Intent-Based Networking - Concepts and Overview
draft-clemm-nmrg-dist-intent-02

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Network Working Group                                           A. Clemm
Internet-Draft                                                 Futurewei
Intended status: Informational                              L. Ciavaglia
Expires: January 9, 2020                                           Nokia
                                                            L. Granville
                         Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)
                                                             J. Tantsura
                                                            Apstra, Inc.
                                                            July 8, 2019

            Intent-Based Networking - Concepts and Overview
                    draft-clemm-nmrg-dist-intent-02

Abstract

   Intent and Intent-Based Networking are taking the industry by storm.
   At the same time, those terms are used loosely and often
   inconsistently, in many cases overlapping and confused with other
   concepts such as "policy".  This document is intended to clarify the
   concept of "Intent" and provide an overview of functionality that
   associated with it.  The goal is to contribute towards a common and
   shared understanding of terms, concepts, and functionality which can
   be used as foundation to guide further definition of associated
   research and engineering problems and their solutions.

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
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   Drafts is at https://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 January 9, 2020.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2019 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
   document authors.  All rights reserved.

Clemm, et al.            Expires January 9, 2020                [Page 1]
Internet-Draft                                                 July 2019

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   (https://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of
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Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
   2.  Key Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
   3.  Definitions and Acronyms  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
   4.  Introduction of Concepts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     4.1.  Intent and Intent-Based Management  . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     4.2.  Related Concepts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
       4.2.1.  Service Models  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
       4.2.2.  Policy and Policy-Based Management  . . . . . . . . .   8
       4.2.3.  Distinguishing between Intent, Policy, and Service
               Models  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
   5.  Principles  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
   6.  Lifecycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
   7.  Intent-Based Networking - Functionality . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     7.1.  Intent Fulfillment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
     7.2.  Intent Assurance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
   8.  Research Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
     8.1.  Intent Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
     8.2.  Explanation Component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
     8.3.  IBN Metrics to Guide Desired Outcomes . . . . . . . . . .  18
   9.  Items for Discussion  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
   10. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
   11. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
   12. References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
     12.1.  Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
     12.2.  Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
   Authors' Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20

1.  Introduction

   Traditionally in the IETF, interest with regard to management and
   operations has focused on individual network and device features.