echo request terminated on unintended
   target.  However, initiator not receiving back MPLS LSP echo reply
   packets, even when intended target received and verified the
   requests, is not desirable as result will be conveyed as false
   failures to users.

   Some return path(s) are more preferred than others, but preferred
   cannot be used in all cases.  Thus implementations are required to
   compute when preferred return path encoding can and cannot be used,
   and that computation is becoming more and more difficult.

   This document adds two Reply Modes to be used by MPLS LSP Ping and
   Traceroute.  One of which is a Reply Mode which can be used as
   "default" for all LSP types and for all operational types.  Thus
   eliminating the need for initiator to compute, or sometimes "guess",
   the "default" return path encoding.  This will result in simplified
   implementations across vendors, and result in consistent behaviors
   across vendor products.

3.  Solution

   This document adds two Reply Modes to be used by MPLS LSP Ping and
   Traceroute operations.  Note: Reply Mode values specified in this
   document will be requested for IANA early allocation, but values may
   change as result of actual early allocation result.

   Value   Meaning
   -----   -------
       6   Reply via reverse LSP
       7   Reply via pre-defined preference

3.1.  Reply via reverse LSP

   Some LSP types are capable of having related LSP in reverse
   direction, through signaling or other association mechanisms.  This
   document uses the term "Reverse LSP" to refer to the LSP in reverse
   direction of such LSP types.  Note that this document isolates the
   scope of "Reverse LSP" applicability to those reverse LSPs which are
   capable of and permitted to carry the IP encapsulated MPLS LSP echo
   reply.

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   MPLS LSP echo request with 6 (Reply via reverse LSP) in the Reply
   Mode field may be used to instruct responder to use reverse LSP to
   send MPLS LSP echo reply.  Reverse LSP is in relation to the last FEC
   specified in the Target FEC Stack TLV.

   When responder is using this Reply Mode, transmitting MPLS LSP echo
   reply packet MUST use IP destination address of 127/8 for IPv4 and
   0:0:0:0:0:FFFF:7F00/104 for IPv6.

3.2.  Reply via pre-defined preference

   MPLS LSP echo request with 7 (Reply via pre-defined preference) in
   the Reply Mode field may be used to instruct responder to select the
   return path based on availability.  Receiver of MPLS LSP echo
   request, upon reception of 7 (Reply via pre-defined preference) in
   the Reply Mode field, MUST choose return path by examining
   availability in following order.

   1.  Examine if Reply Mode 4 (Reply via application level control
       channel) is available.

   2.  Examine if Reply Mode 6 (Reply via reverse LSP) is available.

   3.  Examine if Reply Mode 2 (Reply via an IPv4/IPv6 UDP packet) is
       available.

   First available return path is selected.  Reply Mode value
   corresponding to selected return path MUST be set in Reply Mode field
   of MPLS LSP echo reply to communicate back to the initiator which
   return path was chosen.

3.3.  Reply Mode Order TLV

   This document also introduces a new optional TLV to describe Reply
   Mode preference order.  The new TLV will contain one or more Reply
   Mode value(s) in preferred order, first Reply Mode value appearing
   being most preferred.  This TLV can be used if a different preference
   order than "Reply via pre-defined preference" Reply Mode is desired.
   Following rules apply when using Reply Mode Order TLV.

   1.  Initiator, when supplying Reply Mode Order TLV in transmitting
       MPLS echo request, MUST set Reply Mode field of MPLS echo request
       header to value 7 (Reply via pre-defined preference).

   2.  Responder MUST ignore Reply Mode Order TLV if received MPLS echo
       request header does not contain value 7 (Reply via pre-defined
       preference).

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   3.  Reply Mode Order TLV MUST contain at least one Reply Mode value,
       and SHOULD contain at least two Reply Mode values.

   4.  Same Reply Mode value MUST NOT appear multiple times in the Reply
       Mode Order TLV.

   5.  Reply Mode value 1 (Do not reply) SHOULD NOT be used in the Reply
       Mode Order TLV.

   6.  Reply Mode value 7 (Reply via pre-defined preference) MUST NOT be
       used in the Reply Mode TLV.

   The responding node is to select the first available return path in
   this TLV.  Reply Mode value corresponding to selected return path
   MUST be set in Reply Mode field of MPLS LSP echo reply to communicate
   back to the initiator which return path was chosen.

   The format of the TLV is as follows:

        0                   1                   2                   3
        0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       | Reply Mode Order TLV Type     |          Length               |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       | Reply mode 1  | Reply mode 2  | Reply mode 3  | Reply mode 4  |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       Figure 1 Reply Mode Order TLV

   This is a variable length optional TLV.  Each Reply Mode field is 1
   octet.  If this TLV is present and valid, then the described
   preference order will override pre-defined preference order described
   in Section 3.2.

4.  Security Considerations

   Beyond those specified in [RFC4379], there are no further security
   measured required.

5.  IANA Considerations

5.1.  New Reply Mode

   IANA is requested to assign two new reply modes from the "Reply Mode"
   sub-registry within the "Multiprotocol Label Switching Architecture
   (MPLS)" registry.

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   Following values appear to be next available MPLS LSP Ping/Traceroute
   Reply Mode values.  Requesting IANA to allow specified values as
   early allocation.

   Value   Meaning                            Reference
   -----   -------                            ---------
       6   Reply via reverse LSP              this document
       7   Reply via pre-defined preference   this document

5.2.  New Reply Mode Order TLV

   IANA is requested to assign a new TLV type value from the "TLVs" sub-
   registry within the "Multiprotocol Label Switching Architecture
   (MPLS)" registry, for the "Reply Mode Order TLV".

   The new TLV Type value should be assigned from the range
   (32768-49161) specified in RFC 4379 [RFC4379] section 3 that allows
   the TLV type to be silently dropped if not recognized.

   Type   Meaning                            Reference
   ----   -------                            ---------
   TBD    Reply Mode Order TLV               this document

6.  Acknowledgements

   Authors would like to thank Santiago Alvarez and Faisal Iqbal for
   discussions which motivated creation of this document.

7.  Contributing Authors

   Shaleen Saxena
   Cisco Systems
   Email: ssaxena@cisco.com

8.  References

8.1.  Normative References

   [RFC2119]  Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
              Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997.

   [RFC4379]  Kompella, K. and G. Swallow, "Detecting Multi-Protocol
              Label Switched (MPLS) Data Plane Failures", RFC 4379,
              February 2006.

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8.2.  Informative References

   [I-D.ietf-mpls-return-path-specified-lsp-ping]
              Chen, M., Cao, W., Ning, S., JOUNAY, F., and S. DeLord,
              "Return Path Specified LSP Ping", draft-ietf-mpls-return-
              path-specified-lsp-ping-13 (work in progress), September
              2013.

Authors' Addresses

   Nobo Akiya
   Cisco Systems

   Email: nobo@cisco.com

   George Swallow
   Cisco Systems

   Email: swallow@cisco.com

   Carlos Pignataro
   Cisco Systems

   Email: cpignata@cisco.com

   Loa Andersson
   Huawei

   Email: loa@mail01.huawei.com

   Mach(Guoyi) Chen
   Huawei

   Email: mach.chen@huawei.com

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