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Path Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP) Extension for Fine Granularity Metro Transport Network (fgMTN) Path Setup
draft-han-pce-fgmtn-setup-00

Document Type Active Internet-Draft (individual)
Authors Liuyan Han , Haibin Huang , Minxue Wang , Jin Zhou , Li Zhang
Last updated 2026-03-01
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draft-han-pce-fgmtn-setup-00
PCE Working Group                                                 L. Han
Internet-Draft                                                  H. Huang
Intended status: Standards Track                                 M. Wang
Expires: 2 September 2026                                           CMCC
                                                                 J. Zhou
                                                                     ZTE
                                                                L. Zhang
                                                                  Huawei
                                                            1 March 2026

  Path Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP) Extension for
      Fine Granularity Metro Transport Network (fgMTN) Path Setup
                      draft-han-pce-fgmtn-setup-00

Abstract

   This document focuses on the PCEP extension for G.8312 fine
   granularity metro transport network.  It provides the PCEP
   considerations on the path setup requirements of PCEP extension in
   fgMTNP.

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
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   Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months
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   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 2 September 2026.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2026 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 (https://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

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   and restrictions with respect to this document.  Code Components
   extracted from this document must include Revised BSD License text as
   described in Section 4.e of the Trust Legal Provisions and are
   provided without warranty as described in the Revised BSD License.

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
   2.  Requirements Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   3.  Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   4.  Overview of PCEP Extension in fgMTNP Network  . . . . . . . .   3
   5.  Object Formats  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     5.1.  The OPEN Object . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
       5.1.1.  The Path Setup Type Capability TLV  . . . . . . . . .   4
       5.1.2.  The fgMTN PCE Capability Sub-TLV  . . . . . . . . . .   5
     5.2.  The RP/SRP Object . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     5.3.  The LSP Object  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     5.4.  The ERO Object  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
       5.4.1.  FgMTN-ERO Subobject . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     5.5.  The BANDWIDTH Object  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
   6.  Deployment Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   7.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   8.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   9.  Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   10. Normative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   Authors' Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9

1.  Introduction

   With the development of transport networks, TDM-based Metro transport
   network (MTN) is being extended to fine granularity, enabling the
   provisioning of flexible N*10 Mbps bandwidths for clients.

   ITU-T published a series of fgMTN Recommendations which includes the
   fgMTN overview [ITU-T_G.8312.20], the fgMTN layer architecture
   defined in [ITU-T_G.8310], fgMTN interface defined in [ITU-T_G.8312],
   fgMTN equipment defined in [ITU-T_G.8321].  The fgMTNP serves as a
   client of the MTN Path layer, providing sub-1G services for Ethernet
   MAC frames and CBR clients.  Compared to conventional MTNP (N*5Gbps)
   bandwidth, fgMTNP significantly increases the number of LSPs in metro
   network.

   Managing such a massive number of fine-grained channels presents
   major control and management challenges, especially in efficiently
   establishing and maintaining numerous LSPs.  A PCE-based path
   computation mechanism help to address these issues.

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   This document specifies a set of extensions to carry the fgMTNP path
   information in PCEP message.

2.  Requirements Language

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "NOT RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and
   "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in BCP
   14 [RFC2119] [RFC8174] when, and only when, they appear in all
   capitals, as shown here.

3.  Terminology

   fgCS:

      Fine Grain Calendar Slot

   fgMTNP:

      Fine Grainularity Metro Transport Network Path Layer

   MTN:

      Metro Transport Network

4.  Overview of PCEP Extension in fgMTNP Network

   As described in [I-D.han-pce-path-computation-fg-transport], to
   address the massive fgMTN path computation issues, it's necessary to
   hybrid centralized control and distributed control architecture.  The
   centralized control PCE is used to calculate the routing and left the
   resource allocation to device itself.  The path computation results
   are delivered to ingress node to let distributed control protocols
   between devices to perform operations of resource (e.g. fine grain
   calendar slots) allocation and cross connnection configuration.

   [RFC5440] describes the Path Computation Element Communication
   Protocol (PCEP) for communication between a Path Computation Client
   (PCC) and a Path Computation Element (PCE).  A PCE computes paths
   based on various constratints and optimization criteria.  [RFC8231]
   specifies PcRpt and PCUpd messages to enable stateful control of TE
   LSPs, whereby LSPs are configured on the PCC and control over them is
   delegated to the PCE.  [RFC8281] introduces the PCInitiated message
   which a PCE can send to a PCC to request the initiation or deletion
   of an LSP.  All of the PCEP mechanism can be applied to path
   computation of fgMTNP layer network.

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          +------------------------------+
          |             PCE              |
          +------------------------------+
         /                                \
         |                                 |
         |                                 |
       +-+-+    +--+    +--+     +--+    +-+-+
   ----|PE1+----+P1+----+P2+-----+P3+----+PE2+----
       +-+-+    +--+    +--+     +--+    +-+-+
         |                                 |
         +-----------fgMTNP channel--------+

                    Figure 1: Scenario of fgMTNP channel

   As shown in Figure 1, the PCE communication protocol can be extended
   to meet the communication between PCE and PCC according to [RFC4655].
   The path calculation is in a centralized way and sends path
   information to the PE1.  At the same time, fgMTN LSP routing
   information is carried by the explicit route object (ERO) in the PCEP
   message.  The ERO consists of a series of sub-objects.

   Then, the fgMTNP channel is established between devices through
   control signaling.  The topology and fgCS resource information of
   devices are collected and reported to PCE through traditional IGP
   protocols, BGP-LS, or centralized PCEP-LS.

   For the fgCS resource allocation, since there may be as many as 480
   or 960 serices or 480 or 960 fgCSs for one fgMTNP, centralized PCE
   resource allocation would be inefficient.  Moreover, given the
   flexibility of fgMTN channel, it may be frequently created, deleted,
   or modified.  The mechanism of device itself allocation may be
   appropriate for the fgCSs allocation.

   The extensions specified in this document complement the existing
   PCEP specifications to support fgMTN paths.  As such, the PCEP
   messages (e.g., PCReq, PCRep, PCRpt, PCUpd, PCInitiate, etc.) are
   formatted according to [RFC5440], [RFC8231], [RFC8281], and any other
   applicable PCEP specifications.

5.  Object Formats

5.1.  The OPEN Object

5.1.1.  The Path Setup Type Capability TLV

   [RFC8408] defines the PATH-SETUP-TYPE-CAPABILITY TLV for use in the
   OPEN object.  The fgMTN paths computed by a PCE can be represented in
   an ENO as an ordered sets of adjacency identity.

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5.1.2.  The fgMTN PCE Capability Sub-TLV

   This document defines a new Path Setup Type (PST) for fgMTNP, as
   follows:

   PST = TBD1: Traffic-engineering path is set up for fgMTN LSP.

   A PCEP speaker SHOULD indicate its support of the function described
   in this document by sending a PATH-SETUP-TYPE-CAPABILITY TLV in the
   OPEN object with this new PT included in the PST list.

5.2.  The RP/SRP Object

   To set up an fgMTN LSP, the RP or SRP object MUST include the PATH-
   SETUP-TYPE TLV, specified in [RFC8408], with the PST set to TBD1.

5.3.  The LSP Object

   The LSP object specified in [RFC8231] can be used for fgMTN LSP.  The
   12bits Flags are reused for fgMTN.  IPV4-LSP-IDENTIFIER TLV and IPV6-
   LSP-IDENTIFIER TLV describes the fgMTN channel which includes the
   IPv4 or IPv6 Tunnel Sender Address indicating the ingress node of
   fgMTN channel, Extended Tunnel ID which is unique in the source node,
   and the IPv4 or IPv6 Tunnel Endpoint Address indicating the egree
   node of fgMTN channel.  These three tuple identifies an fgMTN
   channel.

    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |        Type=18                |     Length=16                 |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |             fgMTNP IPv4 Tunnel Ingress Address                |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         LSP ID                |     Tunnel ID=0               |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                fgMTNP Extended Tunnel ID                      |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                fgMTNP IPv4 Tunnel Egress Address              |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

                 Figure 2: IPV4-LSP-IDENTIFIERS TLV Format

   As shown in Figure 2, this is an example of IPV4-LSP-IDENTIFIERS TLV
   format.  The IPV6-LSP-IDENTIFIERS TLV format follows the IPV6-LSP-
   IDENTIFIERS TLV format of Figure 13 in [RFC8231]

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5.4.  The ERO Object

   During the path calculation of each fgMTN path, the server layer port
   for each fgMTN is clearly defined.  The 5Gbps port of MTN layer can
   be configured either statically through network management or via
   other approach.  Regardless of the configuration method deployed, the
   server layer 5Gbps port supporting fine granalarity mode is unique
   and unambiguous within a node.

   In PCEP messages, fgMTN LSP route information is carried in the
   Explicit Route Object (ERO), which consists of a strictly sequence of
   subobjects.  The fgMTNP paths computed by a PCE is represented in an
   ERO as an strict ordered set of ports id, without IP addresses.  The
   "fgMTN-ERO subobject" that is capable of carrying an unique adjacency
   id.

5.4.1.  FgMTN-ERO Subobject

   The ERO content is defined in [RFC5440] to support the fgMTN LSPs.
   Each Label ERO subobject is defined in [RFC3473] represents each hop
   of MTN client id for the fgMTN LSP.

    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |L|     Type    |     Length    |U|   Reserved  |    C-Type=0   |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                         Identifier                            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

                    Figure 3: fgMTN-ERO Subobject Format

   The L bit flag is 0 because fgMTNP is a strict path.  The C-Type is
   not used.

   The identifier is a unique identifier for server layer port (5Gbps
   MTN port or 10GE interface) that is enabled in fine grain mode.

5.5.  The BANDWIDTH Object

   The BANDWIDTH object defined in [RFC8779] can be applied to fgMTN.
   The Bw Spec Type field determines which type of bandwidth is
   represented by the object.

   This document defines a new Bw Spec Type for MTN-TDM:

   Bw Spec Type = TBD2: MTN-TDM

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   In the BANDWIDTH object body, the 32bits "Generalized bandwidth"
   field can be reused to describe the Bw Spec.  The format of the Bw
   Spec is shown 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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  Signal Type  |    Reserved   |               NCS             |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

                          Figure 4: Bw Spec Format

   Signal Type : 8 bits  This value indicates the fgMTN LSP.

   NCS (Number of Calendar Slots): 16 bits  This field indicates the
      number of fgCSs of this fgMTNP.

6.  Deployment Considerations

7.  Security Considerations

8.  IANA Considerations

   This document requests IANA to make the following allocations from
   this sub-registry.

       +=======+==================================+===============+
       | Value | Description                      | Reference     |
       +=======+==================================+===============+
       | TBD1  | Path Setup Type (PST) for fgMTNP | This document |
       +-------+----------------------------------+---------------+
       | TBD2  | Bw Spec Type for MTN-TDM         | This document |
       +-------+----------------------------------+---------------+

                       Table 1: IANA Considerations

9.  Acknowledgments

   TBD.

10.  Normative References

   [ITU-T_G.8312.20]
              ITU-T, "ITU-T G.8312.20:Overview of fine grain MTN;
              01/2024",  https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-G.8312.20,
              January 2024.

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   [ITU-T_G.8310]
              ITU-T, "ITU-T G.8310: Architecture of the metro transport
              network; 01/2024",  https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-G.8310,
              March 2025.

   [ITU-T_G.8312]
              ITU-T, "ITU-T G.8312:Interfaces for metro transport
              networks; 01/2024",  https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-G.8312,
              January 2024.

   [ITU-T_G.8321]
              ITU-T, "ITU-T G.8321:Characteristics of metro transport
              network equipment functional
              blocks;",  https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-G.8321.

   [RFC4655]  Farrel, A., Vasseur, J.-P., and J. Ash, "A Path
              Computation Element (PCE)-Based Architecture", RFC 4655,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC4655, August 2006,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4655>.

   [RFC5440]  Vasseur, JP., Ed. and JL. Le Roux, Ed., "Path Computation
              Element (PCE) Communication Protocol (PCEP)", RFC 5440,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC5440, March 2009,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5440>.

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

   [RFC8174]  Leiba, B., "Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in RFC
              2119 Key Words", BCP 14, RFC 8174, DOI 10.17487/RFC8174,
              May 2017, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8174>.

   [RFC8231]  Crabbe, E., Minei, I., Medved, J., and R. Varga, "Path
              Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP)
              Extensions for Stateful PCE", RFC 8231,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC8231, September 2017,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8231>.

   [RFC8281]  Crabbe, E., Minei, I., Sivabalan, S., and R. Varga, "Path
              Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP)
              Extensions for PCE-Initiated LSP Setup in a Stateful PCE
              Model", RFC 8281, DOI 10.17487/RFC8281, December 2017,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8281>.

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   [RFC8408]  Sivabalan, S., Tantsura, J., Minei, I., Varga, R., and J.
              Hardwick, "Conveying Path Setup Type in PCE Communication
              Protocol (PCEP) Messages", RFC 8408, DOI 10.17487/RFC8408,
              July 2018, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8408>.

   [RFC3473]  Berger, L., Ed., "Generalized Multi-Protocol Label
              Switching (GMPLS) Signaling Resource ReserVation Protocol-
              Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) Extensions", RFC 3473,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC3473, January 2003,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc3473>.

   [RFC8779]  Margaria, C., Ed., Gonzalez de Dios, O., Ed., and F.
              Zhang, Ed., "Path Computation Element Communication
              Protocol (PCEP) Extensions for GMPLS", RFC 8779,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC8779, July 2020,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8779>.

   [I-D.han-pce-path-computation-fg-transport]
              Han, L., Zheng, H., Wang, M., and Y. Zhao, "Path
              Computation and Control Extention Requirements for Fine-
              Granularity Transport Network", Work in Progress,
              Internet-Draft, draft-han-pce-path-computation-fg-
              transport-01, 4 March 2024,
              <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-han-pce-path-
              computation-fg-transport-01>.

Authors' Addresses

   Liuyan Han
   China Mobile
   No.32 Xuanwumen west street
   Beijing
   100053
   China
   Email: hanliuyan@chinamobile.com

   Haibin Huang
   China Mobile
   No.32 Xuanwumen west street
   Beijing
   100053
   China
   Email: huanghaibin@chinamobile.com

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   Minxue Wang
   China Mobile
   No.32 Xuanwumen west street
   Beijing
   100053
   China
   Email: wangminxue@chinamobile.com

   Jin Zhou
   ZTE Corporation
   Shenzhen
   China
   Email: zhou.jin6@zte.com.cn

   Li Zhang
   Huawei
   Beiqing Road
   Beijing
   China
   Email: zhangli344@huawei.com

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