Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) Routing
RFC 3561

Network Working Group                                         C. Perkins
Request for Comments: 3561                         Nokia Research Center
Category: Experimental                                  E. Belding-Royer
                                 University of California, Santa Barbara
                                                                  S. Das
                                                University of Cincinnati
                                                               July 2003

            Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) Routing

Status of this Memo

   This memo defines an Experimental Protocol for the Internet
   community.  It does not specify an Internet standard of any kind.
   Discussion and suggestions for improvement are requested.
   Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2003).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   The Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) routing protocol is
   intended for use by mobile nodes in an ad hoc network.  It offers
   quick adaptation to dynamic link conditions, low processing and
   memory overhead, low network utilization, and determines unicast
   routes to destinations within the ad hoc network.  It uses
   destination sequence numbers to ensure loop freedom at all times
   (even in the face of anomalous delivery of routing control messages),
   avoiding problems (such as "counting to infinity") associated with
   classical distance vector protocols.

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction ...............................................  2
   2.  Overview  ..................................................  3
   3.  AODV Terminology ...........................................  4
   4.  Applicability Statement ....................................  6
   5.  Message Formats ............................................  7
       5.1. Route Request (RREQ) Message Format ...................  7
       5.2. Route Reply (RREP) Message Format .....................  8
       5.3. Route Error (RERR) Message Format ..................... 10
       5.4. Route Reply Acknowledgment (RREP-ACK) Message Format .. 11
   6.  AODV Operation ............................................. 11
       6.1. Maintaining Sequence Numbers .......................... 11
       6.2. Route Table Entries and Precursor Lists ............... 13

Perkins, et. al.              Experimental                      [Page 1]
RFC 3561                      AODV Routing                     July 2003

       6.3. Generating Route Requests ............................. 14
       6.4. Controlling Dissemination of Route Request Messages ... 15
       6.5. Processing and Forwarding Route Requests .............. 16
       6.6. Generating Route Replies .............................. 18
            6.6.1. Route Reply Generation by the Destination ...... 18
            6.6.2. Route Reply Generation by an Intermediate
                   Node ........................................... 19
            6.6.3. Generating Gratuitous RREPs .................... 19
       6.7. Receiving and Forwarding Route Replies ................ 20
       6.8. Operation over Unidirectional Links ................... 21
       6.9. Hello Messages ........................................ 22
       6.10 Maintaining Local Connectivity ........................ 23
       6.11 Route Error (RERR) Messages, Route Expiry and Route
            Deletion .............................................. 24
       6.12 Local Repair .......................................... 26
       6.13 Actions After Reboot  ................................. 27
       6.14 Interfaces ............................................ 28
   7.  AODV and Aggregated Networks ............................... 28
   8.  Using AODV with Other Networks ............................. 29
   9.  Extensions ................................................. 30
       9.1. Hello Interval Extension Format ....................... 30
   10. Configuration Parameters ................................... 31
   11. Security Considerations .................................... 33
   12. IANA Considerations ........................................ 34
   13. IPv6 Considerations ........................................ 34
   14. Acknowledgments ............................................ 34
   15. Normative References ....................................... 35
   16. Informative References ..................................... 35
   17. Authors' Addresses ......................................... 36
   18. Full Copyright Statement ................................... 37

1. Introduction

   The Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) algorithm enables
   dynamic, self-starting, multihop routing between participating mobile
   nodes wishing to establish and maintain an ad hoc network.  AODV