Internet Protocol on Network System's HYPERchannel: Protocol Specification
RFC 1044

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Network Working Group                                        K. Hardwick
Request for Comments:  1044                                          NSC
                                                            J. Lekashman
                                                            NASA-Ames GE
                                                           February 1988

           Internet Protocol on Network Systems HYPERchannel
                         Protocol Specification

STATUS OF THIS MEMO

   The intent of this document is to provide a complete discussion of
   the protocols and techniques used to embed DoD standard Internet
   Protocol datagrams (and its associated higher level protocols) on
   Network Systems Corporation's HYPERchannel [1] equipment.
   Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

   This document is intended for network planners and implementors who
   are already familiar with the TCP/IP protocol suite and the
   techniques used to carry TCP/IP traffic on common networks such as
   the DDN or Ethernet.  No great familiarity with NSC products is
   assumed; an appendix is devoted to a review of NSC technologies and
   protocols.

   At the time of this first RFC edition, the contents of this document
   has already been reviewed by about a dozen vendors and users active
   in the use of TCP/IP on HYPERchannel media.  Comments and suggestions
   are still welcome (and implementable,) however.

   Any comments or questions on this specification may be directed to:

      Ken Hardwick
      Director, Software Technology
      Network Systems Corporation MS029
      7600 Boone Avenue North
      Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

      Phone: (612) 424-1607

      John Lekashman
      Nasa Ames Research Center. NAS/GE
      MS 258-6
      Moffett Field, CA, 94035
      lekash@orville.nas.nasa.gov

      Phone: (415) 694-4359

Hardwick & Lekashman                                            [Page 1]
RFC 1044           IP on Network Systems HYPERchannel      February 1988

TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Status of this memo  . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
    Goals of this document   . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
    Basic HYPERchannel network messages  . .  . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
      Basic (16-bit address) Message Proper header  . . . . . . . . .  5
      TO addresses and open driver architecture   . . . . . . . . . .  7
      Extended (32-bit address) Message Proper header . . . . . . . .  8
      Address Recognition and message forwarding .  . . . . . . . . . 10
      32-bit message fields   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
    Broadcasting   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . 14

    PROTOCOL SPECIFICATION .  .  .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
      Basic (16-bit) Message Encapsulation    . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
      Compatibility with existing implementations . . . . . . . . . . 21
      Extended (32-bit) Message Encapsulation   . . . . . . . . . . . 24
      Address Resolution Protocol   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
      Maximum Transmission Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

    ADDRESS RESOLUTION    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
      Local Address Resolution  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
      Configuration file format   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
      ARP servers   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
      Broadcast ARP   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

    Appendix A.
    NSC Product Architecture and Addressing   . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

    Appendix B.
    Network Systems HYPERchannel protocols    . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Hardwick & Lekashman                                            [Page 2]
RFC 1044           IP on Network Systems HYPERchannel      February 1988

GOALS OF THIS DOCUMENT

   In this document, there are four major technical objectives:

   1.  To bless a "de facto" standard for IP on HYPERchannel that  has
       been implemented by Tektronix, Cray, NASA Ames, and others.
       We are attempting to resolve some interoperability problems with
       this standard so as to minimize the changes to existing IP on
       HYPERchannel software.  If any ambiguities remain in the de facto
       standard, we wish to assist in their resolution.

   2.  To address larger networks, NSC's newer network products are
       moving to a 32-bit address from the current 16-bit TO address.
       This document would introduce the addressing extension to the
       user community and specify how IP datagrams would work in the
       new addressing mode.

   3.  To define an Address Resolution Protocol for HYPERchannel and
       other NSC products.  It is probably well known that current NSC
       products do not support the broadcast modes that make ARP
       particularly useful.  However, many have expressed interest in
       "ARP  servers" at a known network address.  These servers could
       fade away as NSC products with broadcast capability come into