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IPv6 Performance and Diagnostic Metrics Destination Option
draft-elkins-6man-ipv6-pdm-dest-option-08

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This is an older version of an Internet-Draft whose latest revision state is "Expired".
Authors Nalini Elkins , Rob Hamilton , Michael Ackermann
Last updated 2014-10-10
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draft-elkins-6man-ipv6-pdm-dest-option-08
INTERNET-DRAFT                                                 N. Elkins
                                                         Inside Products
                                                             R. Hamilton
                                              Chemical Abstracts Service
                                                            M. Ackermann
Intended Status: Proposed Standard                         BCBS Michigan
Expires: April 2015                                     October 10, 2014

       IPv6 Performance and Diagnostic Metrics Destination Option
               draft-elkins-6man-ipv6-pdm-dest-option-08

Abstract

   To measure performance and to diagnose performance and connectivity
   problems, metrics embedded in each packet are critical for timely and
   accurate problem resolution. Such diagnostics may be interpreted in
   real-time or after the fact. The base metrics are: packet sequence
   number and packet timing.  Metrics derived from these will be
   described separately. This document describes a new implementation of
   the existing IPv6 Destination Options extension header, the
   Performance and Diagnostic Metrics (PDM) Destination Options
   extension header.

Status of this Memo

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

   Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering
   Task Force (IETF), its areas, and its working groups.  Note that
   other groups may also distribute working documents as
   Internet-Drafts.

   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."

   The list of current Internet-Drafts can be accessed at
   http://www.ietf.org/1id-abstracts.html

   The list of Internet-Draft Shadow Directories can be accessed at
   http://www.ietf.org/shadow.html

 

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Copyright and License Notice

   Copyright (c) 2014 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  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
     1.1  Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
   2  Performance and Diagnostic Metrics Destination Option . . . . .  3
     2.1  Destination Options Header  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
     2.2  Performance and Diagnostic Metrics Destination Option . . .  4
     2.3  Time Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
     2.4  Timer-value scaling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
     2.5  Header Placement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
     2.6  Implementation Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
       2.6.1 Dynamic Configuration Options  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
       2.6.2 Data Length Filtering  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
       2.6.3 5-tuple Aging  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
   3  Backward Compatibility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
   4  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
   5  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
   6  References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
     6.2 Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
   7 Acknowledgments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
   Authors' Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

 

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1  Introduction

   To measure performance and to diagnose performance and connectivity
   problems, metrics embedded in each packet are critical for timely and
   accurate problem resolution. Such diagnostics may be interpreted in
   real-time or after the fact. The base metrics are: packet sequence
   number and packet timing.  Metrics derived from these will be
   described separately. This document describes a new implementation of
   an existing IPv6 Destination Options extension header, the
   Performance and Diagnostic Metrics (PDM) Destination Options
   extension header.

   For the rationale and usage of the PDM extension header, see "IPPM
   Considerations for the IPv6 PDM Destination Option" [ELK-IPPM].
   [ELK-IPPM] discusses measurement of end-user Quality of Experience
   (QoE) as well as the details of the scaling factors used.  The
   current document describes the fields in the PDM header itself.

   As defined in RFC2460 [RFC2460], destination options are carried by
   the IPv6 Destination Options extension header.  Destination options
   include optional information that need be examined only by the IPv6
   node given as the destination address in the IPv6 header, not by
   routers or other "middle boxes".  This document specifies a new
   destination option, the Performance and Diagnostic Metrics (PDM)
   destination option.

1.1  Terminology

   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].

2  Performance and Diagnostic Metrics Destination Option

2.1  Destination Options Header

   The IPv6 Destination Options Header is used to carry optional
   information that need be examined only by a packet's destination
   node(s). The Destination Options Header is identified by a Next
   Header value of 60 in the immediately preceding header and is defined
   in RFC2460 [RFC2460].

   The IPv6 Performance and Diagnostic Metrics Destination Option (PDM)
   is an implementation of the IPv6 Destination Options extension header
   (Next Header value = 60).  The PDM does not require time
   synchronization.

 

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2.2  Performance and Diagnostic Metrics Destination Option

   The Performance and Diagnostic Metrics Destination Option (PDM)
   contains the following fields:

   TIMEBASE : Base timer unit
   SCALEDL  : Scale for Delta Last Received
   SCALEDS  : Scale for Delta Last Sent
   PSNTP    : Packet Sequence Number This Packet
   PSNLR    : Packet Sequence Number Last Received
   DELTALR  : Delta Last Received
   DELTALS  : Delta Last Sent

   For a full explanation of the SCALEDL, SCALEDS, DELTALR, DELTALS
   fields, see [ELK-IPPM].

   The PDM destination option is encoded in type-length-value (TLV)
   format 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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  Option Type  | Option Length |TB |ScaleDL      |   ScaleDS   |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |   PSN This Packet             |  PSN Last Received            |
   |-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |   Delta Last Received         |  Delta Last Sent              |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   Option Type

   TBD = 0xXX (TBD)  [To be assigned by IANA] [RFC2780]

   Option Length

   8-bit unsigned integer. Length of the option, in octets, excluding
   the Option Type and Option Length fields. This field MUST be set to
   16.

   Time Base

   2-bit unsigned integer.  It will indicate the unit measurement for
   this device.  That is, for a value of 11 in the Time Base field, a
   value of 1 in the DELTA fields indicates this device has incremented
   the time by 1 picosecond. Similarly, for a value of 01 in the Time
 

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   Base field, a DELTA value of 1 indicates an increment of 1
   microsecond.

   The possible values of Time Base are as follows:

        00 - milliseconds
        01 - microseconds
        10 - nanoseconds
        11 - picoseconds

   Packet Sequence Number This Packet (PSNTP)

   16-bit unsigned integer.  This field will wrap. It is intended for
   human use.

   Initialized at a random number and monotonically incremented for
   packet on the 5-tuple.  The 5-tuple consists of the source and
   destination IP addresses, the source and destination ports, and the
   upper layer protocol (ex. TCP, ICMP, etc).

   Operating systems MUST implement a separate packet sequence number
   counter per 5-tuple. Operating systems MUST NOT implement a single
   counter for all connections.

   Note: This is consistent with the current implementation of the IPID
   field in IPv4 for many, but not all, stacks.

   Packet Sequence Number Last Received (PSNLR)

   16-bit unsigned integer.  This is the PSN of the packet last received
   on the 5-tuple.

   Scale Delta Last Received (SCALEDLR)

   7-bit signed integer.  This is the scaling value for the Delta Last
   Received (DELTALR) field.  The possible values are from -64 to +63.

   Scale Delta Last Sent (SCALEDLS)

   7-bit signed integer.  This is the scaling value for the Delta Last
   Sent (DELTALS) field.  The possible values are from -64 to +63.

   Delta Last Received (DELTALR)

 

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   A 16-bit unsigned integer field.

   DELTALR = Send time packet 2 - Receive time packet 1

   The value is according to the scale in SCALEDLR.

   Delta Last Sent (DELTALS)

   A 16-bit unsigned integer field.

   Delta Last Sent = Receive time packet 2 - Send time packet 1

   The value is in according to the scale in SCALEDLS.

   Option Type

   The two highest-order bits of the Option Type field are encoded to
   indicate specific processing of the option; for the PDM destination
   option, these two bits MUST be set to 00. This indicates the
   following processing requirements:

     00 - skip over this option and continue processing the header.

   RFC2460 [RFC2460] defines other values for the Option Type field.
   These MUST NOT be used in the PDM.  The other values are as follows:

         01 - discard the packet.

         10 - discard the packet and, regardless of whether or not the
   packet's Destination Address was a multicast address, send an ICMP
   Parameter Problem, Code 2, message to the packet's Source Address,
   pointing to the unrecognized Option Type.

         11 - discard the packet and, only if the packet's Destination
   Address was not a multicast address, send an ICMP Parameter Problem,
   Code 2, message to the packet's Source Address, pointing to the
   unrecognized Option Type.

   In keeping with RFC2460 [RFC2460], the third-highest-order bit of the
   Option Type specifies whether or not the Option Data of that option
   can change en-route to the packet's final destination.

   In the PDM, the value of the third-highest-order bit MUST be 0.  The
   possible values are as follows:
 

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         0 - Option Data does not change en-route

         1 - Option Data may change en-route

   The three high-order bits described above are to be treated as part
   of the Option Type, not independent of the Option Type.  That is, a
   particular option is identified by a full 8-bit Option Type, not just
   the low-order 5 bits of an Option Type.

2.3 Time Base

   This specification allows for the fact that different CPU TOD clocks
   use different binary points. For some clocks, a value of 1 could
   indicate 1 microsecond, whereas other clocks could use the value 1 to
   indicate 1 millisecond. In the former case, the binary digits to the
   right of that binary point measure 2**(-n) microseconds, and in the
   latter case, 2**(-n) milliseconds.

   The Time Base allows us to ensure we have a common reference, at the
   very least, common knowledge of what the binary point is for the
   transmitted values.

2.4 Timer-value scaling

   As discussed in [TRAM-TCPM] we propose storing not an entire time-
   interval value, but just the most significant bits of that value,
   along with a scaling factor to indicate the magnitude of the time-
   interval value.  In our case, we will use the high-order 16 bits. The
   scaling value will be the number of bits in the timer register to the
   right of the 16th significant bit. That is, if the timer register
   contains this binary value:

          1110100011010100101001010001000000000000
          <-16 bits     -><-24 bits             ->

   then, the values stored would be  1110 1000 1101 0100 in binary (E8D4
   hexadecimal) for the time value and 24 for the scaling value. Note
   that the displayed value is the binary equivalent of 1 second
   expressed in picoseconds.

   The following table represents a device which has a TimeBase of
   picosecond (or 11). For this Time Base value the smallest and
   simplest time value to represent is 1 picosecond; the encoded value
   is 1, and the scaling value is 0. Using time values in the first
   column in the table below, we create the following encoded values and
   scaling values:

 

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                     Time value in    Encoded   Scaling
   Delta time         picoseconds     value     decimal
   -----------------------------------------------------
   1 picosecond               1        0001         0
   1 nanosecond             3e8        03e8         0
   1 microsecond          f4240        f424         4
   1 millisecond       3b9aca00        3b9a        16
   1 second          e8d4a51000        e8d4        24
   1 minute        3691d6afc000        3691        32
   1 hour         cca2e51310000        cca2        36
   1 day        132f4579c980000        132f        44
   365 days   1b5a660ea44b80000        1b5a        52

   Sample binary values (high order 16 bits taken)

   1 psec         1                                              0001
   1 nsec       3e8                                    0011 1110 1000
   1 usec     f4240                          1111 0100 0010 0100 0000
   1 msec  3b9aca00           0011 1011 1001 1010 1100 1010 0000 0000
   1 sec e8d4a51000 1110 1000 1101 0100 1010 0101 0001 0000 0000 0000

   The need for a signed scaling value is more apparent when the Time
   Base is lower. If you specify your Time Base is microseconds (or 01)
   then these tables looks very similar:

                       Time value in     Encoded    Scaling
      Delta time        microseconds      value     decimal
   --------------------------------------------------------
      1 microsecond              1        0001         0
      1 millisecond            3e8        03e8         0
      1 second               f4240        f424         4
      1 minute             3938700        e4e1        10
      1 hour              d693a400        d693        16
      1 day             141dd76000        a0ee        21

   An issue arises when the binary point is at the microsecond level, as
   it is here, but the time differential to be expressed is some number
   of nanoseconds or picoseconds. For example 1 nanosecond is .001
   microseconds, or about .000000000100000110001001001 in binary. To
   encode this value we would follow the same procedure:

          <-       25 bits       ->    Scaling value: -25
          000000000100000110001001001
                   <-16 bits     ->    Encoded value: 8312

   So, the encoded value would be 8312, with a scaling value of -25
   which, in the signed 7-bit SCALEDS or SCALEDR field would be
   represented as 1100111 in binary.
 

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   Similarly, if the Time Base is 10, indicating the clock is counting
   nanoseconds, the encoded value and scaling values for 1 picosecond,
   or .001 nanoseconds are the same, 8312 and -25, because we've changed
   the Time Base.

   For further discussion on timing and scaling, please see "IPPM
   Considerations for the IPv6 PDM Destination Option" [ELK-IPPM].

2.5  Header Placement

   The PDM destination option MUST be placed as follows:

      - Before the upper-layer header.  That is, this is the last
   extension header.

   This follows the order defined in RFC2460 [RFC2460]

              IPv6 header

              Hop-by-Hop Options header

              Destination Options header

              Routing header

              Fragment header

              Authentication header

              Encapsulating Security Payload header

              Destination Options header

              upper-layer header

   For each IPv6 packet header, the PDM MUST NOT appear more than once.
   However, an encapsulated packet MAY contain a separate PDM associated
   with each encapsulated IPv6 header.

   The inclusion of a PDM in a packet affects the receiving node's
   processing of only this single packet. No state is created or
   modified in the receiving node as a result of receiving a PDM in a
   packet.

 

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2.6  Implementation Considerations

   The PDM destination options extension header SHOULD be turned on by
   each stack on a host node.

2.6.1 Dynamic Configuration Options

   If implemented, each operating system MUST have a default
   configuration parameter, e.g. diag_header_sys_default_value=yes/no.
   The operating system MAY also have a dynamic configuration option to
   change the configuration setting as needed.

   If the PDM destination options extension header is used, then it MAY
   be turned on for all packets flowing through the host, applied to an
   upper-layer protocol (TCP, UDP, SCTP, etc), a local port, or IP
   address only.  These are at the discretion of the implementation.

   The PDM MUST NOT be changed dynamically via packet flow as this may
   create potential security violation or DoS attack by numerous packets
   turning the header on and off.

   As with all other destination options extension headers, the PDM is
   for destination nodes only. As specified above, intermediate devices
   MUST neither set nor modify this field.

2.6.2 Data Length Filtering

   Different results for derived metrics, such as, server delay, will be
   obtained if calculations are done including or excluding packets
   which have a data length of 0 or 1.  Some protocols, for example,
   TCP, provide acknowledgements which have a length of 0.  Keep-alive
   packets have a data length of 0 or 1.

   Operating systems may provide the user a choice of whether to include
   or exclude packets with a 0 or 1 byte data length.

2.6.3 5-tuple Aging

   Within the operating system, metrics must be kept on a 5-tuple basis.
     The 5-tuple is:

      SADDR : IP address of the sender
      SPORT : Port for sender
      DADDR : IP address of the destination
      DPORT : Port for destination
      PROTC : Protocol for upper layer (ex. TCP, UDP, ICMP)

 

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   The question comes of when to stop keeping data or restarting the
   numbering for a 5-tuple.  For example, in the case of TCP, at some
   point, the connection will terminate.  Keeping data in control blocks
   forever, will have unfortunate consequences for the operating system.

   So, the recommendation is to use a known aging parameter such as Max
   Segment Lifetime (MSL) as defined in Transmission Control Protocol
   [RFC0793].  The choice of aging parameter is left up to the
   implementation.

3  Backward Compatibility

   The scheme proposed in this document is backward compatible with all
   the currently defined IPv6 extension headers. According to RFC2460
   [RFC2460], if the destination node does not recognize this option, it
   should skip over this option and continue processing the header.

4  Security Considerations

   The PDM MUST NOT be changed dynamically via packet flow as this
   creates a possibility for potential security violations or DoS
   attacks by numerous packets turning the header on and off.

5  IANA Considerations

   An option type must be assigned by IANA for the Performance and
   Diagnostic Metrics (PDM) destination option.

6  References

   6.1 Normative References

   [RFC0793]  Postel, J., "Transmission Control Protocol", STD 7,
   RFC 793, September 1981.

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

   [RFC2460]  Deering, S. and R. Hinden, "Internet Protocol, Version 6
   (IPv6) Specification", RFC 2460, December 1998.

   [RFC2780]  Bradner, S. and V. Paxson, "IANA Allocation Guidelines For
    Values In the Internet Protocol and Related Headers",           BCP
   37, RFC 2780, March 2000.

 

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6.2 Informative References

   [TRAM-TCPM] Trammel, B., "Encoding of Time Intervals for the TCP
   Timestamp Option-01", Internet Draft,  July 2013. [Work in Progress]

   [ELK-IPPM] Elkins, N., "IPPM Considerations for the IPv6 PDM
   Destination Option-01", Internet Draft,  October 2014.

7 Acknowledgments

   The authors would like to thank Keven Haining, Bill Jouris, Sigfrido
   Perdomo and Fred Baker for their comments.

Authors' Addresses

      Nalini Elkins
      Inside Products, Inc.
      36A Upper Circle
      Carmel Valley, CA 93924
      United States
      Phone: +1 831 659 8360
      Email: nalini.elkins@insidethestack.com
      http://www.insidethestack.com

      Robert M. Hamilton
      Chemical Abstracts Service
      A Division of the American Chemical Society
      2540 Olentangy River Road
      Columbus, Ohio  43202
      United States
      Phone: +1 614 447 3600 x2517
      Email: rhamilton@cas.org
      http://www.cas.org

      Michael S. Ackermann
      Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
      P.O. Box 2888
      Detroit, Michigan 48231
      United States
      Phone: +1 310 460 4080
      Email: mackermann@bcbsmi.com
      http://www.bcbsmi.com

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