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Dynamic Link Exchange Protocol (DLEP)
draft-ietf-manet-dlep-03

The information below is for an old version of the document.
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This is an older version of an Internet-Draft that was ultimately published as RFC 8175.
Expired & archived
Authors Stan Ratliff , Cisco Cisco , Greg Harrison , Darryl Satterwhite , Shawn Jury
Last updated 2013-03-11 (Latest revision 2012-08-30)
Replaces draft-sratliff-manet-dlep
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draft-ietf-manet-dlep-03
Mobile Ad hoc Networks Working                                S. Ratliff
Group                                                           B. Berry
Internet-Draft                                               G. Harrison
Intended status: Standards Track                          D. Satterwhite
Expires: March 3, 2013                                     Cisco Systems
                                                                 S. Jury
                                                                  NetApp
                                                         August 30, 2012

                 Dynamic Link Exchange Protocol (DLEP)
                        draft-ietf-manet-dlep-03

Abstract

   When routing devices rely on modems to effect communications over
   wireless links, they need timely and accurate knowledge of the
   characteristics of the link (speed, state, etc.) in order to make
   forwarding decisions. In mobile or other environments where these
   characteristics change frequently, manual configurations or the
   inference of state through routing or transport protocols does not
   allow the router to make the best decisions. A bidirectional, event-
   driven communication channel between the router and the modem is
   necessary.

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/ietf/1id-abstracts.txt.

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

   This Internet-Draft will expire on February 21, 2013.

 

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Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2012 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  Requirements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
   2. Assumptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
   3. Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
   4. Metrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
   5. Extensions to DLEP  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
   6. Normal Session Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
   7. Mandatory Signals and Data Items  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
   8. Generic DLEP Packet Definition  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
   9. DLEP Data Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
     9.1  Identification  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
     9.2  DLEP Version  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
     9.3  Peer Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
     9.4  MAC Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
     9.5  IPv4 Address  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
     9.6  IPv6 Address  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
     9.7  Maximum Data Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
     9.8  Current Data Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
     9.9  Expected Forwarding Time  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
     9.10  Latency  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
     9.11  Resources  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
     9.12  Relative Link Quality  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
     9.13  Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
     9.14  Heartbeat Interval/Threshold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
     9.15  Link Characteristics ACK Timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
     9.16  Credit Window Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
     9.17  Credit Grant Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
     9.18  Credit Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
   10. DLEP Protocol Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
     10.1  Signal TLV Values  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
   11. Peer Discovery Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
 

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   12. Peer Offer Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
   13. Peer Offer ACK Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
   14. Peer Update Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
   15. Peer Update ACK Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
   16. Peer Termination Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
   17. Peer Termination ACK Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
   18. Neighbor Up Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
   19. Neighbor Up ACK Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
   20. Neighbor Down Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
   21. Neighbor Down ACK Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
   22. Neighbor Update Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
   23. Heartbeat Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
   24. Link Characteristics Request Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
   25. Link Characteristics ACK Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
   26.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
   27.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
     27.1  Registrations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
     27.2  Expert Review: Evaluation Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . 37
     27.3  Signal (Message) TLV Type Registration . . . . . . . . . . 37
     27.4  DLEP Data Item Registrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
     27.5  DLEP Well-known Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
     27.6  DLEP Multicast Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
   30. Appendix A.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
     30.1  Peer Level Message Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
       30.1.1  Modem Device Restarts Discovery  . . . . . . . . . . . 38
       30.1.2  Modem Device Detects Peer Offer Timeout  . . . . . . . 39
       30.1.3  Router Peer Offer Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
       30.1.4  Discovery Success  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
       30.1.5  Router Detects a Heartbeat timeout . . . . . . . . . . 41
       30.1.6  Modem Detects a Heartbeat timeout  . . . . . . . . . . 41
       30.1.7  Peer Terminate (from Modem) Lost . . . . . . . . . . . 42
       30.1.8  Peer Terminate (from Router) Lost  . . . . . . . . . . 42
     30.2  Neighbor Specific Message Flows  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
       30.2.1  Modem Neighbor Up Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
       30.2.2  Router Detects Duplicate Neighbor Ups  . . . . . . . . 43
       30.2.3  Neighbor Up, No Layer 3 Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . 44
       30.2.4  Neighbor Up with IPv4, No IPv6 . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
       30.2.5  Neighbor Up with IPv4 and IPv6 . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
       30.2.6  Neighbor Session Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
   Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
   Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
   Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
   Author's Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

1. Introduction

   There exist today a collection of modem devices that control links of
   variable bandwidth and quality. Examples of these types of links
 

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   include line-of-sight (LOS) radios, satellite terminals, and
   cable/DSL modems. Fluctuations in speed and quality of these links
   can occur due to configuration (in the case of cable/DSL modems), or
   on a moment-to-moment basis, due to physical phenomena like multipath
   interference, obstructions, rain fade, etc. It is also quite possible
   that link quality and bandwidth varies with respect to individual
   neighbors on a link, and with the type of traffic being sent. As an
   example, consider the case of an 802.11g access point, serving 2
   associated laptop computers. In this environment, the answer to the
   question "What is the bandwidth on the 802.11g link?" is "It depends
   on which associated laptop we're talking about, and on what kind of
   traffic is being sent." While the first laptop, being physically
   close to the access point, may have a bandwidth of 54Mbps for unicast
   traffic, the other laptop, being relatively far away, or obstructed
   by some object, can simultaneously have a bandwidth of only 32Mbps
   for unicast. However, for multicast traffic sent from the access
   point, all traffic is sent at the base transmission rate (which is
   configurable, but depending on the model of the access point, is
   usually 24Mbps or less). 

   In addition to utilizing variable bandwidth links, mobile networks
   are challenged by the notion that link connectivity will come and go
   over time.  Effectively utilizing a relatively short-lived connection
   is problematic in IP routed networks, as routing protocols tend to
   rely on independent timers at OSI Layer 3 to maintain network
   convergence (e.g. HELLO messages and/or recognition of DEAD routing
   adjacencies). These short-lived connections can be better utilized
   with an event-driven paradigm, where acquisition of a new neighbor
   (or loss of an existing one) is signaled, as opposed to a timer-
   driven paradigm.

   Another complicating factor for mobile networks are the different
   methods of physically connecting the modem devices to the router.
   Modems can be deployed as an interface card in a router's chassis, or
   as a standalone device connected to the router via Ethernet, USB, or
   even a serial link. In the case of Ethernet or serial attachment,
   with existing protocols and techniques, routing software cannot be
   aware of convergence events occurring on the radio link (e.g.
   acquisition or loss of a potential routing neighbor), nor can the
   router be aware of the actual capacity of the link. This lack of
   awareness, along with the variability in bandwidth, leads to a
   situation where quality of service (QoS) profiles are extremely
   difficult to establish and properly maintain. This is especially true
   of demand-based access schemes such as Demand Assigned Multiple
   Access (DAMA) implementations used on some satellite systems. With a
   DAMA-based system, additional bandwidth may be available, but will
   not be used unless the network devices emit traffic at rate higher
   than the currently established rate. Increasing the traffic rate does
 

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   not guarantee additional bandwidth will be allocated; rather, it may
   result in data loss and additional retransmissions on the link. 

   Addressing the challenges listed above, the authors have developed
   the Data Link Exchange Protocol, or DLEP. The DLEP protocol runs
   between a router and its attached modem devices, allowing the modem
   to communicate link characteristics as they change, and convergence
   events (acquisition and loss of potential routing neighbors). The
   following diagrams are used to illustrate the scope of DLEP packets.

   |-------Local Node-------|          |-------Remote Node------|
   |                        |          |                        |
   +--------+       +-------+          +-------+       +--------+
   | Router |=======| Modem |{~~~~~~~~}| Modem |=======| Router |
   |        |       | Device|          | Device|       |        |
   +--------+       +-------+          +-------+       +--------+
            |       |       | Link     |       |       |
            |-DLEP--|       | Protocol |       |-DLEP--|
            |       |       | (e.g.    |       |       |
            |       |       | 802.11)  |       |       |

                          Figure 1: DLEP Network

   In Figure 1, when the local modem detects the presence of a remote
   node, it (the local modem) sends a signal to its router via the DLEP
   protocol. Upon receipt of the signal, the local router may take
   whatever action it deems appropriate, such as initiating discovery
   protocols, and/or issuing HELLO messages to converge the network. On
   a continuing, as-needed basis, the modem devices utilize DLEP to
   report any characteristics of the link (bandwidth, latency, etc) that
   have changed. DLEP is independent of the link type and topology
   supported by the modem. 

   Figure 2 shows how DLEP can support a configuration where routers are
   connected with different link types. In this example, Modem A
   implements a point-to-point link, and Modem B is connected via a
   shared medium. In both cases, the DLEP protocol is used to report the
   characteristics of the link (bandwidth, latency, etc.) to routers.
   The modem is also able to use the DLEP session to notify the router
   when the remote node is lost, shortening the time required to re-
   converge the network.

            +--------+                     +--------+
       +----+ Modem A|                     | Modem A+---+
       |    | Device |  <===== // ======>  | Device |   |
       |    +--------+      P-2-P Link     +--------+   |
   +---+----+                                       +---+----+
   | Router |                                       | Router |
 

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   |        |                                       |        |
   +---+----+                                       +---+----+
       |     +--------+                     +--------+  |
       +-----+ Modem B|                     | Modem B|  |
             | Device |   o o o o o o o o   | Device +--+
             +--------+    o  Shared   o    +--------+
                            o Medium  o
                             o       o
                              o     o
                               o   o
                                 o
                            +--------+
                            | Modem B|
                            | Device |
                            +---+----+
                                |
                                |
                            +---+----+
                            | Router |
                            |        |
                            +--------+

            Figure 2: DLEP Network with Multiple Modem Devices

   DLEP defines a set of logical signals used by modems and their
   attached routers. The signals are used to communicate events that
   occur on the physical link(s) managed by the modem: for example, a
   remote node entering or leaving the network, or that the link has
   changed. Associated with these signals are a set of data items -
   information that describes the remote node (e.g., address
   information), and/or the characteristics of the link to the remote
   node.  

   The protocol is defined as a collection of type-length-value (TLV)
   based messages, specifying the signals that are exchanged between a
   router and a modem, and the data items associated with the signal.
   This document specifies transport of DLEP signals and data items via
   the UDP transport. Other transports for the protocol are possible,
   but are outside the scope of this document.

   DLEP signals are further defined as mandatory or optional. Signals
   will additionally have mandatory and optional data items.
   Implementations MUST support all mandatory signals and their
   mandatory data items to be considered compliant. Implementations MAY
   also support some, or all, of the optional signals and data items. 

   DLEP uses a session-oriented paradigm between the modem device and
   its associated router. If multiple modem devices are attached to a
 

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   router (as in Figure 2), a separate DLEP session MUST exist for each
   modem. If a modem device supports multiple connections to a router
   (via multiple logical or physical interfaces), or supports
   connections to multiple routers, a separate DLEP session MUST exist
   for each connection. This router/modem session provides a carrier for
   information exchange concerning neighbors (remote nodes) that are
   accessible via the modem device. As such, all of the neighbor-level
   exchanges in DLEP can be envisioned as building an information base
   concerning the remote nodes, and the link characteristics to those
   nodes.

   Multicast traffic is handled in IP networks by deriving a Layer 2 MAC
   address based on the Layer 3 address. Leveraging on this scheme,
   Multicast traffic is supported in DLEP simply by treating the derived
   MAC address as any other destination in the network. To support these
   logical destinations, one of the DLEP participants (typically, the
   router) informs the other as to the existence of the logical
   neighbor. The modem, once it is aware of the existence of this
   logical neighbor, reports link characteristics just as it would for
   any other destination in the network. The specific algorithms a modem
   would use to report metrics on multicast (or logical) destinations is
   outside the scope of this specification, and is left to specific
   implementations to decide. 

1.1  Requirements

   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 BCP 14, RFC 2119
   [RFC2119].

2. Assumptions

   Routers and modems that exist as part of the same node (e.g., that
   are locally connected) can utilize a discovery technique to locate
   each other, thus avoiding a-priori configuration. Either entity (the
   router or the modem) can initiate the discovery process. In cases
   where both entities initiate discovery, a race condition can occur.
   When this race condition occurs, the router MUST cease its active
   discovery, and respond to the modem's request. 

   DLEP utilizes a session-oriented paradigm. A router and modem form a
   session by completing the discovery process. This router-modem
   session persists unless or until it either (1) times out, based on
   the timeout values supplied, or (2) is explicitly torn down by one of
   the participants. Note that use of timers in DLEP is OPTIONAL; that
   is, implementations can choose to run with no timers (or effectively,
   timers set to an infinite value). 
 

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   DLEP assumes that participating modems, and their physical links, act
   as a transparent bridge. Specifically, the assumption is that the
   destination MAC address for data traffic in any frame emitted by the
   router should be the MAC address of a device in the remote node. DLEP
   also assumes that MAC addresses are unique within the context of the
   router-modem session.

   This document refers to a remote node as a "Neighbor". Neighbors can
   be identified by either the router or the modem, and represent a
   specific destination (e.g., an address) that exists on the link(s)
   managed by the modem. Examples of a destination include a MAC
   address, a unicast Layer 3 address, or a multicast Layer 3 address.
   As "neighbors" are discovered, DLEP routers and modems build an
   information base on destinations accessible via the modem. Changes in
   link characteristics MAY then be reported as being "modem-wide"
   (effecting ALL neighbors accessed via the modem) or MAY be neighbor
   (destination) specific. 

   The DLEP signals concerning neighbors thus become the way for routers
   and modems to maintain, and notify each other about, an information
   base representing the physical and logical (e.g., multicast)
   destinations accessible via the modem device. The information base
   would contain addressing information (e.g., MAC address, and
   OPTIONALLY, Layer 3 addresses), link characteristics (metrics), and
   OPTIONALLY, flow control information (credits). 

   DLEP assumes that security on the session (e.g. authentication of
   session partners, encryption of traffic, or both) is dealt with by
   the underlying transport mechanism (e.g., by using a transport such
   as DTLS [DTLS]).

   Sequence Numbers for DLEP messages start at 0 and are incremented by
   one for each original and retransmitted message.  The unsigned 16-bit
   Sequence Number rolls over at 65535 to 0. Sequence Numbers are unique
   within the context of a DLEP session. Sequence numbers are used in
   DLEP to correlate a response to a request.

   This document specifies an implementation of the DLEP signals and
   data items running over the UDP transport, utilizing a well-known UDP
   Port number. It is assumed that DLEP running over other transport
   mechanisms would be documented separately.

3. Credits

   DLEP includes an OPTIONAL credit-windowing scheme analogous to the
   one documented in [RFC5578]. In this scheme, traffic between the
   router and modem is treated as two unidirectional windows. This
 

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   document identifies these windows as the "Modem Receive Window", or
   MRW, and the "Router Receive Window", or RRW.

   If credits are used, they MUST be granted by the receiver on a given
   window - that is, on the "Modem Receive Window" (MRW), the modem is
   responsible for granting credits to the router, allowing it (the
   router) to send data to the modem. Likewise, the router is
   responsible for granting credits on the RRW, which allows the modem
   to send data to the router.

   DLEP expresses all credit data in number of octets. The total number
   of credits on a window, and the increment to add to a grant, are
   always expressed as a 64-bit unsigned quantity.

   If used, credits are managed on a neighbor-specific basis; that is,
   separate credit counts are maintained for each neighbor requiring the
   service. Credits do not apply to the DLEP session that exists between
   routers and modems.

4. Metrics

   DLEP includes the ability for the router and modem to communicate
   metrics that reflect the characteristics (e.g. bandwidth, latency) of
   the variable-quality link in use. As mentioned in the introduction
   section of this document, metrics have to be used within a context -
   for example, metrics to a unicast address in the network. DLEP allows
   for metrics to be sent within two contexts - metrics for a specific
   neighbor (those for a given destination within the network), and
   "modem-wide" (those that apply to all destinations accessed via the
   modem). Metrics supplied on DLEP Peer signals are, by definition,
   modem-wide; metrics supplied on Neighbor signals are, by definition,
   used for the specific neighbor only.

   It is left to implementations to choose sensible default values based
   on their specific characteristics. Additionally, this mechanism
   (either at a modem-wide or specific neighbor context) MAY be used to
   report non-changing, or static, metrics. Modems having static link
   metric characteristics MAY report metrics only once for a given
   neighbor (or once on a modem-wide basis, if all connections via the
   modem are of this static nature).

   The approach of allowing for different contexts for metric data
   increases both the flexibility and the complexity of using metric
   data. This document details the mechanism whereby the data is
   transmitted, however, the specific algorithms (precedence, etc) for
   utilizing the dual-context metrics is out of scope and not addressed
   by this document. 

 

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5. Extensions to DLEP

   While this draft represents the best efforts of the co-authors, and
   the working group, to be functionally complete, it is recognized that
   extensions to DLEP will in all likelihood be necessary as more link
   types are utilized. To allow for future innovation, the draft
   allocates numbering space for experimental implementations of both
   signals and data items. 

   DLEP implementations MUST be capable of parsing and acting on the
   mandatory signals and data items as documented in this specification.
   DLEP signals/data items that are optional, or are in the experimental
   numbering range SHOULD be silently dropped by an implementation if
   they are not understood. 

   The intent of the optional signals and data items, as well as the
   experimental numbering space, is to allow for further development of
   DLEP protocol features and function. Having experimental space
   reserved for both signals and data items gives maximum flexibility
   for extending the protocol as conditions warrant. For example,
   experimental data items could be used by implementations to send
   additional metrics. A combination of experimental signals, and
   associated data items, could be used to implement new flow control
   schemes. If subsequent research and development define new features
   and function, then it should be standardized either as an update to
   this document, or as an additional stand-alone specification.

6. Normal Session Flow

   At the start of a run, DLEP implementations (both router and modem)
   initialize the communications path. In a UDP implementation, this
   includes opening a socket and binding to the well-known port address
   (TBD). Once the communications path is established, an implementation
   would either, depending on configuration, proceed to periodically
   issue a "Peer Discovery" message. The Peer Discovery MAY be sent
   either via the multicast address allocated for DLEP (TBD), or via a
   unicast address, or drop into a "passive receive" mode, waiting on
   receipt of a Peer Discovery. 

   Both modem and router initialize in a "discovery" state. Either the
   modem, the router, or both, will then issue a "Peer Discovery"
   signal. The Peer Discovery signal MAY be issued to a unicast address
   (if a-priori knowledge of the address exists), or to the multicast
   address TBD.

   The receiver of a Peer Discovery message responds with a "Peer Offer"
   signal to indicate readiness to participate in the DLEP session. The
 

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   receiver of a Peer Offer message responds with a "Peer Offer ACK"
   message, completing discovery. While the Peer Discovery message MAY
   be sent to the DLEP multicast address (TBD), the Peer Offer, and all
   subsequent traffic, is sent to the unicast address that originated
   the Peer Discovery. Once the Peer Offer signal is acknowledged, both
   participants (router and modem) transition to the "in session" state,
   creating a logical, stateful session between the modem and the
   router. Subsequent DLEP signals are then processed within the context
   of this router/modem session. DLEP partners use these signals to
   build their respective information bases regarding destinations that
   are accessible via the modem, and link characteristics associated
   with those destinations. 

   The "in session" state created by the discovery signals is maintained
   until one of the following conditions occur:

   o  The session is explicitly terminated (using Peer Termination), or
   o  The session times out, based on supplied timeout values.

   In order to maintain the session between router and modem, OPTIONAL
   periodic "Heartbeat" messages MAY be exchanged. These messages are
   intended to keep the session alive, and to verify bidirectional
   connectivity between the two participants. DLEP also provides for an
   OPTIONAL Peer Update message, intended to communicate some change in
   status (e.g., a change of layer 3 address parameters, or a modem-wide
   link change).

   In addition to the messages above, the participants will transmit
   DLEP messages concerning destinations in the network. These messages
   trigger creation/maintenance/deletion of "neighbors" in the
   information base of the recipient. For example, a modem will inform
   its attached router of the presence of a new destination via the
   "Neighbor Up" signal. Receipt of a Neighbor Up causes the router to
   allocate the necessary resources, creating an entry in the
   information base with the specifics (e.g., MAC Address, Latency, Data
   Rate, etc) of the neighbor. The loss of a destination is communicated
   via the "Neighbor Down" signal, and changes in status to the
   destination (e.g. varying link quality, or addressing changes) are
   communicated via the "Neighbor Update" signal. The information on a
   given neighbor will persist in the router's information base until
   (1) a "Neighbor Down" is received, indicating that the modem has lost
   contact with the remote node, or (2) the router/modem session
   terminates, indicating that the router has lost contact with its own
   local modem. 

   Again, metrics can be expressed within the context of a specific
   neighbor via the Neighbor Update message, or on a modem-wide basis
   via the Peer Update message. In cases where metrics are provided on
 

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   the router/modem session, the receiver MUST propagate the metrics to
   all neighbors in its information base that are accessed via the
   originator. A DLEP participant MAY send metrics both in a
   router/modem session context (via the Peer Update message) and a
   specific neighbor context (via Neighbor Update) at any time. The
   heuristics for applying received metrics is left to implementations.

   In addition to receiving metrics about the link, DLEP provides an
   OPTIONAL signal allowing a router to request a different amount of
   bandwidth, or latency, from the modem. This signal is referred to as
   the Link Characteristics Message, and gives the router the ability to
   deal with requisite increases (or decreases) of allocated
   bandwidth/latency in demand-based schemes in a more deterministic
   manner.

7. Mandatory Signals and Data Items

   The following DLEP signals are considered core to the specification;
   implementations MUST support these signals, and the associated data
   items, in order to be considered compliant:

         Signal                        Data Items
         ======                        ==========
         Attached Peer Discovery       Identification 

         Peer Offer                    Identification

         Peer Offer ACK                Status

         Peer Termination              Identification

         Peer Termination ACK          Status 

         Neighbor Up                   Identification
                                       MAC Address
                                       Maximum Data Rate
                                       Current Data Rate
                                       Latency
                                       Resources
                                       Relative Link Quality

         Neighbor Update               Identification
                                       MAC Address
                                       Maximum Data Rate
                                       Current Data Rate
                                       Latency
                                       Resources
                                       Relative Link Quality
 

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         Neighbor Down                 Identification
                                       MAC Address

   All other DLEP signals and data items are OPTIONAL. Implementations
   MAY choose to provide them. Implementations that do not support
   optional signals and data items SHOULD parse, and silently drop, all
   unsupported signals and/or data items.  

8. Generic DLEP Packet Definition

   The Generic DLEP Packet consists of a sequence of TLVs. The first TLV
   represents the signal being communicated (e.g., a "Neighbor Up", or a
   "Peer Offer"). Subsequent TLVs contain the data items pertinent to
   the signal (e.g., Maximum Data Rate, or Latency, etc).

   The Generic DLEP Packet Definition contains the following fields:

    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 TLV Type | Length        | DLEP data items...           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

      Signal               - One of the DLEP Signal TLV type values 
                             defined in this document. 

      Length               - The length of all of the DLEP data items
                             associated with this signal.

      DLEP data items      - One or more data items, encoded in TLVs,
                             as defined in this document.

9. DLEP Data Items

   As mentioned earlier, DLEP protocol messages are transported as a
   collection of TLVs. The first TLV present in a DLEP message MUST be
   one of the Signal TLVs, documented in section [INSERT REFERENCE
   HERE]. The signals are followed by one or more data items, indicating
   the specific changes that need to be instantiated in the receiver's
   information base.

   Valid DLEP Data Items are:

          TLV      TLV
          Value    Description
          =========================================
 

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          TBD      Identification
          TBD      DLEP Version
          TBD      Peer Type 
          TBD      IPv4 Address
          TBD      IPv6 Address
          TBD      Maximum Data Rate (MDR)
          TBD      Current Data Rate (CDR)
          TBD      Latency
          TBD      Resources
          TBD      Expected Forwarding Time (EFT)
          TBD      Relative Link Quality (RLQ)
          TBD      Status
          TBD      Heartbeat Interval/Threshold
          TBD      Neighbor down ACK timer
          TBD      Link Characteristics ACK timer
          TBD      Credit Window Status
          TBD      Credit Grant
          TBD      Credit Request

   DLEP data item TLVs contain the following fields:

    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  TLV Type     | Length        | Value...                      |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type    - An 8-bit unsigned integer field specifying the data    
                 item being sent.

   Length      - An 8-bit length of the value field of the data item

   Value       - A field of length <Length> which contains data         
                 specific to a particular data item.

9.1  Identification

   This data item MUST exist in all DLEP messages, and MUST be the first
   data item of the message (e.g., it MUST immediately follow the signal
   TLV). Further, there MUST be ONLY one Identification data item in a
   DLEP message. The data item contains identification information used
   to establish the proper context (e.g., the router/modem session) for
   processing DLEP protocol messages.

   The format of the Identification Data Item is:

    0                   1                   2                   3
 

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    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type = TBD  | Length = 8     |         Router ID           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |            Router ID            |         Modem ID            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |            Modem ID             |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type      - Value TBD

   Length        - 8

   Router ID     - Indicates the Router ID of the DLEP session.

   Modem ID      - indicates the Modem ID of the DLEP session.

   During transmission of a DLEP Peer Discovery signal, the transmitter
   MUST set its ID to a 32-bit quantity that will be used to uniquely
   identify this session from the transmitter's perspective. The other
   ID value MUST be set the to '0'. When responding to the Peer
   Discovery signal (via the Peer Offer signal), the transmitter MUST
   echo any received ID value, and MUST supply its own unique 32-bit
   quantity to identify the session from its perspective. After the Peer
   Discovery/Peer Offer exchange, subsequent signals on this DLEP
   session MUST contain the ID values obtained from the Peer
   Discovery/Peer Offer sequence.

9.2  DLEP Version

   The DLEP Version TLV is an OPTIONAL TLV in both the Peer Discovery
   and Peer Offer messages. The Version TLV is used to indicate the
   version of the protocol running in the originator. A participant MAY
   use this information to decide if the potential session partner is
   running at a supported level.

   The DLEP Version TLV contains the following fields:

    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length=4       |         Major Version         |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |       Minor Version           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type      - TBD
 

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   Length        - Length is 4

   Major Version - Major version of the modem or router protocol.

   Minor Version - Minor version of the modem or router protocol.

   Support of this draft is indicated by setting the Major Version
   to '1', and the Minor Version to '3' (e.g. Version 1.3).

9.3  Peer Type

   The Peer Type TLV is an OPTIONAL TLV in both the Peer Discovery and
   Peer Offer messages. The Peer Type TLV is used by the router and
   modem to give additional information as to its type. The peer type is
   a string and is envisioned to be used for informational purposes
   (e.g. as output in a display command).

   The Peer Type TLV contains the following fields:

   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
  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
  |TLV Type =TBD  |Length= peer   |Peer Type String               |
  |               |type string len|Max Len = 80                   |
  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type         - TBD

   Length           - Length of peer type string (80 octets maximum).

   Peer Type String - Non-Null terminated string, maximum length of 80
                      octets. For example, a satellite modem might set
                      this variable to 'Satellite terminal'.

9.4  MAC Address

   The MAC address TLV MUST appear in all neighbor-oriented signals
   (e.g. Neighbor Up, Neighbor Up ACK, Neighbor Down, Neighbor Down ACK,
   Neighbor Update, Link Characteristics Request, and Link
   Characteristics ACK). The MAC Address TLV contains the address of the
   destination on the remote node. The MAC address MAY be either a
   physical or a virtual destination. Examples of a virtual destination
   would be a multicast MAC address, or the broadcast MAC
   (0xFFFFFFFFFFFF).

    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
 

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   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 6     |          MAC Address          |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                      MAC Address                              |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type    - TBD

   Length      - 6

   MAC Address - MAC Address of the destination (either physical or
                 virtual).

9.5  IPv4 Address

   The IPv4 Address TLV is an OPTIONAL TLV. If supported, it MAY appear
   in Neighbor Up, Neighbor Update, and Peer Update messages. When
   included in Neighbor messages, the IPv4 Address TLV contains the IPv4
   address of the neighbor, as well as a subnet mask value. In the Peer
   Update message, it contains the IPv4 address of the originator of the
   message. In either case, the TLV also contains an indication of
   whether this is a new or existing address, or is a deletion of a
   previously known address.

   The IPv4 Address TLV contains the following fields:

   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
  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
  |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 6     |   Add/Drop    | IPv4 Address  |
  |               |               |   Indicator   |
  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
  |            IPv4 Address                       |  Subnet Mask  |
  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type     - TBD

   Length       - 6

   Add/Drop     - Value indicating whether this is a new or existing
                  IPv4 address

   IPv4 Address - The IPv4 address of the neighbor or peer.

   Subnet Mask  - A subnet mask (0-32) to be applied to the IPv4
                  address.

 

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9.6  IPv6 Address

   The IPv6 Address TLV is an OPTIONAL TLV. If supported, it MAY be used
   in the Neighbor Up, Neighbor Update, Peer Discovery, and Peer Update
   Messages. When included in Neighbor messages, this data item contains
   the IPv6 address of the neighbor. In the Peer Discovery and Peer
   Update, it contains the IPv6 address of the originating peer. In
   either case, the data item also contains an indication of whether
   this is a new or existing address, or is a deletion of a previously
   known address, as well as a subnet mask.

   The IPv6 Address TLV contains the following fields:

    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 18    |   Add/Drop    | IPv6 Address  |
   |               |               |   Indicator   |               |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                        IPv6 Address                           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                        IPv6 Address                           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                        IPv6 Address                           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                IPv6 Address                   | Subnet Mask   |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type     - TBD

   Length       - 18

   Add/Drop     - Value indicating whether this is a new or existing
                  address (0x01), or a withdrawal of an address (0x02).

   IPv6 Address - IPv6 Address of the neighbor or peer.

   Subnet Mask  - A subnet mask value (0-128) to be applied to the Ipv6
                  address.

9.7  Maximum Data Rate

   The Maximum Data Rate (MDR) TLV is used in Neighbor Up, Neighbor
   Update, Peer Discovery, Peer Update, and Link Characteristics ACK
   Messages to indicate the maximum theoretical data rate, in bits per
   second, that can be achieved on the link. When metrics are reported
   via the messages listed above, the maximum data rate MUST be
 

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   reported.

    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 8     |          MDR (bps)            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                        MDR (bps)                              |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |           MDR (bps)           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type          -  TBD

   Length            -  8

   Maximum Data Rate -  A 64-bit unsigned number, representing the
                        maximum theoretical data rate, in bits per
                        second (bps), that can be achieved on the link.

9.8  Current Data Rate

   The Current Data Rate (CDR) TLV is used in Neighbor Up, Neighbor
   Update, Peer Discovery, Peer Update, Link Characteristics Request,
   and Link Characteristics ACK messages to indicate the rate at which
   the link is currently operating, or in the case of the Link
   Characteristics Request, the desired data rate for the link. When
   metrics are reported via the messages above, the current data rate
   MUST be reported.

   The Current Data Rate TLV contains the following fields:

    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |TLV Flags=0x10 |Length = 8     |CDR (bps)      |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                        CDR (bps)                              |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                        CDR (bps)              |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type          -  TBD

   Length            -  8

   Current Data Rate -  A 64-bit unsigned number, representing the
 

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                        current data rate, in bits per second, that is
                        currently be achieved on the link, or the
                        desired data rate in bits per second in the Link
                        Characteristics Request message. If there is no
                        distinction between current and maximum data
                        rates, current data rate MUST be set equal to
                        the maximum data rate.

9.9  Expected Forwarding Time

   The Expected Forwarding Time (EFT) TLV is is an OPTIONAL data item.
   If supported, it MAY be used in Neighbor Up, Neighbor Update, Peer
   Discovery, and Peer Update messages to indicate the typical latency
   between the arrival of a given packet at the transmitting device and
   the reception of the packet at the other end of the link. EFT
   combines transmission time, idle time, waiting time, freezing time,
   and queuing time to the degree that those values are meaningful to a
   given transmission medium.

   The Expected Forwarding Time TLV contains the following fields:

    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 4     |           EFT (ms)            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |            EFT (ms)           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type    -  TBD

   Length      -  4

   EFT         -  A 32-bit unsigned number, representing the expected
                  forwarding time, in milliseconds, on the link.

9.10  Latency

   The Latency TLV is used in Neighbor Up, Neighbor Update, Peer
   Discovery, Peer Update, Link Characteristics Request, and Link
   Characteristics ACK messages to indicate the amount of latency on the
   link, or in the case of the Link Characteristics Request, to indicate
   the maximum latency required on the link. When metrics are reported
   via the messages above, Latency MUST be reported. 

    0                   1                   2                   3
 

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    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 2     |        Latency (ms)           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type    -  TBD

   Length      -  2

   Latency     -  A 16-bit unsigned value, representing the transmission
                  delay that a packet encounters as it is transmitted
                  over the link. In Neighbor Up, Neighbor Update, and
                  Link Characteristics ACK, this value is reported as
                  delay, in milliseconds. The calculation of latency is
                  implementation dependent. For example, the latency may
                  be a running average calculated from the internal
                  queuing. If a device cannot calculate latency, it MUST
                  be reported as 0. In the Link Characteristics Request
                  Message, this value represents the maximum delay, in
                  milliseconds, expected on the link.

9.11  Resources

   The Resources TLV is used in Neighbor Up, Neighbor Update, Peer
   Discovery, Peer Update, and Link Characteristics ACK messages to
   indicate a percentage (0-100) amount of resources (e.g. battery
   power) remaining on the originating peer. If metrics are reported,
   via the above messages, Resources MUST be reported. 

   The Resources TLV contains the following fields:

    0                   1                   2             
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 1     |   Resources   |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type    -  TBD

   Length      -  1

   Resources   -  A percentage, 0-100, representing the amount of
                  remaining resources, such as battery power. If
                  resources cannot be calculated, a value of 100 MUST be
                  reported.

 

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9.12  Relative Link Quality

   The Relative Link Quality (RLQ) TLV is used in Neighbor Up, Neighbor
   Update, Peer Discovery, Peer Update, and Link Characteristics ACK
   messages to indicate the quality of the link as calculated by the
   originating peer. If metrics are reported via the above messages, RLQ
   MUST be reported. 

   The Relative Link Quality TLV contains the following fields:

    0                   1                   2
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 1     |Relative Link  |
   |               |               |Quality (RLQ)  |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type              -  TBD

   Length                -  1

   Relative Link Quality -  A non-dimensional number, 0-100,
                          representing relative link quality. A value of
                          100 represents a link of the highest quality.
                          If the RLQ cannot be calculated, a value of
                          100 MUST be reported.

9.13  Status

   The Status TLV is an OPTIONAL TLV. It is sent as part of an
   acknowledgement message, from either the modem or the router, to
   indicate the success or failure of a given request.

   The Status TLV contains the following fields:

    0                   1                   2
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 1     |     Code      |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type         - TBD

   Length           - 1

   Termination Code - 0 = Success, Non-zero = Failure. Specific values
                          of a non-zero termination code depend on the
 

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                          operation requested (e.g. Neighbor Up,
                          Neighbor Down, etc).

9.14  Heartbeat Interval/Threshold

   The Heartbeat Interval/Threshold TLV is an OPTIONAL TLV. If
   supported, it MAY be sent during Peer Discovery to indicate the
   desired Heartbeat timeout window. If the modem includes the Heartbeat
   Interval TLV in Peer Discovery, the router MUST either accept the
   timeout interval supplied by the modem, or reject the Peer Discovery.
   Peer Discovery messages that do not include the Heartbeat Interval
   TLV in Peer Discovery indicates a desire to establish the
   router/modem session without an activity timeout (e.g. an infinite
   timeout value). If an activity timeout is supported, implementations
   MAY choose to implement heuristics such that signals sent/received
   reset the timer window. 

   The Interval is used to specify a period (in seconds) for Heartbeat
   Messages (See Section 23). The Threshold value is used to indicate
   the desired number of windows, each of time (Heartbeat Interval)
   seconds, to wait before either participant declares the router/modem
   session lost. In this case, the overall amount of time before a
   router/modem is declared lost is expressed as (Interval * Threshold).
   Specifying an Interval value of 0 indicates the desire to disable
   Heartbeat messages entirely (e.g., the Interval is set to an infinite
   value). Setting the Threshold value to 0 is undefined, and TLVs with
   a Threshold value of 0 MUST be rejected by the recipient. 

   The Heartbeat Interval/Threshold TLV contains the following fields:

    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 1     | Interval      |  Threshold    |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type         - TBD

   Length           - 1

   Interval         - 0 = Do NOT use heartbeats on this peer-to-peer
                      session. Non-zero = Interval, in seconds, for
                      heartbeat messages.

   Threshold        - Number of windows, of Heartbeat Interval seconds,
                      to wait before declaring a peer-to-peer session to
                      be lost.
 

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9.15  Link Characteristics ACK Timer

   The Link Characteristics ACK Timer TLV is an OPTIONAL TLV. If
   supported, it MAY be sent during Peer Discovery to indicate the
   desired number of seconds to wait for a response to a Link
   Characteristics Request. If a router receives this TLV from a modem
   during Peer Discovery, the router MUST either accept the timeout
   value, or reject the Peer Discovery. If this TLV is omitted,
   implementations supporting the Link Characteristics Request SHOULD
   choose a default value.

   The Link Characteristics ACK Timer TLV contains the following fields:

    0                   1                   2
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 1     | Interval      |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type     - TBD

   Length       - 1

   Interval     - 0 = Do NOT use timeouts for Link Characteristics
                  requests on this router/modem session. Non-zero =
                  Interval, in seconds, to wait before considering a
                  Link Characteristics Request has been lost.

9.16  Credit Window Status

   The Credit Window Status TLV is an OPTIONAL TLV. If credits are
   supported by the DLEP participants (both the router and the modem),
   the Credit Window Status TLV MUST be sent by the participant
   receiving a Credit Grant Request for a given neighbor.

   The Credit Window Status TLV contains the following fields:

    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 16    | Modem Receive Window Value    |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                   Modem Receive Window Value                  |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  Modem Receive Window Value   | Router Receive Window Value   |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                Router Receive Window Value                    |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
 

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   |  Router Receive Window Value  |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type                    - TBD

   Length                      - 16

   Modem Receive Window Value  - A 64-bit unsigned number, indicating
                                 the current (or initial) number of
                                 credits available on the Modem Receive
                                 Window.

   Router Receive Window Value - A 64-bit unsigned number, indicating
                                 the current (or initial) number of
                                 credits available on the Router Receive
                                 Window.

9.17  Credit Grant Request

   The Credit Grant Request TLV is an OPTIONAL TLV. If credits are
   supported, the Credit Grant Request TLV is sent from a DLEP
   participant to grant an increment to credits on a window. The Credit
   Grant TLV is sent as a data item in either the Neighbor Up or
   Neighbor Update messages. The value in a Credit Grant TLV represents
   an increment to be added to any existing credits available on the
   window. Upon successful receipt and processing of a Credit Grant TLV,
   the receiver MUST respond with a message containing a Credit Window
   Status TLV to report the updated aggregate values for synchronization
   purposes.

   In the Neighbor Up message, when credits are desired, the originating
   peer MUST set the initial credit value of the window it controls
   (e.g. the Modem Receive Window, or Router Receive Window) to an
   initial, non-zero value. If the receiver of a Neighbor Up message
   with a Credit Grant Request TLV supports credits, the receiver MUST
   either reject the use of credits, via a Neighbor Up ACK response with
   the correct Status TLV, or set the initial value from the data
   contained in the Credit Window Status TLV. If the initialization
   completes successfully, the receiver MUST respond to the Neighbor Up
   message with a Neighbor Up ACK message that contains a Credit Window
   Status TLV, initializing its receive window.

   The Credit Grant TLV contains the following fields:

    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
 

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   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 8     |       Credit Increment        |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                      Credit Increment                         |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |      Credit Increment         |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type         - TBD

   Length           - 8

   Reserved         - A 64-bit unsigned number representing the
                      additional credits to be assigned to the credit
                      window. Since credits can only be granted by the
                      receiver on a window, the applicable credit window
                      (either the MRW or the RRW) is derived from the
                      sender of the grant. The Credit Increment MUST NOT
                      cause the window to overflow; if this condition
                      occurs, implementations MUST set the credit window
                      to the maximum value contained in a 64-bit
                      quantity.

9.18  Credit Request

   The Credit Request TLV is an OPTIONAL TLV. If credits are supported,
   the Credit Request TLV MAY be sent from either DLEP participant, via
   a Neighbor Update signal, to indicate the desire for the partner to
   grant additional credits in order for data transfer to proceed on the
   session. If the corresponding Neighbor Up message for this session
   did NOT contain a Credit Window Status TLV, indicating that credits
   are to be used on the session, then the Credit Request TLV MUST be
   rejected by the receiver via a Neighbor Update ACK message.

   The Credit Request TLV contains the following fields:

    0                   1                   2
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |TLV Type =TBD  |Length = 0     | Reserved, MUST|
   |               |               | be set to 0   |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   TLV Type     - TBD

   Length       - 0

   Reserved     - This field is currently unused and MUST be set to 0.
 

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10. DLEP Protocol Messages

   DLEP messages are encoded as a string of Type-Length-Value (TLV)
   constructs. The first TLV in a DLEP message MUST be a valid DLEP
   signal, as defined in section 11.1 of this document. The second TLV
   MUST be the Identification data item, defined in section 10.1
   Following those two TLVs are 0 or more TLVs, representing the data
   items that are appropriate for the signal. The layout of a DLEP
   message is thus:

    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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   | DLEP Signal   |DLEP Message   |Identification |Identification |
   | Type value    |length (9 +    |TLV Type       |TLV length     |
   | (value TBD)   |optional TLVs) |(TBD)          |(8)            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                            Router ID                          |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                            Modem ID                           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   | Start of optional DLEP        |
   | TLVs...                       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   All DLEP messages (signals) begin with this structure. Therefore, in
   the following descriptions of specific messages, this header
   structure is assumed, and will not be replicated. 

10.1  Signal TLV Values

   As mentioned above, all DLEP messages begin with the Type value of
   the appropriate DLEP signal. Valid DLEP signals are:

          TLV      TLV
          Value    Description
          =========================================
          TBD      Peer Discovery
          TBD      Peer Offer
          TBD      Peer Offer ACK
          TBD      Peer Update
          TBD      Peer Update ACK
          TBD      Peer Termination
          TBD      Peer Termination ACK
          TBD      Neighbor Up
          TBD      Neighbor Up ACK
          TBD      Neighbor Down
 

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          TBD      Neighbor Down ACK
          TBD      Neighbor Update
          TBD      Heartbeat
          TBD      Link Characteristics Request
          TBD      Link Characteristics ACK

11. Peer Discovery Message

   The Peer Discovery Message is sent to begin a new DLEP association.
   The Peer Offer message is required to complete the discovery process.
   Implementations MAY implement their own retry heuristics in cases
   where it is determined the Peer Discovery Message has timed out. A
   Peer Discovery Message received from a participant that is already in
   session MUST be processed as if a Peer Termination Message had been
   received. An implementation MAY then process the received Peer
   Discovery Message.

   Note that metric data items MAY be supplied with the Peer Discovery,
   in order to populate default metric values, or to indicate a static,
   modem-wide environment. If metrics are supplied with the Peer
   Discovery message, these metrics MUST be used as the initial values
   for all neighbors established via the modem.  

   Given the packet format described in section 11, the initial TLV Type
   value is set to DLEP_PEER_DISCOVERY (value TBD). Mandatory TLVs are
   then placed into the packet:

   Mandatory Data Item TLVs:
            - Identification

   After the Mandatory data item, implementations MAY place any OPTIONAL
   TLVs they support:   

   Optional Data Item TLVs:
            - DLEP Version
            - DLEP Peer Type
            - Heartbeat Interval
            - Heartbeat Threshold
            - Link Characteristics ACK Timer
            - Maximum Data Rate
            - Current Data Rate
            - Latency
            - Expected Forwarding Time
            - Resources
            - Relative Link Quality

12. Peer Offer Message
 

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   The Peer Offer Message is sent by a DLEP participant in response to a
   Peer Discovery Message. Upon receipt, and successful processing, of a
   Peer Offer message, the recipient MUST respond with a Peer Offer ACK
   message, completing the discovery phase of DLEP. Both DLEP
   participants (router and modem) would then enter an "in session"
   state. Any subsequent Discovery messages sent or received on this
   session MUST be considered an error, and the session MUST be
   terminated as if a Peer Termination Message had been received.

   The Peer Offer message MUST be sent to the unicast address of the
   originator of Peer Discovery, regardless of whether the discovery was
   received on the DLEP multicast address (TBD) or on a unicast
   address.

   To construct a Peer Offer message, the initial TLV type value is set
   to DLEP_PEER_OFFER (value TBD). The Identification data item TLV is
   placed in the packet next, followed by any OPTIONAL Data Item TLVs
   the implementation supports:

   Optional Data Item TLVs:

              - DLEP Version
              - Peer Type
              - IPv4 Address
              - IPv6 Address
              - Status
              - Heartbeat Interval
              - Heartbeat Threshold
              - Link Characteristics ACK Timer

13. Peer Offer ACK Message

   The Peer Offer ACK message acknowledges receipt of a Peer Offer
   message, and completes the router/modem session establishment for
   DLEP. The Peer Offer ACK message MUST be sent to unicast address of
   the originator of a Peer Offer message. The Peer Offer ACK message
   MAY contain an OPTIONAL Status data item, indicating success or
   failure of the attempt to establish a router/modem session. For
   implementations that do NOT support the Status data item (defined in
   section 10.13 of this document), the Peer Offer ACK message MUST be
   used ONLY to indicate successful session establishment; Peer Offer
   messages that are rejected MUST be silently dropped, allowing the
   Peer Offer to time out. 

   To construct a Peer Offer ACK message, the initial TLV type value is
   set to DLEP_PEER_OFFER_ACK (value TBD). Mandatory data item TLV's are
   placed into the packet next:

 

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   Mandatory Data Item TLVs:
             - Identification
             - Status

   Note that there are NO OPTIONAL data item TLVs specifed for this
   message.

14. Peer Update Message

   The Peer Update message is an OPTIONAL message, sent by a DLEP peer
   to indicate local Layer 3 address changes, or for metric changes on a
   modem-wide basis. For example, addition of an IPv4 address to the
   router would prompt a Peer Update message to its attached DLEP
   modems. Also, a modem that changes its Maximum Data Rate for all
   destinations MAY reflect that change via a Peer Update Message to its
   attached router(s).

   Concerning Layer 3 addresses, if the modem is capable of
   understanding and forwarding this information (via proprietary
   mechanisms), the address update would prompt any remote DLEP modems
   (DLEP-enabled modems in a remote node) to issue a "Neighbor Update"
   message to their local routers with the new (or deleted) addresses.
   Modems that do not track Layer 3 addresses SHOULD silently parse and
   ignore the Peer Update Message. Modems that track Layer 3 addresses
   MUST acknowledge the Peer Update with a Peer Update ACK message.
   Routers receiving a Peer Update with metric changes MUST apply the
   new metric to all neighbors (remote nodes) accessible via the modem.
   Supporting implementations are free to employ heuristics to
   retransmit Peer Update messages. The sending of Peer Update Messages
   for Layer 3 address changes SHOULD cease when a either participant
   (router or modem) determines that the other implementation does NOT
   support Layer 3 address tracking.

   If metrics are supplied with the Peer Update message (e.g. Maximum
   Data Rate), these metrics are considered to be modem-wide, and
   therefore MUST be applied to all neighbors in the information base
   associated with the router/modem session.

   To construct a Peer Update message, the initial TLV type value is set
   to DLEP_PEER_UPDATE (value TBD). The Identification data item TLV is
   placed in the packet next, followed by any OPTIONAL Data Item TLVs.  

   Optional Data Item TLVs:

              - IPv4 Address
              - IPv6 Address
              - Maximum Data Rate
              - Current Data Rate
 

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              - Latency
              - Expected Forwarding Time
              - Resources
              - Relative Link Quality

15. Peer Update ACK Message

   The Peer Update ACK message is an OPTIONAL message, and is sent by
   implementations supporting Layer 3 address tracking and/or modem-wide
   metrics to indicate whether a Peer Update Message was successfully
   processed.

   To construct a Peer Update ACK message, the initial TLV type value is
   set to DLEP_PEER_UPDATE_ACK (value TBD). The Identification data item
   TLV is placed in the packet next, followed by any OPTIONAL TLVs the
   implementation supports:

   Optional Data Item TLVs:

             - Status

16. Peer Termination Message

   The Peer Termination Message is sent by a DLEP participant when the
   router/modem session needs to be terminated. Implementations
   receiving a Peer Termination message MUST send a Peer Termination ACK
   message to confirm the termination process. The sender of a Peer
   Termination message is free to define its heuristics in event of a
   timeout. The receiver of a Peer Termination Message MUST release all
   resources allocated for the router/modem session, and MUST eliminate
   all neighbors in the information base accessible via the router/modem
   pair represented by the session. Router and modem state machines are
   returned to the "discovery" state. No Neighbor Down messages are
   sent.

   To construct a Peer Termination message, the initial TLV type value
   is set to DLEP_PEER_TERMINATION (value TBD). The Identification data
   item TLV is placed in the packet next, followed by any OPTIONAL Data
   Item TLVs the implementation supports:

   Optional Data Item TLVs:

             - Status

17. Peer Termination ACK Message

   The Peer Termination Message ACK is sent by a DLEP peer in response
   to a received Peer Termination order. Receipt of a Peer Termination
 

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   ACK message completes the teardown of the router/modem session. 

   To construct a Peer Termination ACK message, the initial TLV type
   value is set to DLEP_PEER_TERMINATION_ACK (value TBD). The
   Identification data item TLV is placed in the packet next, followed
   by any OPTIONAL TLVs the implementation supports:

   Optional Data Item TLVs:

             - Status

18. Neighbor Up Message

   A DLEP participant sends the Neighbor Up message to report that a new
   destination has been detected. A Neighbor Up ACK Message is required
   to confirm a received Neighbor Up. A Neighbor Up message can be sent
   either by the modem, to indicate that a new remote node has been
   detected, or by the router, to indicate the presence of a new logical
   destination (e.g., a Multicast group) exists in the network.

   The sender of the Neighbor Up Message is free to define its retry
   heuristics in event of a timeout. When a Neighbor Up message is
   received and successfully parsed, the receiver should add knowledge
   of the new destination to its information base, indicating that the
   destination is accessible via the modem/router pair.

   To construct a Neighbor Up message, the initial TLV type value is set
   to DLEP_NEIGHBOR_UP (value TBD). The Identification data item TLV is
   placed in the packet next, followed by the MAC Address TLV,
   indicating the MAC address of the remote node or Multicast group. The
   implementation would then place any supported OPTIONAL Data Item TLVs
   into the packet:

   Optional Data Item TLVs:

              - IPv4 Address
              - IPv6 Address
              - Maximum Data Rate
              - Current Data Rate
              - Latency
              - Expected Forwarding Time
              - Resources 
              - Relative Link Factor
              - Credit Window Status

19. Neighbor Up ACK Message

   A DLEP participant sends the Neighbor Up ACK Message to indicate
 

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   whether a Neighbor Up Message was successfully processed.

   To construct a Neighbor Up ACK message, the initial TLV type value is
   set to DLEP_NEIGHBOR_UP_ACK (value TBD). The Identification data item
   TLV is placed in the packet next, followed by the MAC Address TLV,
   containing the MAC address of the DLEP neighbor. The implementation
   would then place any supported OPTIONAL Data Item TLVs into the
   packet:

   Optional Data Item TLVs:
              - Credit Window Status

20. Neighbor Down Message

   A DLEP peer sends the Neighbor Down message to report when a
   destination (a remote node or a multicast group) is no longer
   reachable. The Neighbor Down message MUST contain both the
   Identification data item TLV, and a MAC Address data item TLV. Other
   TLVs as listed are OPTIONAL, and MAY be present if an implementation
   supports them. A Neighbor Down ACK Message MUST be sent by the
   recipient of a Neighbor Down message to confirm that the relevant
   data has been removed from the information base. The sender of the
   Neighbor Down message is free to define its retry heuristics in event
   of a timeout. 

   To construct a Neighbor Down message, the initial TLV type value is
   set to DLEP_NEIGHBOR_DOWN (value TBD). The signal TLV is followed by
   the mandatory data item TLVs:

      - Identification
      - MAC Address Data item 
      - Status data item 

   Note that there are NO OPTIONAL data item TLVs for this message. 

21. Neighbor Down ACK Message

   A DLEP participant sends the Neighbor Down ACK Message to indicate
   whether a received Neighbor Down Message was successfully processed.
   If successfully processed, the sender of the ACK MUST have removed
   all entries in the information base that pertain to the referenced
   neighbor. As with the Neighbor Down message, there are NO OPTIONAL
   Data Item TLVs defined for the Neighbor Down ACK message. 

   To construct a Neighbor Down message, the initial TLV type value is
   set to DLEP_NEIGHBOR_DOWN_ACK (value TBD). The Identification data
   item TLV is placed in the packet next, followed by:

 

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      - MAC Address Data item 
      - Status data item 

22. Neighbor Update Message

   A DLEP participant sends the Neighbor Update message when it detects
   some change in the information base for a given neighbor (remote node
   or multicast group). Some examples of changes that would prompt a
   Neighbor Update message are:

       - Change in link metrics (e.g., Data Rates)
       - Layer 3 addressing change (for implementations that support it)

   To construct a Neighbor Update message, the initial TLV type value is
   set to DLEP_NEIGHBOR_UPDATE (value TBD). Following the signal TLV are
   the mandatory Data Item TLVs:

   Identification Data Item TLV
   MAC Address data item TLV

   After placing the mandatory data item TLVs into the packet, the
   implementation would place any supported OPTIONAL data item TLVs.
   Possible OPTIONAL data item TLVs are: 

              - IPv4 Address
              - IPv6 Address
              - Maximum Data Rate
              - Current Data Rate
              - Latency
              - Resources
              - Relative Link Quality
              - Credit Window Status
              - Credit Grant
              - Credit Request

23. Heartbeat Message

   A Heartbeat Message is sent by a DLEP participant every N seconds,
   where N is defined in the "Heartbeat Interval" field of the discovery
   message. Note that implementations omitting the Heartbeat Interval
   effectively set the interval to an infinite value, therefore, in
   those cases, this message would NOT be sent. 

   The message is used by participants to detect when a DLEP session
   partner (either the modem or the router) is no longer communicating.
   Participants SHOULD allow some integral number of heartbeat intervals
 

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   (default 4) to expire with no traffic on the router/modem session
   before initiating DLEP session termination procedures.

   To construct a Heartbeat message, the initial TLV type value is set
   to DLEP_PEER_HEARTBEAT (value TBD). The signal TLV is followed by the
   mandatory data item TLVs:

      - Identification

   Note that there are NO OPTIONAL data item TLVs for this message. 

24. Link Characteristics Request Message

   The Link Characteristics Request Message is an OPTIONAL message, and
   is sent by the router to request that the modem initiate changes for
   specific characteristics of the link. Since the request specifies a
   neighbor, it can reference either a real destination (e.g., a remote
   node), or a logical destination (e.g., a multicast destination)
   within the network. 

   The Link Characteristics Request message contains either a Current
   Data Rate (CDR) TLV to request a different amount of bandwidth than
   what is currently allocated, a Latency TLV to request that traffic
   delay on the link not exceed the specified value, or both. A Link
   Characteristics ACK Message is required to complete the request.
   Implementations are free to define their retry heuristics in event of
   a timeout. Issuing a Link Characteristics Request with ONLY the MAC
   Address TLV is a mechanism a peer MAY use to request metrics (via the
   Link Characteristics ACK) from its partner.

   To construct a Link Characteristics Request message, the initial TLV
   type value is set to DLEP_NEIGHBOR_LINK_CHAR_REQ (value TBD).
   Following the signal TLV are the mandatory Data Item TLVs:

   Identification Data Item TLV
   MAC Address data item TLV

   After placing the mandatory data item TLVs into the packet, the
   implementation would place any supported OPTIONAL data item TLVs.
   Possible OPTIONAL data item TLVs are: 

   Current Data Rate  -  If present, this value represents the NEW (or
                         unchanged, if the request is denied) Current
                         Data Rate in bits per second (bps).

   Latency            -  If present, this value represents the maximum
                         desired latency (e.g., it is a not-to-exceed
 

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                         value) in milliseconds on the link.

25. Link Characteristics ACK Message

   The LInk Characteristics ACK message is an OPTIONAL message, and is
   sent by modems supporting it to the router letting the router know
   the success or failure of a requested change in link characteristics.
    The Link Characteristics ACK message SHOULD contain a complete set
   of metric data item TLVs. It MUST contain the same TLV types as the
   request. The values in the metric data item TLVs in the Link
   Characteristics ACK message MUST reflect the link characteristics
   after the request has been processed.

   To construct a Link Characteristics Request ACK message, the initial
   TLV type value is set to DLEP_NEIGHBOR_LINK_CHAR_ACK (value TBD).
   Following the signal TLV are the mandatory Data Item TLVs:

   Identification Data Item TLV
   MAC Address data item TLV

   After placing the mandatory data item TLVs into the packet, the
   implementation would place any supported OPTIONAL data item TLVs.
   Possible OPTIONAL data item TLVs are: 

   Current Data Rate  -  If present, this value represents the requested
                         data rate in bits per second (bps).

   Latency            -  If present, this value represents the NEW
                         maximum latency (or unchanged, if the request
                         is denied), expressed in milliseconds, on the
                         link.

26.  Security Considerations

   The protocol does not contain any mechanisms for security (e.g.
   authentication or encryption). The protocol assumes that any security
   would be implemented in the underlying transport (for example, by use
   of DTLS or some other mechanism), and is therefore outside the scope
   of this document.

27.  IANA Considerations

   This section specifies requests to IANA.

27.1  Registrations

   This specification defines:
 

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   o  A new repository for DLEP signals, with fifteen values currently
   assigned.

   o  Reservation of numbering space for Experimental DLEP signals.

   o  A new repository for DLEP Data Items, with eighteen values
   currently assigned. 

   o  Reservation of numbering space in the Data Items repository for
   experimental data items.

   o  A request for allocation of a well-known port for DLEP
   communication.

   o  A request for allocation of a multicast address for DLEP
   discovery.

27.2  Expert Review: Evaluation Guidelines

   No additional guidelines for expert review are anticipated.

27.3  Signal (Message) TLV Type Registration

   A new repository must be created with the values of the DLEP signals.
   Valid signals are:

       o   Peer Discovery
       o   Peer Offer
       o   Peer Offer ACK
       o   Peer Update
       o   Peer Update ACK
       o   Peer Termination
       o   Peer Termination ACK
       o   Neighbor Up
       o   Neighbor Up ACK
       o   Neighbor Down
       o   Neighbor Down ACK
       o   Neighbor Update
       o   Heartbeat
       o   Link Characteristics Request
       o   Link Characteristics ACK

   It is also requested that the repository contain space for
   experimental signal types.

 

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27.4  DLEP Data Item Registrations

   A new repository for DLEP Data Items must be created. Valid Data
   Items are:

       o   Identification
       o   DLEP Version
       o   Peer Type 
       o   MAC Address
       o   IPv4 Address
       o   IPv6 Address
       o   Maximum Data Rate
       o   Current Data Rate
       o   Latency
       o   Expected Forwarding Time
       o   Resources
       o   Relative Link Quality
       o   Status
       o   Heartbeat Interval/Threshold
       o   Link Characteristics ACK Timer
       o   Credit Window Status
       o   Credit Grant
       o   Credit Request

   It is also requested that the registry allocation contain space for
   experimental data items. 

27.5  DLEP Well-known Port

   It is requested that IANA allocate a well-known port number for DLEP
   communication.

27.6  DLEP Multicast Address

   It is requested that IANA allocate a multicast address for DLEP
   discovery messages. 

30. Appendix A.

30.1  Peer Level Message Flows

30.1.1  Modem Device Restarts Discovery

   Router                    Modem   Message Description
   ====================================================================

 

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   <-------Peer Discovery---------    Modem initiates discovery

    ---------Peer Offer----------->   Router detects a problem, sends
      w/ Non-zero Status TLV          Peer Offer w/Status TLV indicating
                                      the error.

                                      Modem accepts failure, restarts
                                      discovery process.

   <-------Peer Discovery---------    Modem initiates discovery

    ---------Peer Offer----------->   Router accepts, sends Peer Offer
         w/ Zero Status TLV           w/ Status TLV indicating success.

                                      Discovery completed.

30.1.2  Modem Device Detects Peer Offer Timeout

   Router                    Modem   Message Description
   ====================================================================

   <-------Peer Discovery---------    Modem initiates discovery, starts
                                      a guard timer.

                                      Modem guard timer expires. Modem
                                      restarts discovery process.

    <-------Peer Discovery---------   Modem initiates discovery, starts
                                      a guard timer.

    ---------Peer Offer----------->   Router accepts, sends Peer Offer
         w/ Zero Status TLV           w/ Status TLV indicating success.

                                      Discovery completed.

 

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30.1.3  Router Peer Offer Lost

   Router                    Modem   Message Description
   ====================================================================

   <-------Peer Discovery---------    Modem initiates discovery, starts
                                      a guard timer.

    ---------Peer Offer-------||      Router offers availability

                                      Modem times out on Peer Offer,
                                      restarts discovery process.

   <-------Peer Discovery---------    Modem initiates discovery

    ---------Peer Offer----------->   Router detects subsequent
                                      discovery, internally terminates
                                      the previous, accepts the new
                                      association, sends Peer Offer
                                      w/Status TLV indicating success.

                                      Discovery completed.

30.1.4  Discovery Success

   Router                    Modem   Message Description
   ====================================================================

   <-------Peer Discovery---------    Modem initiates discovery

    ---------Peer Offer----------->   Router offers availability

    -------Peer Heartbeat--------->

   <-------Peer Heartbeat---------

    -------Peer Heartbeat--------->

   <==============================>   Neighbor Sessions

   <-------Peer Heartbeat---------

    -------Peer Heartbeat--------->

    --------Peer Term Req--------->   Terminate Request

 

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   <--------Peer Term Res---------    Terminate Response

30.1.5  Router Detects a Heartbeat timeout

   Router                    Modem   Message Description
   ====================================================================

   <-------Peer Heartbeat---------

    -------Peer Heartbeat--------->

      ||---Peer Heartbeat---------

           ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

    -------Peer Heartbeat--------->

      ||---Peer Heartbeat---------
                                      Router Heartbeat Timer expires,
                                      detects missing heartbeats. Router
                                      takes down all neighbor sessions
                                      and terminates the Peer
                                      association.

    ------Peer Terminate --------->   Peer Terminate Request

                                      Modem takes down all neighbor
                                      sessions, then acknowledges the
                                      Peer Terminate

   <----Peer Terminate ACK---------   Peer Terminate ACK

30.1.6  Modem Detects a Heartbeat timeout

   Router                    Modem   Message Description
   ====================================================================

   <-------Peer Heartbeat---------

    -------Peer Heartbeat------||

   <-------Peer Heartbeat---------

           ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

    -------Peer Heartbeat------||

   <-------Peer Heartbeat---------
 

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                                      Modem Heartbeat Timer expires,
                                      detects missing heartbeats. Modem
                                      takes down all neighbor sessions

    <-------Peer Terminate--------    Peer Terminate Request

                                      Router takes down all neighbor
                                      sessions, then acknowledges the
                                      Peer Terminate

    ------Peer Terminate ACK----->    Peer Terminate ACK

30.1.7  Peer Terminate (from Modem) Lost

   Router                    Modem   Message Description
   ====================================================================

     ||------Peer Terminate--------   Modem Peer Terminate Request

                                      Router Heartbeat times out,
                                      terminates association.

    --------Peer Terminate------->    Router Peer Terminate

    <-----Peer Terminate ACK------    Modem sends Peer Terminate ACK

30.1.8  Peer Terminate (from Router) Lost

   Router                    Modem   Message Description
   ====================================================================

    -------Peer Terminate-------->    Router Peer Terminate Request

                                      Modem HB times out,
                                      terminates association.

    <------Peer Terminate--------     Modem Peer Terminate

    ------Peer Terminate ACK----->    Peer Terminate ACK

30.2  Neighbor Specific Message Flows

 

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30.2.1  Modem Neighbor Up Lost

   Router                    Modem   Message Description
   ====================================================================

    ||-----Neighbor Up ------------   Modem sends Neighbor Up

                                      Modem timesout on ACK

    <------Neighbor Up ------------   Modem sends Neighbor Up

    ------Neighbor Up ACK--------->   Router accepts the neighbor
                                      session

   <------Neighbor Update---------    Modem Neighbor Metrics
          . . . . . . . .
   <------Neighbor Update---------    Modem Neighbor Metrics

30.2.2  Router Detects Duplicate Neighbor Ups

   Router                    Modem   Message Description
   ====================================================================

    <------Neighbor Up ------------   Modem sends Neighbor Up

    ------Neighbor Up ACK-------||    Router accepts the neighbor
                                      session

                                      Modem timesout on ACK

    <------Neighbor Up ------------   Modem resends Neighbor Up

                                      Router detects duplicate Neighbor,
                                      takes down the previous, accepts
                                      the new Neighbor.

    ------Neighbor Up ACK--------->   Router accepts the neighbor
                                      session

   <------Neighbor Update---------    Modem Neighbor Metrics
          . . . . . . . .
   <------Neighbor Update---------    Modem Neighbor Metrics

 

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30.2.3  Neighbor Up, No Layer 3 Addresses

   Router                    Modem    Message Description
   ====================================================================

    <------Neighbor Up ------------   Modem sends Neighbor Up

    ------Neighbor Up ACK--------->   Router accepts the neighbor
                                      session

                                      Router ARPs for IPv4 if defined.
                                      Router drives ND for IPv6 if
                                      defined.

   <------Neighbor Update---------    Modem Neighbor Metrics
          . . . . . . . .
   <------Neighbor Update---------    Modem Neighbor Metrics

30.2.4  Neighbor Up with IPv4, No IPv6

   Router                    Modem   Message Description
   ====================================================================

    <------Neighbor Up ------------   Modem sends Neighbor Up with
                                      the IPv4 TLV

    ------Neighbor Up ACK--------->   Router accepts the neighbor
                                      session

                                      Router drives ND for IPv6 if
                                      defined.

   <------Neighbor Update---------    Modem Neighbor Metrics
          . . . . . . . .
   <------Neighbor Update---------    Modem Neighbor Metrics

30.2.5  Neighbor Up with IPv4 and IPv6

   Router                    Modem   Message Description
   ====================================================================

    <------Neighbor Up ------------   Modem sends Neighbor Up with
                                      the IPv4 and IPv6 TLVs

    ------Neighbor Up ACK--------->   Router accepts the neighbor
                                      session
 

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   <------Neighbor Update---------    Modem Neighbor Metrics
          . . . . . . . .

30.2.6  Neighbor Session Success

   Router                    Modem   Message Description
   ====================================================================

    ---------Peer Offer----------->   Router offers availability

    -------Peer Heartbeat--------->

   <------Neighbor Up -----------      Modem

    ------Neighbor Up ACK-------->     Router

   <------Neighbor Update---------     Modem
          . . . . . . . .
   <------Neighbor Update---------     Modem

                                       Modem initiates the terminate

   <------Neighbor Down ----------     Modem

    ------Neighbor Down ACK------->    Router

                                       or

                                       Router initiates the terminate

    ------Neighbor Down ---------->    Router

   <------Neighbor Down ACK-------     Modem

Acknowledgements

   The authors would like to acknowledge the influence and contributions
   of Chris Olsen, Teco Boot, Subir Das, Jaewon Kang, Vikram Kaul, Rick
   Taylor, John Dowdell, Nelson Powell, Bow-Nan Cheng, and Henning
   Rogge.

Normative References

   [RFC5578] Berry, B., Ed., "PPPoE with Credit Flow and Metrics",
 

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             RFC 5578, February 2010.

   [RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate

Informative References

   [DTLS] Rescorla, E., Ed,. "Datagram Transport Layer Security",
          RFC 4347, April 2006.

Author's Addresses

   Stan Ratliff
   Cisco
   170 West Tasman Drive
   San Jose, CA  95134
   USA
   EMail: sratliff@cisco.com

   Bo Berry
   Cisco
   170 West Tasman Drive
   San Jose, CA  95134
   USA
   EMail: boberry@cisco.com

   Greg Harrison
   Cisco
   170 West Tasman Drive
   San Jose, CA  95134
   USA
   EMail: greharri@cisco.com

   Shawn Jury
   NetApp
   7301 Kit Creek Road, Building 2
   Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
   USA
   Email: shawn.jury@netapp.com

   Darryl Satterwhite
   Cisco
   170 West Tasman Drive
   San Jose, CA  95134
   USA
   Email: dsatterw@cisco.com

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