Routing Backus-Naur Form (RBNF): A Syntax Used to Form Encoding Rules in Various Routing Protocol Specifications
RFC 5511

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Network Working Group                                          A. Farrel
Request for Comments: 5511                            Old Dog Consulting
Category: Standards Track                                     April 2009

         Routing Backus-Naur Form (RBNF): A Syntax Used to Form
       Encoding Rules in Various Routing Protocol Specifications

Status of This Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

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   Copyright (c) 2009 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
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   Without obtaining an adequate license from the person(s) controlling
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   it for publication as an RFC or to translate it into languages other
   than English.

Farrel                      Standards Track                     [Page 1]
RFC 5511                      Routing BNF                     April 2009

Abstract

   Several protocols have been specified in the Routing Area of the IETF
   using a common variant of the Backus-Naur Form (BNF) of representing
   message syntax.  However, there is no formal definition of this
   version of BNF.

   There is value in using the same variant of BNF for the set of
   protocols that are commonly used together.  This reduces confusion
   and simplifies implementation.

   Updating existing documents to use some other variant of BNF that is
   already formally documented would be a substantial piece of work.

   This document provides a formal definition of the variant of BNF that
   has been used (that we call Routing BNF) and makes it available for
   use by new protocols.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................3
      1.1. Terminology ................................................3
      1.2. Existing Uses ..............................................3
      1.3. Applicability Statement ....................................4
   2. Formal Definitions ..............................................4
      2.1. Rule Definitions ...........................................5
           2.1.1. Rule Name Delimitation ..............................5
           2.1.2. Objects .............................................5
           2.1.3. Constructs ..........................................6
           2.1.4. Messages ............................................6
      2.2. Operators ..................................................6
           2.2.1. Assignment ..........................................6
           2.2.2. Concatenation .......................................7
           2.2.3. Optional Presence ...................................7
           2.2.4. Alternatives ........................................8
           2.2.5. Repetition ..........................................9
           2.2.6. Grouping ...........................................10
      2.3. Editorial Conventions .....................................11
           2.3.1. White Space ........................................11
           2.3.2. Line Breaks ........................................11
           2.3.3. Ordering ...........................................11
      2.4. Precedence ................................................11
   3. Automated Validation ...........................................13
   4. Security Considerations ........................................13
   5. Acknowledgments ................................................13
   6. References .....................................................13
      6.1. Normative References ......................................13
      6.2. Informative References ....................................13

Farrel                      Standards Track                     [Page 2]
RFC 5511                      Routing BNF                     April 2009