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Operating the Network Service Header with Next Protocol "None"
draft-farrel-sfc-convent-00

The information below is for an old version of the document.
Document Type
This is an older version of an Internet-Draft that was ultimately published as RFC 8393.
Authors Adrian Farrel , Lucy Yong , John Drake
Last updated 2017-01-22
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draft-farrel-sfc-convent-00
SFC Working Group                                              A. Farrel
Internet-Draft                                          Juniper Networks
Intended status: Standards Track                                 L. Yong
Expires: July 26, 2017                                        Huawei USA
                                                                J. Drake
                                                        Juniper Networks
                                                        January 22, 2017

     Operating the Network Service Header with Next Protocol "None"
                      draft-farrel-sfc-convent-00

Abstract

   This document describes the use of the Network Service Header (NSH)
   in a Service Function Chaining (SFC) overlay network with no payload
   data and only carrying metadata.  This is achieved by defining a new
   "next protocol" type value of "None".

   This document illustrates some of the functions that may be achieved
   or enhanced by this mechanism, but it does not provide an exhaustive
   list of use cases, nor is it intended to be definitive about the
   functions it describes.  It is expected that other documents will
   describe specific use cases in more detail and will define the
   protocol mechanics for each use case.

Requirements Language

   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 [RFC2119].

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
   working documents as Internet-Drafts.  The list of current Internet-
   Drafts is at http://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 July 26, 2017.

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Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2017 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
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   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  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
   2.  The Network Service Header  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     2.1.  Next Protocol None  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   3.  Processing Rules  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
   4.  Backward Compatiblity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
   5.  Overview of Use Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     5.1.  Per SFP Metadata  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     5.2.  Per Flow Metadata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     5.3.  Coordination Between SFs  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     5.4.  Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) . . . .   6
     5.5.  Control Plane and Management Plane Uses . . . . . . . . .   6
     5.6.  Non-Applicable Use Cases  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
   6.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   7.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   8.  Contributors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   9.  Acknowledgements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   10. References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     10.1.  Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     10.2.  Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
   Authors' Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8

1.  Introduction

   The architecture for Service Function Chaining (SFC) is presented in
   [RFC7498].  That architecture enables packets to be forwarded along
   Service Function Paths (SFPs) to pass through various Service
   Functions (SFs) that act on the packets.  This is achieved by
   inserting a Network Service Header (NSH) [I-D.ietf-sfc-nsh]  into
   each packet to identify the SFP that the packet travels along (by
   means of a Service Path Identifier - SPI) and the point along the SFP

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   that the packet has reached (by means of a Service Index - SI).  The
   SPI and SI are fields encoded in the NSH.

   Packets are classified on entry to the SFC overlay network and have
   an NSH applied to them.  Such packets are forwarded between Service
   Function Forwarders (SFFs) and each SFF may hand the packet off to
   one or more SFs according to the definition of the SFP.

   The packet classifier or SFs may wish to share information (possibly
   state information) about the SFP, the traffic flow, or a spcific
   packet, and they may do this by adding "metadata" to packets as part
   of the NSH.  Metadata may be used to enhance or enable the function
   preformed by SFs, may enable coordination between SFs, or may be used
   to assist a network operator in the diagnosis and monitoring of an
   SFP.

   This document defines a mechanism for metadata to be carried on an
   SFP without the need for payload data.  This may enable diagnosis and
   monitoring of SFPs, and coordination between SFs, without the need
   for traffic to be flowing, and without the need to rewrite data
   packets to insert what might be substantial amounts of metadata.

   This function is achieved by defining a new vlue for the NSH "Next
   Protocol" field to indicate "None".

   This document illustrates some of the functions that may be achieved
   or enhanced by this mechanism, but it does not provide an exhaustive
   list of use cases, nor is it intended to be definitive about the
   functions it describes.  It is expected that other documents will
   describe specific use cases in more detail and will define the
   protocol mechanics for each use case.

2.  The Network Service Header

   The NSH is defined in [I-D.ietf-sfc-nsh].  It includes a field called
   "Next Protocol" that is used to indicate the nature of the payload
   data that follows the NSH.  The field can be used by any component
   that processes the NSH (for example, to understand how to interpret
   and parse the payload) and by nodes at the end of the SFP that remove
   the NSH and forwrd the payload data.

2.1.  Next Protocol None

   This document defines a new value for the Next Protocol field.  When
   set to TBD1, the field indicates that the next protocol is "None"
   meaning that there is no user/payload data following the NSH.

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3.  Processing Rules

   A node wishing to send metadata without a data packet MUST:

   o  Create a packet carrying an NSH and the desired metadata

   o  Set the Next Protocol field to TBD1

   o  Ensure that there are no bytes following the end of the NSH

   o  Encapsulate and send the packet as normal for the SFP.

   Note that a packet with no payload data may be simply inserted at the
   head end of an SFP (such as by a classifier) and may be easily
   forwarded by an SFF or SF on the SFP using the normal processing
   rules defined in [I-D.ietf-sfc-nsh].  Such a packet may only be
   inserted into the middle of an SFP by a node that knows (by control
   plane or management plane means) the correct values of SPI and SI to
   use at that point on the SFP.

   A transit node (SFF, SF, or classifier) receiving a packet with Next
   Protocol indicating "None" MUST NOT attempt to parse or process
   beyond the end of the NSH, but can process the NSH and especially the
   metadata as normal.

   A node that is the egress of an SFP would normally strip the NSH and
   forward the payload according to the setting of the Next Protocol
   field.  Such nodes MUST NOT attempt to forward the paylpoad of
   packets with Next Protocol indicating "None".  These packets would,
   in any case be zero length.

4.  Backward Compatiblity

   Nodes that do not understand the meaning of Next Protocol set to
   "None" will be unable to parse the payload data just as they would be
   unable to process the payload if the Next Protocol field was set to
   any other value they do not understand.  Such nodes MAY, according to
   normal behavior of [I-D.ietf-sfc-nsh], perform protocol independent
   processing of the payload (such as hashing the whole packet)
   constrained by knoweledge of the packet length.  If the packet length
   is not known, such processing obviously cannot be performed.

   Nodes at the end of an SFP possibly forward packets with no knowledge
   of the payload in a "pop and forward" form of processing where the
   NSH is removed and the packet is simply put on an interface.  It is a
   general processing rule for all forwarders that they SHOULD NOT
   attempt to send packets with zero length, and this will be the case
   when the NSH Next Protocol is "None".

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5.  Overview of Use Cases

5.1.  Per SFP Metadata

   Per SFP metadata may be sent along the path of an SFP simply by
   setting the correct SPI in the NSH, and setting the SI to the correct
   value for the introduction of the metadata.  Classifiers will know
   the correct SI value for the point in the SFP at which they reside.

5.2.  Per Flow Metadata

   Per flow metadata is complicated if there is more than one flow
   carried on an SFP.  If there is just one flow on an SFP then there is
   no difference between per-flow metadata and per-SFP metadata.

   In normal processing, the flow to which per-flow metadata applies can
   be deduced by looking at the payload data in the context of the value
   of the Next Protocol field.  When Next Protocol indicates "None" this
   cannot be done.  In this case the identity of the flow would need to
   be carried in the metadata.

5.3.  Coordination Between SFs

   A pair of SFs (adjacent or not) on an SFP may desire to coordinate
   state and may do this by sending information encoded in metadata.

   To do this using the mechanisms defined in this document:

   o  There must be an SFP that passes through the two SFPs in the
      direction of sender to receiver

   o  The sender must know the correct SPI to use

   o  The sender must know the correct SI to use for the point at which
      it resides on the SFP

   o  Ideally the receiver will know to remove the packet from the SFP
      and not forward it further as this might share metadata wider than
      desirable and would cause unneccessary packets in the network.
      Note, however, that continued forwarding of such packets would not
      be substantially harmful in its own right.

   Note that technically (according to the SFC architecture) the process
   of inserting a packet into an SFP is performed by a Classifier.
   However, a Classifier may be co-resident with an SF.

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   Note also that a system with SFs that need to coordinate between each
   other may be configured so that there is a specific, dedicated SFP
   between those service functions that is used solely for this purpose.

5.4.  Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM)

   Requirements for Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) in
   SFC networks are discussed in [I-D.ietf-sfc-oam-framework].  The NSH
   definition in [I-D.ietf-sfc-nsh] includes an O-bit that indicates
   that packet contains OAM information.

   Since OAM information will be carried in packets that also include
   payload data, that information must be carried in metadata.
   Therefore, the mechanism defined in this document can be used to
   carry OAM information independent of payload data.

   Sending OAM separate from (but interleaved with) packets that carry
   payload data may have several advantages including:

   o  Sending OAM when there is no other traffic flowing.

   o  Sending OAM at predictble intervals.

   o  Measuring paths qualities distinct from bevaior of SFs.

   o  Sending OAM without needing to rewrite payload data buffers.

   o  Keeping OAM processing components separate from other processing
      components.

5.5.  Control Plane and Management Plane Uses

   As described in Section 5.3 SFPs can be established specically to
   carry metadata-only packets.  And as described in Section 5.1,
   metadata-only packets can be sent down existing SFPs.  This means
   that metadata-only packets can be used to carry control plane and
   management plane messages used to control and manage the SFC network.

   In effect, SFPs can be established to serve as a Data Control Network
   (DCN) or Management Control Network (MCN).

5.6.  Non-Applicable Use Cases

   The mechanisms described in this document are not applicable to per-
   packet metadata.

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6.  Security Considerations

   Metadata-only packets as enabled by this document create a covert
   channel.  However, this is only different from the same feature in
   the normal NSH in that it can be sent without the presence of a data
   flow.

   Metadata may, of course, contain sensitive data and may also contain
   information used to control the behavior of SFs in the network.  As
   such, this data needs to be protected according to its value and
   according to the perceived vulnerabilities of the network.
   protection of metadata may be achieved by using encrypted transport
   between SFC entities or by encrypting the metadata in its own right.
   The need to protect the metadata is not modified by this document.

   The mechanism desrcibed in this document might possibly be used to
   introduce packets into the SFC overlay network.  Therefore measures
   SHOULD be taken to ensure authorization of sources of such packets,
   and tunneling of such packets into the network SHOULD be prevented.

   Further discussion of NSH security is presented in
   [I-D.ietf-sfc-nsh].

7.  IANA Considerations

   IANA has been requested to create a registry of "Next Protocol"
   values in [I-D.ietf-sfc-nsh].  This document requests IANA to
   allocate a value from that registry to indicate "None" (TBD1 in this
   document).

   It is strongly suggested that a value of 0 (zero) be assigned.

8.  Contributors

      TBD

9.  Acknowledgements

   Thanks to the attendees at the SFC interim meeting in Westford in
   January 2017 for discussions that suggested the value of this
   document.

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10.  References

10.1.  Normative References

   [I-D.ietf-sfc-nsh]
              Quinn, P. and U. Elzur, "Network Service Header", draft-
              ietf-sfc-nsh-10 (work in progress), September 2016.

   [RFC2119]  Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
              Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997,
              <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>.

10.2.  Informative References

   [I-D.ietf-sfc-oam-framework]
              Aldrin, S., Krishnan, R., Akiya, N., Pignataro, C., and A.
              Ghanwani, "Service Function Chaining Operation,
              Administration and Maintenance Framework", draft-ietf-sfc-
              oam-framework-01 (work in progress), February 2016.

   [RFC7498]  Quinn, P., Ed. and T. Nadeau, Ed., "Problem Statement for
              Service Function Chaining", RFC 7498,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC7498, April 2015,
              <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7498>.

Authors' Addresses

   Adrian Farrel
   Juniper Networks

   Email: afarrel@juniper.net

   Lucy Yong
   Huawei USA
   5340 Legacy Dr.
   Plano, TX  75024
   US

   Phone: +1 858 6511 4478
   Email: lucy.yong@huawei.com

   John Drake
   Juniper Networks

   Email: jdrake@juniper.net

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