Applicability of Abstraction and Control of Traffic Engineered Networks (ACTN) to Packet Optical Integration (POI)
draft-ietf-teas-actn-poi-applicability-18
| Document | Type | Active Internet-Draft (teas WG) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authors | Fabio Peruzzini , Jean-Francois Bouquier , Italo Busi , Daniel King , Daniele Ceccarelli | ||
| Last updated | 2026-03-14 | ||
| Replaces | draft-peru-teas-actn-poi-applicability | ||
| RFC stream | Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) | ||
| Intended RFC status | (None) | ||
| Formats | |||
| Reviews |
RTGDIR Early review
by Acee Lindem
Has nits
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| Additional resources | Mailing list discussion | ||
| Stream | WG state | WG Consensus: Waiting for Write-Up | |
| Document shepherd | Vishnu Pavan Beeram | ||
| IESG | IESG state | I-D Exists | |
| Consensus boilerplate | Unknown | ||
| Telechat date | (None) | ||
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| Send notices to | vbeeram@juniper.net |
draft-ietf-teas-actn-poi-applicability-18
TEAS Working Group F. Peruzzini
Internet-Draft FiberCop
Intended status: Informational J.-F. Bouquier
Expires: 16 September 2026 Vodafone
I. Busi
Huawei
D. King
Old Dog Consulting
D. Ceccarelli
Cisco
15 March 2026
Applicability of Abstraction and Control of Traffic Engineered Networks
(ACTN) to Packet Optical Integration (POI)
draft-ietf-teas-actn-poi-applicability-18
Abstract
This document explores the applicability of the Abstraction and
Control of TE Networks (ACTN) architecture to Packet Optical
Integration (POI) within the context of IP/MPLS and optical
internetworking. It examines the YANG data models defined by the
IETF that enable an ACTN-based deployment architecture and highlights
specific scenarios pertinent to Service Providers.
Existing IETF protocols and data models are identified for each
multi-technology scenario (packet over optical), particularly
emphasising the Multi-Domain Service Coordinator to Provisioning
Network Controller Interface (MPI) within the ACTN architecture
About This Document
This note is to be removed before publishing as an RFC.
The latest revision of this draft can be found at https://IETF-TEAS-
WG.github.io/actn-poi/draft-ietf-teas-actn-poi-applicability.html.
Status information for this document may be found at
https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-ietf-teas-actn-poi-
applicability/.
Discussion of this document takes place on the Traffic Engineering
Architecture and Signaling Working Group mailing list
(mailto:teas@ietf.org), which is archived at
https://mailarchive.ietf.org/arch/browse/teas/. Subscribe at
https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/teas/.
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Source for this draft and an issue tracker can be found at
https://github.com/IETF-TEAS-WG/actn-poi.
Status of This Memo
This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the
provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.
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Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months
and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any
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This Internet-Draft will expire on 16 September 2026.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (c) 2026 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
document authors. All rights reserved.
This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (https://trustee.ietf.org/
license-info) in effect on the date of publication of this document.
Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights
and restrictions with respect to this document. Code Components
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provided without warranty as described in the Revised BSD License.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.1. Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2. Reference Network Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.1. Multi-domain Service Coordinator (MDSC) functions . . . . 10
2.1.1. Multi-domain L2/L3 VPN Network Services . . . . . . . 11
2.1.2. Multi-domain and Multi-layer Path Computation . . . . 16
2.2. IP/MPLS Domain Controller and IP router Functions . . . . 17
2.3. Optical Domain Controller and NE Functions . . . . . . . 19
3. Interface Protocols and YANG Data Models for the MPIs . . . . 20
3.1. RESTCONF Protocol at the MPIs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3.2. YANG Data Models at the MPIs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3.2.1. Common YANG Data Models at the MPIs . . . . . . . . . 20
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3.2.2. YANG models at the Optical MPIs . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3.2.3. YANG data models at the Packet MPIs . . . . . . . . . 22
3.3. Path Computation Element Protocol (PCEP) . . . . . . . . 23
4. Inventory, Service and Network Topology Discovery . . . . . . 24
4.1. Optical Topology Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4.2. Optical Path Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4.3. Packet Topology Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.4. TE Path Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.5. Inter-domain Link Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.5.1. Cross-technology Ethernet link Discovery . . . . . . 32
4.5.2. Inter-domain IP Link Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4.6. Multi-technology IP Link Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4.6.1. Intra-domain single-technology IP Links . . . . . . . 38
4.7. LAG Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.8. L2/L3 VPN Network Services Discovery . . . . . . . . . . 42
4.9. Inventory Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
5. Establishment of L2/L3 VPN Services with TE Requirements . . 43
5.1. Optical Path Computation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
5.2. Multi-technology IP Link Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
5.2.1. Multi-technology LAG Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
5.2.2. Multi-technology LAG Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
5.2.3. Multi-technology TE path properties Configuration . . 50
5.3. TE Path Setup and Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
5.4. L2/L3 VPN Network Service Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
6. Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
7. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
7.1. LLDP Snooping Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . 55
8. Operational Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
9. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
10. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
10.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
10.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Appendix A. Additional Scenarios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
A.1. OSS/Orchestration Layer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
A.1.1. MDSC NBI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
A.2. Multi-layer and Multi-domain Resiliency . . . . . . . . . 67
A.2.1. Maintenance Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
A.2.2. Router Port Failure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
A.3. Muxponders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Authors' Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
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1. Introduction
The full automation of management and control for Service Providers'
transport networks, spanning IP/MPLS, optical, and microwave
technologies, is crucial to addressing customer demands for high-
bandwidth applications, such as ultra-fast mobile broadband for 5G
and fiber connectivity services. The Abstraction and Control of TE
Networks (ACTN) architecture and interfaces enable the automation and
efficient operation of complex optical and IP/MPLS networks using
standardized interfaces and data models. This approach supports a
broad spectrum of network services that can be requested by upper-
layer applications, meeting diverse service-level requirements from a
network perspective, such as physical diversity, latency, bandwidth,
and topology.
Packet Optical Integration (POI) represents an advanced application
of traffic engineering. In wide-area networks, packet networks based
on the Internet Protocol (IP), often augmented with Multiprotocol
Label Switching (MPLS) or Segment Routing (SR), are typically
implemented over an optical transport network utilizing Dense
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM), occasionally with an
optional Optical Transport Network (OTN) layer.
There are significant technical differences between the packet and
optical technologies (e.g., routers versus optical switches) and
their associated network engineering and planning approaches (e.g.,
inter-domain peering optimization in IP networks versus managing
physical impairments in DWDM systems or operating on vastly different
time scales). Additionally, customer requirements often differ
between packet and optical networks, and it is common for Service
Providers to use different vendors for each domain. As a result, the
operation of these complex packet and optical networks is often
siloed, as each technology domain requires specialized skill sets.
As a consequence, in many existing network deployments, packet and
optical networks are engineered and operated independently.
This separation is inefficient for several reasons. Firstly,
integrating packet and optical networks can significantly reduce
capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operational expenditures (OPEX).
Secondly, multi-technology topology insights can optimize
troubleshooting (e.g., alarm correlation) and enhance network
operation (e.g., coordination of maintenance events). Additionally,
detailed inventory and planning information can also improve service
assurance quality, such as detecting constraint violations or lack of
resource diversity. Thirdly, multi-technology traffic engineering
enables more efficient use of available network capacity (e.g.,
coordination of restoration). Furthermore, provisioning workflows
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can be simplified or automated across layers, facilitating
capabilities such as bandwidth-on-demand and streamlined maintenance
activities.
The ACTN framework facilitates seamless integration of packet and
optical networks across multiple technologies and vendors. This is
achieved through separated Provisioning Network Controllers (PNCs)
for both packet and optical domains, which hide the complexities of
the technical differences between the packet and optical technologies
while providing sufficient abstract information that allows the
Multi-Domain Service Coordinator (MDSC) to provide multi-layer
coordination between packet and optical networks.
This document uses packet-based Traffic Engineered (TE) service
examples. These are described as "TE-path" in this document. Unless
otherwise stated, these TE services may be instantiated using
Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) Traffic Engineering (TE)-based
or SR -TE-based, forwarding plane mechanisms.
This document outlines key scenarios for Packet Optical Integration
(POI) from the perspective of the packet service layer and highlights
the necessary coordination between packet and optical layers to
enhance POI deployment and operation. These scenarios emphasize
multi-domain packet networks functioning as clients of optical
networks.
This document analyzes the scenario in which packet networks support
multi-domain TE paths. The optical networks may consist of a DWDM
network, an OTN network (without a DWDM layer), or a multi-layer OTN/
DWDM network. Additionally, DWDM networks can be either fixed-grid
or flexible-grid.
Multi-technology and multi-domain scenarios, based on the reference
network described in Section 2 and very relevant for Service
Providers, are described in Section 4 and Section 5.
For each scenario, existing IETF protocols and data models,
identified in Section 3.1 and Section 3.2, are analyzed with a
particular focus on the MPI in the ACTN architecture.
For each multi-technology scenario, the document analyzes how to use
the interfaces and data models of the ACTN architecture.
A summary of the gaps identified in this analysis is provided in
Section 6.
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Understanding the degree of standardization and identifying potential
gaps are crucial for evaluating the feasibility of integrating packet
and optical DWDM domains (with an optional OTN layer) from an end-to-
end, multi-vendor service provisioning perspective.
1.1. Terminology
This document uses the ACTN terminology defined in [RFC8453].
In addition, this document uses the following terminology.
Customer service: The end-to-end service from Customer Edge (CE) to
CE.
Network service: Per [RFC8309], a network service provides
Connectivity between customer sites and the Internet or between
customer sites across the operator's network and across the
Internet. In the context of this document, a network service is
enabled by Provider Edge (PE) to PE configuration, including both
the network service layer (VRFs, RT import/export policies
configuration) and the network transport layer (e.g., RSVP-TE
Label Switched Paths (LSPs)). This includes the configuration (on
the PE side) of the interface towards the CE (e.g., VLAN, IP
address, routing protocol, etc.).
Technology domain: Short for "switching technology domain", defined
as "region" in [RFC5212], where the term "region" is applied to
(GMPLS) control domains.
PNC Domain: Part of the network under the control of a single PNC
instance. It is subject to the capabilities of the PNC which
technology is controlled.
Optical PNC (O-PNC): A PNC controlling an optical network domain.
Packet PNC (P-PNC): A PNC controlling a packet network domain.
Port: The physical entity that transmits and receives physical
signals.
Interface: A bidirectional link interface, as defined in
Section 3.6.1 of [RFC4397].
makeLink: A bidirectional data link, as defined in Section 3.5.1 of
[RFC4397].
Intra-domain link: A link between two adjacent nodes that belong to
the same PNC domain.
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Inter-domain link: A link between two adjacent nodes that belong to
different PNC domains.
Ethernet link: A link between two Ethernet interfaces.
Single-technology Ethernet link: An Ethernet link between two
Ethernet interfaces on physically adjacent IP routers.
Multi-technology Ethernet link: An Ethernet link between two
Ethernet interfaces on logically adjacent IP routers, supported by
two cross-technology Ethernet links interconnected through an
optical tunnel.
Cross-technology Ethernet link: An Ethernet link connecting an
Ethernet interface on an IP router to an Ethernet interface on a
physically adjacent optical node.
Inter-domain Ethernet link: An Ethernet link between two Ethernet
interfaces on physically adjacent IP routers that belong to
different P-PNC domains.
Single-technology intra-domain Ethernet link: An Ethernet link
between two Ethernet interfaces on physically adjacent IP routers
that belong to the same P-PNC domain.
Multi-technology intra-domain Ethernet link: An Ethernet link
between two Ethernet interfaces on logically adjacent IP routers
within the same P-PNC domain, supported by two cross-technology
Ethernet links interconnected through an optical tunnel.
IP link: A link between two IP interfaces.
Inter-domain IP link: An IP link supported by an inter-domain
Ethernet link.
Single-technology intra-domain IP link: An IP link supported by a
single-technology intra-domain Ethernet link.
Multi-technology intra-domain IP link: An IP link supported by a
multi-technology intra-domain Ethernet link.
2. Reference Network Architecture
This document examines various deployment scenarios for Packet and
Optical Integration (POI), where the ACTN hierarchy is implemented to
manage a multi-technology, multi-domain network comprising two
optical domains and two packet domains, as illustrated in Figure 1:
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+----------+
| MDSC |
+-----+----+
|
+-----------+-----+------+-----------+
| | | |
+----+----+ +----+----+ +----+----+ +----+----+
| P-PNC 1 | | O-PNC 1 | | O-PNC 2 | | P-PNC 2 |
+----+----+ +----+----+ +----+----+ +----+----+
| | | |
| \ / |
+-------------------+ \ / +-------------------+
CE1 / PE1 BR1 \ | / / BR2 PE2 \ CE2
o--/---o o---\-|-------|--/---o o---\--o
\ : : / | | \ : : /
\ : PKT domain 1 : / | | \ : PKT domain 2 : /
+-:---------------:-+ | | +-:---------------:--+
: : | | : :
: : | | : :
+-:---------------:------+ +-------:---------------:--+
/ : : \ / : : \
/ o...............o \ / o...............o \
\ optical domain 1 / \ optical domain 2 /
\ / \ /
+------------------------+ +--------------------------+
Figure 1: Reference Network
The ACTN architecture, as defined in [RFC8453], is utilized to manage
this multi-technology, multi-domain network. In this topology, each
Packet PNC (P-PNC) is responsible for controlling its respective
packet domain, while each Optical PNC (O-PNC) is tasked with managing
its optical domain. The packet domains controlled by the P-PNCs can
represent Autonomous Systems (ASes), as defined in [RFC1930], or
Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) areas within the same operator
network.
The IP routers between the packet domains can be either AS Boundary
Routers (ASBR) or Area Border Router (ABR): in this document, the
generic term Border Router (BR) is used to represent either an ASBR
or an ABR.
The Multi-Domain Service Coordinator (MDSC) is responsible for
orchestrating the entire multi-domain, multi-technology network,
encompassing both packet and optical domains. A standardized
interface, the Multi-Domain Service Coordinator to Provisioning
Network Controller Interface (MPI), enables the MDSC to interact with
various Provisioning Network Controllers (O-PNCs and P-PNCs).
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The MPI interface provides the MDSC with an abstracted topology,
concealing technology-specific details of the network and selectively
hiding topology information based on the chosen abstraction policy.
The level of abstraction is determined by the configuration
parameters of the P-PNC and O-PNC, such as offering potential
connectivity information between any Provider Edge (PE) and Border
Router (BR) within a packet network.
In the reference network of Figure 1, it is assumed that:
* The domain boundaries of the packet and optical domains are
congruent. In other words, each optical domain exclusively
supports connectivity between IP routers within a single packet
domain.
* There are no physical links directly connecting optical domains.
Inter-domain physical links exist only under the following
conditions:
- between packet domains (i.e., between BRs belonging to
different packet domains): these links are called inter-domain
Ethernet or IP links within this document;
- between packet and optical domains (i.e., between routers and
optical nodes): these links are called cross-technology
Ethernet links within this document;
- between customer sites and the packet network (i.e., between CE
devices and PE routers): these links are called access links
within this document.
* All the physical interfaces at inter-domain links are Ethernet
physical interfaces.
Scenarios using coherent optical interfaces on the IP routers are
outside the scope of this document.
This document analyzes scenarios in which all multi-technology IP
links supported by the optical network are intra-domain (intra-AS/
intra-area), such as PE-BR, PE-P, BR-P, and P-P IP links.
Consequently, inter-domain IP links are always single-technology
connections, supported by single-technology Ethernet links between
physically adjacent IP routers.
As described in [RFC7424], in order to increase the bandwidth between
two adjacent routers, multiple Ethernet links can be setup between
adjacent routers using either Link Aggregation Groups (LAGs)
[IEEE_802.1AX] or Equal Cost Multi-Path (ECMP) [RFC2991].
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Therefore, if inter-domain links between optical domains exist, they
would be utilized to support multi-domain optical services, which
fall outside the scope of this document.
The optical nodes within the optical domains can be either:
* WDM nodes, as defined in
[I-D.ietf-ccamp-optical-impairment-topology-yang], with an
integrated ROADM function with or without integrated optical
transponders;
* OTN nodes, with integrated an OTN cross-connect function and with
or without integrated ROADM functions or optical transponders.
2.1. Multi-domain Service Coordinator (MDSC) functions
The MDSC in Figure 1 is responsible for coordinating multiple packet
and optical domains in a multi-domain, multi-technology environment.
It facilitates multi-layer and multi-domain L2/L3 VPN network
services as requested by the Operational Support System/Orchestration
layer.
From an implementation perspective, the functions associated with
MDSC described in [RFC8453] may be grouped differently.
1. The service-related and network-related functions are combined
into a single, monolithic implementation. This implementation
manages end-customer service requests received through the
Customer MDSC Interface (CMI) and adapts the corresponding
network models. An example of this architecture is illustrated
in Figure 2 of [RFC8453].
2. An implementation may opt to separate the service-related and
network-related functions into distinct functional entities, as
outlined in [RFC8309] and Section 4.2 of [RFC8453]. In this
approach, the MDSC is decomposed into a top-level Service
Orchestrator, which interfaces with the customer through the
Customer MDSC Interface (CMI), and a Network Orchestrator, which
interfaces southbound with the PNCs. The interface between the
Service Orchestrator and the Network Orchestrator is not
specified in [RFC8453].
3. Another implementation may choose to split the MDSC functions
into a "higher-level MDSC" (MDSC-H) and "lower-level MDSCs"
(MDSC-Ls). The MDSC-H is responsible for multi-technology
coordination across packet and optical domains, while the MDSC-Ls
handle domain-specific coordination. Specifically, an Optical
MDSC-L manages multi-domain coordination between the O-PNCs, and
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a Packet MDSC-L manages multi-domain coordination between the
P-PNCs. This approach is illustrated, for example, in Figure 9
of [RFC8453].
4. An alternative implementation may choose to integrate the MDSC
and P-PNC functions in a single entity.
In current service provider network deployments, the MDSC's
Northbound Interface (NBI) typically connects to an OSS/Orchestration
layer rather than a CNC. In this scenario, the MDSC is limited to
performing Network Orchestration functions, as described in [RFC8309]
(point 2 above). Consequently, the MDSC handles network service
requests received from the OSS and/or Orchestration.
The functionality of the OSS and/or Orchestration layer, as well as
its interface with the MDSC, is typically operator-specific and falls
outside the scope of this draft. Therefore, this document assumes
that the OSS and/or Orchestration layer requests the MDSC to
provision L2/L3 VPN network services through mechanisms not covered
in this document.
There are two prominent workflow cases when the MDSC multi-technology
coordination is initiated:
* Initiated by request from the OSS and/or Orchestration layer to
setup L2/L3 VPN network services that require multi-layer/multi-
domain coordination;
* The MDSC initiates these workflows to perform multi-layer and
multi-domain optimizations and/or maintenance activities (e.g.,
rerouting LSPs and their associated services when a resource, such
as a fiber, is placed in maintenance mode during a maintenance
window). Unlike service fulfilment, these workflows are not
triggered by a network service provisioning request from the OSS
or Orchestration layer.
The latter workflow cases are outside the scope of this document.
This document examines use cases in which multi-layer coordination is
initiated by a network service request from the OSS and/or
Orchestration layer.
2.1.1. Multi-domain L2/L3 VPN Network Services
Figure 2 and Figure 3 provide an example of a hub & spoke multi-
domain L2/L3 VPN with three PEs where the hub PE (PE13) and one spoke
PE (PE14) are within the same packet domain, and the other spoke PE
(PE23) is within a different packet domain.
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------
| CE13 | Packet Domain 1 Packet Domain 2
------ ____________________ __________________
( | ) ( )
( | PE13 P15 BR11 ) ( BR21 P24 )
( |____ ___ ____ ) ( ____ ___ )
( / \ _ _ _ / \ _ _ / \________/ \ / \ )
( \____/ \___/ \___ / \____/ \_ _/ )
( PE14 :\_ _ / ) ( / : : \__ )
( ____ : \__ P16 ___/ ) ( __/_ _\__ )
( / \ : / \- - -/ \__________/ \ :_ _ _ :_ / \ )
( \____/ \___/ \____/ ) ( \____/ \____/ )
( / : : : : BR12 ) ( : : : | )
(/ ) ( BR22 PE23| )
------ : : : : ) ( : : : | )
| CE14 | (__ ____ _________ _____) (_____ ___ _ ------
------ : : : : : : : | CE23 |
------
: : : : : : :
_ ___ ____ _________ ________ ______ ___ _______
( : : : : ) : : : )
( ____ : ____ ) ( ____ .. .. )
( : / \_ _ _ _/ \ NE12 ) ( : / \ _ : )
( NE11 \____/ : \____/ ) ( NE21 \____/ \ )
( : / \ _ _ / \ ) ( : / \ : )
( ___/ \:_| \____ ) ( .___/ _\__ )
( / \_ _ / \ _ _ _ / \ ) ( / \ _ _ _ / \ )
( \____/ \____/ \____/ ) ( \____/ \____/ )
( NE13 NE14 NE15 ) ( NE22 NE23 )
(_____________________________) (___________________)
Optical Domain 1 Optical Domain 2
_____ = Inter-domain links
.. .. = Cross-layer links
_ _ _ = Intra-domain links
Figure 2: Multi-domain VPN topology example
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------
| CE13 | Packet Domain 1 Packet Domain 2
------ ____________________ _________________
( | ) ( )
( | PE13 P15 BR11 ) ( BR21 P24 )
( |____ ___ ____ ) ( ____ ___ )
( / H \ / \ / \________/.. \ / ..\ .. )
( \____/..... \___/ \___ / .. .. ..___:/ \___/ : )
( PE14 : : .. .. ) ( : )
( ____ : _:_ P16 ____ : ) ( ____ : __:_ )
( / S \ : / ..\ / ..__________/ \ : / S \ )
( \____/ \__:/ \____/ ) ( \____/ : \____/ )
( / : : : :BR12 ) ( : | )
(/ : : ) ( BR22 : PE23| )
------ : : : : ) ( : | )
| CE14 |:(__ _____:__________ ___) (__:______ __ ------
------ : : : : : | CE23 |
: : : ------
: : : : :
_:___________:________ ______ ___:______ _______
( : : : : ) ( : .. .. )
( : ____ : ____ ) ( :____ )
( : / .. \.. : ../ .. \ NE12 ) ( /.. \ : )
( NE11 \____/ : \____/ ) ( NE21 \__:_/ )
( : : ) ( : )
( _:__ ___: ____ ) ( ____ : .. ____ )
( / :..\..../...:\ / \ ) ( / \ /.. :\ )
( \____/ \____/ \____/ ) ( \____/ \____/ )
( NE13 NE14 NE15 ) ( NE22 NE23 )
(_____________________________) (__________________)
Optical Domain 1 Optical Domain 2
H / S = Hub VRF / Spoke VRF
..... = Intra-domain TE Path 1 {PE13, P16, NE14, NE13, PE14}
.. .. = Inter-domain TE Path 2 {PE13, NE11, NE12, BR12,
BR11, BR21, NE21, NE23, P24, PE23}
Figure 3: Multi-domain VPN TE paths example
There are many options to implement multi-domain L2/L3 VPNs,
including:
1. BGP-Labeled Unicast (BGP-LU) ([RFC8277])
2. Inter-domain RSVP-TE
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3. Inter-domain SR-TE
This document explores inter-domain TE options where the TE tunnel
model, as defined in [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te], applies at the MPI for
both intra-domain and inter-domain TE configurations. The assessment
of alternative options is beyond the scope of this draft.
It is also assumed that:
* the bandwidth of each intra-domain TE path is managed by its
respective P-PNC;
* technology-specific mechanisms are employed for inter-domain TE
path stitching. In the case of inter-domain SR-TE, a Segment
Identifier (SID) is used in Segment Routing (SR) to define a
segment (a portion of the path) within a network. A binding SID,
a special type of SID, acts as a reference to a precomputed SR
policy or path.
* each packet domain in Figure 2 employs technology-specific local
protection mechanisms, such as Fast Reroute (FRR) for MPLS-TE or
Topology Independent Loop-Free Alternate (TI-LFA) for SR-TE.
These mechanisms operate with an awareness of the multi-technology
TE path properties, such as the Shared Risk Link Group (SRLG) path
properties defined in [RFC8001].
For inter-domain TE paths, it is assumed that each packet domain in
Figure 2 and Figure 3 employs the same TE technology. The stitching
between two domains is achieved using inter-domain TE mechanisms.
In this scenario, a key function of the MDSC is to identify the
multi-domain and multi-layer TE paths for carrying L2/L3 VPN traffic
between PEs in different packet domains. The MDSC then relays this
information to the P-PNCs to ensure that the forwarding tables of the
PEs (e.g., VRF) are correctly configured, allowing the L2/L3 VPN
traffic to be routed over the designated multi-domain and multi-layer
TE paths.
The selection of the TE path should consider both the TE requirements
and the binding requirements of the L2/L3 VPN network service.
In general, the binding requirements for a network service (e.g., L2/
L3 VPN) depend on the service isolation requirements (e.g., as
discussed in Section 8 of [RFC9543]) and can be categorized into
three main cases:
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1. The L2/L3 VPN is bound to a set of dedicated TE tunnels, which
neither share resources with other services, nor compete for
bandwidth with other tunnels, ensuring deterministic latency
performance.
2. The L2/L3 VPN is bound to a set of dedicated TE tunnels, which
can compete for bandwidth with other tunnels.
3. The L2/L3 VPN is bound to a set of TE tunnels which can be shared
with other services.
4. The customer does not require isolation and may request a VPN
service where the associated tunnels are shared across multiple
VPNs.
For each TE path required to support the L2/L3 VPN network service,
it is possible that:
1. A TE path that meets the TE and binding requirements already
exists in the network.
2. An existing TE path could be modified (e.g., through bandwidth
increase) to meet the TE and binding requirements:
a. The TE path characteristics can be modified only in the
packet layer.
b. One or more new underlay optical tunnels need to be setup to
support the requested changes of the overlay TE paths (multi-
layer coordination is required).
3. A new TE path needs to be setup to meet the TE and binding
requirements:
a. The new TE path reuses existing underlay optical tunnels;
b. One or more new underlay optical tunnels need to be setup to
support the setup of the new TE path (multi-layer
coordination is required).
This document examines scenarios in which a single TE path is used to
carry VPN traffic between PEs. Scenarios involving multiple parallel
TE paths for load-balancing VPN traffic between PEs are possible but
are beyond the scope of this document.
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2.1.2. Multi-domain and Multi-layer Path Computation
When establishing a new TE path, the MDSC is responsible for
coordinating the path computation across multiple layers and domains.
Based on the MDSC's knowledge of the underlying network topology and
configuration, there are three possible approaches for multi-layer
and multi-domain path computation:
1. Full Summarization: In this approach, the MDSC maintains an
abstracted TE topology view of all its packet and optical
underlying domains.
In this case, the MDSC lacks sufficient TE topology information
to perform multi-layer/multi-domain path computation. It
delegates the P-PNCs and O-PNCs to compute local paths within
their respective domains, then uses the returned information to
compute the optimal multi-domain/multi-layer path.
This approach presents an issue for the P-PNC, as it lacks the
ability to perform single-domain/multi-layer path computation.
It cannot retrieve topology information from the O-PNCs or
delegate optical path computation to the O-PNCs. A possible
solution is to include a CNC function within the P-PNC to request
the MDSC for multi-domain optical path computation, as shown in
Figure 10 of [RFC8453].
Another solution could involve relying on the MDSC recursive
hierarchy, as defined in Section 4.1 of [RFC8453], where each IP
and optical domain pair has a "lower-level MDSC" (MDSC-L) for
multi-layer correlation, and a "higher-level MDSC" (MDSC-H) for
multi-domain coordination.
In this case, the MDSC-H obtains an abstract view of the
underlying multi-layer domain topologies from its MDSC-L. Each
MDSC-L gets the full IP domain topology from the P-PNC and an
abstracted view of the optical domain topology from its O-PNC.
Topology abstraction occurs at the MPIs between MDSC-L and O-PNC,
as well as between MDSC-L and MDSC-H.
2. Partial summarization: In this approach, the MDSC has complete
visibility of the TE topology of the packet network domains and
an abstracted view of the TE topology of the optical network
domains.
The MDSC can then only perform multi-domain/single-layer path
computation for the packet layer, where the path can be computed
optimally for the two packet domains.
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The MDSC still needs to delegate the O-PNCs to perform local path
computation within their domains. It uses the information from
the O-PNCs and its TE topology view of the multi-domain packet
layer to perform multi-layer/multi-domain path computation.
3. Full knowledge: In this approach, the MDSC has a complete and
enough detailed view of the TE topology of all the network
domains (both optical and packet).
In such a case, the MDSC has all the information needed to
perform multi-domain/multi-layer path computation without relying
on PNCs.
This approach, however, may present scalability issues. As
discussed in Section 2.2 of
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-path-computation], performing path
computation for optical networks in the MDSC is particularly
challenging, as optimal paths also depend on vendor-specific
optical attributes, which may vary across domains if provided by
different vendors.
This document examines scenarios where the MDSC adopts the partial
summarization approach to enable multi-domain and multi-layer path
computation.
Typically, O-PNCs are responsible for optical path computation within
their respective domains. When setting up a network service, they
must consider connection requirements such as bandwidth,
amplification, wavelength continuity, and non-linear impairments that
may impact the network service path.
The methods and types of path requirements and impairments, such as
those detailed in [I-D.ietf-ccamp-optical-impairment-topology-yang],
used by the O-PNC for optical path computation, are not exposed at
the MPI and therefore are out of scope for this document.
2.2. IP/MPLS Domain Controller and IP router Functions
Each packet domain in Figure 1, corresponding to either an IGP area
or an Autonomous System (AS) within the same operator network, is
controlled by a packet domain controller (P-PNC).
P-PNCs are responsible for establishing TE paths between any two PEs
or BRs within their controlled domains, as requested by the MDSC.
They also provide topology information to the MDSC to enable
efficient network coordination.
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For example, in inter-domain SR-TE, setting up a bidirectional SR-TE
path from PE13 in Domain 1 to PE23 in Domain 2, as shown in Figure 3,
requires the MDSC to coordinate the following actions:
* P-PNC1: Push a SID list to PE13, including the Binding SID
associated with the SR-TE path in Domain 2, with PE23 as the
target destination (forward direction).
* P-PNC2: Push a SID list to PE23, including the Binding SID
associated with the SR-TE path in Domain 1, with PE13 as the
target destination (reverse direction).
With reference to Figure 4, P-PNCs are responsible for the following:
1. To expose to MDSC their respective detailed TE topology
2. To perform single-layer, single-domain local TE path computation,
when requested by the MDSC, between two PEs (for single-domain
end-to-end TE path) or between PEs and BRs for an inter-domain TE
path selected by the MDSC.
3. To configure the routers in their respective domain to setup a TE
path;
4. To configure the VRF and PE-CE interfaces (Service access points)
for the intra-domain and inter-domain network services requested
by the MDSC.
+------------------+ +------------------+
| | | |
| P-PNC1 | | P-PNC2 |
| | | |
+--|-----------|---+ +--|-----------|---+
| 1.TE | 2.VPN | 1.TE | 2.VPN
| Path | Provisioning | Path | Provisioning
| Config | | Config |
V V V V
+---------------------+ +---------------------+
CE / PE TE path 1 BR\ / BR TE path 2 PE \ CE
o--/---o..................o--\-----/--o..................o---\--o
\ / \ /
\ Domain 1 / \ Domain 2 /
+---------------------+ +---------------------+
End-to-end TE path
<------------------------------------------------->
Figure 4: Domain Controller & node Functions
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When requesting a new TE path setup, the MDSC provides the P-PNCs
with the explicit path to be created or modified. In other words,
the MDSC communicates the complete list of nodes involved in the path
(strict mode). The P-PNC is then responsible for setting up the
explicit TE path. For example:
* with SR-TE, the P-PNC pushes to headend PE or BR the list of SIDs
to create the explicit SR-TE path, provided by the MDSC;
* with RSVP-TE, the P-PNC requests the headend PE or BR to start
signaling the explicit RSVP-TE path, provided by the MDSC.
To scale in large SR-TE packet domains, the MDSC can provide the
P-PNC with a loose path and per-domain TE constraints. The P-PNC can
then select the complete path within its domain.
In this case, the P-PNC must signal back to the MDSC which path it
has chosen, allowing the MDSC to track relevant resource utilization.
From the Figure 3 example, the TE path requested by the MDSC touches
PE13 - P16 - BR12 - BR21 - PE23. P-PNC2 is aware of two paths with
the same topology metric, e.g., BR21 - P24 - PE23 and BR21 - BR22 -
PE23, but with different loads. It may prefer to steer traffic on
the latter as it is less loaded.
For the purposes of this document, it is assumed that the MDSC always
provides the explicit list of all hops to the P-PNCs to set up or
modify the TE path.
2.3. Optical Domain Controller and NE Functions
The optical network provides underlay connectivity services to IP/
MPLS networks. The packet and optical multi-layer coordination is
handled by the MDSC, as shown in Figure 1.
The O-PNC is responsible to:
* Provide the MDSC with an abstract TE topology view of its
underlying optical network resources;
* perform single-domain local path computation when requested by the
MDSC;
* Perform optical tunnel set up when requested by the MDSC.
The mechanisms used by the O-PNC to perform intra-domain topology
discovery and path setup are typically vendor-specific and outside
the scope of this document.
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Depending on the optical network type, TE topology abstraction, path
computation, and path setup can be single-layer (either OTN or DWDM)
or multi-layer OTN/DWDM. In the latter case, multi-layer
coordination between the OTN and DWDM layers is handled by the O-PNC.
3. Interface Protocols and YANG Data Models for the MPIs
This section describes general assumptions applicable to all MPI
interfaces between each PNC (Optical or Packet) and the MDSC, to
support the scenarios discussed in this document.
3.1. RESTCONF Protocol at the MPIs
The RESTCONF protocol, as defined in [RFC8040], using the JSON
representation from [RFC7951], is assumed to be used at these
interfaces. Additionally, extensions to RESTCONF, as defined in
[RFC8527], to comply with the Network Management Datastore
Architecture (NMDA) from [RFC8342], are assumed to be used at these
MPI and MDSC NBI interfaces.
3.2. YANG Data Models at the MPIs
The data models used on these interfaces are assumed to use the YANG
1.1 Data Modeling Language, as defined in [RFC7950].
This section describes the YANG data models applicable to the Packet
and Optical MPIs. Some of these YANG data models may be optional,
depending on the specific network configuration detailed in Section 4
and Section 5.
3.2.1. Common YANG Data Models at the MPIs
As required in [RFC8040], the "ietf-yang-library" YANG module defined
in [RFC8525] is used to allow the MDSC to discover the set of YANG
modules supported by each PNC at its MPI.
Both Optical and Packet PNCs can use the following common topology
YANG data models at the MPI:
* The Base Network Model, defined in the "ietf-network" YANG module
of [RFC8345];
* The Base Network Topology Model, defined in the "ietf-network-
topology" YANG module of [RFC8345], which augments the Base
Network Model;
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* The TE Topology Model, defined in the "ietf-te-topology" YANG
module of [RFC8795], which augments the Base Network Topology
Model.
Optical and Packet PNCs can use the common TE Tunnel Model, defined
in the "ietf-te" YANG module of [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te], at the MPI.
All common YANG data models are generic and augmented by technology-
specific YANG modules, as described in the following sections.
Both Optical and Packet PNCs can also use the Ethernet Topology
Model, defined in the "ietf-eth-te-topology" YANG module of
[I-D.ietf-ccamp-eth-client-te-topo-yang], which augments the TE
Topology Model with Ethernet technology-specific information.
Both Optical and Packet PNCs can use the following common
notifications YANG data models at the MPI:
* Dynamic Subscription to YANG Events and Datastores over RESTCONF
as defined in [RFC8650];
* Subscription to YANG Notifications for Datastores updates as
defined in [RFC8641].
PNCs and MDSCs comply with subscription requirements as stated in
[RFC7923].
3.2.2. YANG models at the Optical MPIs
The Optical PNC can use the following technology-specific topology
YANG data models, which augment the generic TE Topology Model:
* The WSON Topology Model, defined in the "ietf-wson-topology" YANG
module of [RFC9094];
* the Flexi-grid Topology Model, defined in the "ietf-flexi-grid-
topology" YANG module of [I-D.ietf-ccamp-flexigrid-yang];
* the OTN Topology Model, as defined in the "ietf-otn-topology" YANG
module of [I-D.ietf-ccamp-otn-topo-yang].
The optical PNC can use the following technology-specific tunnel YANG
data models, which augments the generic TE Tunnel Model:
* The WDM Tunnel Model, defined in the "ietf-wdm-tunnel" YANG module
of [I-D.ietf-ccamp-wdm-tunnel-yang];
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* the OTN Tunnel Model, defined in the "ietf-otn-tunnel" YANG module
of [I-D.ietf-ccamp-otn-tunnel-model].
The optical PNC can use the generic Path Computation YANG RPC,
defined in the "ietf-te-path-computation" YANG module of
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-path-computation].
Note that technology-specific augmentations of the generic path
computation RPC for WSON, Flexi-grid, and OTN path computation RPCs
have been identified as a gap.
The optical PNC can use the following client signal YANG data models:
* the CBR Client Signal Model, defined in the "ietf-trans-client-
service" YANG module of [I-D.ietf-ccamp-client-signal-yang];
* the Ethernet Client Signal Model, defined in the "ietf-eth-tran-
service" YANG module of [I-D.ietf-ccamp-client-signal-yang].
3.2.3. YANG data models at the Packet MPIs
The Packet PNC can use the following technology-specific topology
YANG data models:
* The L3 Topology Model, defined in the "ietf-l3-unicast-topology"
YANG module of [RFC8346], which augments the Base Network Topology
Model;
* the Packet TE Topology Mode, defined in the "ietf-te-topology-
packet" YANG module of [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-l3-te-topo], which
augments the generic TE Topology Model;
* The MPLS-TE Topology Model, defined in the "ietf-te-mpls-topology"
YANG module of [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te-mpls-topology], which
augments the TE Packet Topology Model with or without the L3 TE
Topology Model, defined in "ietf-l3-te-topology" YANG module of
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-l3-te-topo];
* the SR Topology Model, defined in the "ietf-sr-mpls-topology" YANG
module of [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-sr-te-topo].
The Packet PNC can use the following technology-specific tunnel YANG
data models, which augments the generic TE Tunnel Model:
* The MPLS-TE Tunnel Model, defined in the "ietf-te-mpls" YANG
modules of [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te-mpls];
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* the SR-TE Tunnel Model which is to be defined as described in
Section 6.
The packet PNC can use the following network service YANG data
models:
* L3VPN Network Model (L3NM), defined in the "ietf-l3vpn-ntw" YANG
module of [RFC9182];
* L3NM TE Service Mapping, defined in the "ietf-l3nm-te-service-
mapping" YANG module of [I-D.ietf-teas-te-service-mapping-yang];
* L2VPN Network Model (L2NM), defined in the "ietf-l2vpn-ntw" YANG
module of [RFC9291];
* L2NM TE Service Mapping, defined in the "ietf-l2nm-te-service-
mapping" YANG module of [I-D.ietf-teas-te-service-mapping-yang].
3.3. Path Computation Element Protocol (PCEP)
[RFC8637] examines the applicability of a Path Computation Element
(PCE) [RFC5440] and PCE Communication Protocol (PCEP) to the ACTN
framework. It further describes how the PCE architecture applies to
ACTN and lists the PCEP extensions needed to use PCEP as an ACTN
interface. The stateful PCE [RFC8231], PCE-Initiation [RFC8281],
stateful Hierarchical PCE (H-PCE) [RFC8751], and PCE as a central
controller (PCECC) [RFC8283] are key extensions enabling the use of
PCE/PCEP for ACTN.
Since PCEP supports path computation in both packet and optical
networks, it is well-suited for inter-layer path computation.
[RFC5623] describes a framework for applying the PCE-based
architecture to interlayer (G)MPLS traffic engineering. Furthermore,
section 6.1 of [RFC8751] outlines H-PCE applicability for inter-layer
or POI.
[RFC8637] lists various PCEP extensions that apply to ACTN. It also
lists the PCEP extension for the optical network and POI.
Note that PCEP can be used in conjunction with the YANG data models
described in the rest of this document. Depending on whether ACTN is
deployed in a greenfield or brownfield, two options are possible:
1. The MDSC uses a single RESTCONF/YANG interface to each PNC to
discover all TE information and request TE tunnels. It may
perform full multi-layer path computation or delegate path
computation to the underlying PNCs.
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This approach is desirable for operators from a multi-vendor
integration perspective as it is simple. Only one type of
interface (RESTCONF) is needed, using the relevant YANG data
models depending on the operator use case considered. The
benefits of having only one protocol for the MPI between MDSC and
PNC have already been highlighted in
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-path-computation].
2. The MDSC uses the RESTCONF/YANG interface towards each PNC to
discover all the TE information and requests the creation of TE
tunnels. However, it uses PCEP for hierarchical path
computation.
As mentioned in Option 1, from an operator perspective, this
option can add integration complexity to have two protocols
instead of one unless the RESTCONF/YANG interface is added to an
existing PCEP deployment (brownfield scenario).
Section 4 and Section 5 of this draft analyze the case where a single
RESTCONF/YANG interface is deployed at the MPI (i.e., option 1
above).
4. Inventory, Service and Network Topology Discovery
In this scenario, the MDSC needs to discover the underlying PNCs:
* the network topology, at both optical and IP layers, in terms of
nodes and links, including the access links, inter-domain IP links
as well as cross-technology Ethernet links;
* the optical tunnels supporting multi-technology intra-domain IP
links;
* both intra-domain and inter-domain L2/L3 VPN network services
deployed within the network;
* the TE paths supporting those L2/L3 VPN network services;
* the hardware inventory information of IP and optical equipment.
The O-PNC and P-PNC could discover and report the hardware network
inventory information of the equipment used by the different
management layers. In the context of POI, the inventory information
of IP and optical equipment can complement the topology views and
facilitate the packet/optical multi-layer view, e.g., by providing a
mapping between the lowest-level link termination points (LTPs) in
the topology view and corresponding ports in the network inventory
view.
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The MDSC could also discover the entire network inventory information
of both IP and optical equipment and correlate this information with
the links reported in the network topology.
Reporting the entire inventory and detailed topology information of
packet and optical networks to the MDSC may present scalability
issues as a potential drawback. The analysis of the scalability of
this approach and mechanisms to address potential issues is outside
the scope of this document.
Each PNC provides the MDSC the topology view of the domain it
controls, as described in Section 4.1 and Section 4.3. The MDSC uses
this information to discover the complete topology view of the multi-
layer multi-domain networks it controls.
The MDSC should also maintain up-to-date inventory, service and
network topology databases of IP and optical layers through IETF
notifications through MPI with the PNCs when any network
inventory/topology/service change occurs.
It should also be possible to correlate information from IP and
optical layers (e.g., which port, lambda/OTSi, and direction are used
by a specific IP service on the WDM node).
In particular, for the cross-technology Ethernet links, it is key for
MDSC to automatically correlate the information from the PNC network
databases about the physical ports from the routers (single link or
bundle links for LAG) to client ports in the ROADM.
The analysis of multi-layer fault management is outside the scope of
this document. However, the discovered information should be
sufficient for the MDSC to correlate optical and IP layer alarms to
speed-up troubleshooting easily.
Alarms and event notifications are required between MDSC and PNCs so
that any network changes are reported almost in real-time to the MDSC
(e.g., node or link failure). As specified in [RFC7923], MDSC must
subscribe to specific objects from PNC YANG datastores for
notifications.
4.1. Optical Topology Discovery
The WSON Topology Model and the Flexi-grid Topology model can be used
to report the DWDM network topology (e.g., WDM nodes and OMS links),
depending on whether the DWDM optical network is based on fixed-grid
or flexible-grid or a mix of fixed-grid and flexible-grid.
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It is worth noting that, as described in Appendix I of
[ITU-T_G.694.1], a fixed-grid can also be described as a flexible
grid with constraints: for example, a 50GHz fixed-grid can be
described as a flexible-grid which supports only m=4 and values of n
which are only multiplier of 8.
As a consequence:
* A flexible-grid DWDM network topology can only be reported using
the Flexi-grid Topology model;
* A fixed-grid DWDM network topology, can be reported using either
the WSON Topology model or the Flexi-grid Topology model;
* A mixed fixed and flexible grid DWDM network topology can be
reported using either the Flexi-grid Topology model or both WSON
and Flexi-grid topology models.
Clarifying how both WSON and Flexi-grid topology models could be used
together (e.g., through multi-inheritance as described in
[I-D.ietf-teas-te-topology-profiles]) has been identified as a gap.
The OTN Topology Model is used to report the OTN network topology
(e.g., OTN switching nodes and links), when the OTN switching layer
is deployed within the optical domain.
To allow the MDSC to discover the complete multi-layer and multi-
domain network topology and to correlate it with the hardware
inventory information, the O-PNCs report an abstract optical network
topology where:
* one TE node is reported for each optical node deployed within the
optical network domain; and
* one TE link is reported for each OMS link and, optionally, for
each OTN link.
Since the MDSC delegates optical path computation to its underlay
O-PNCs, the following information can be abstracted and not reported
at the MPI:
* the optical parameters required for optical path computation, such
as those detailed in
[I-D.ietf-ccamp-optical-impairment-topology-yang];
* the underlay OTS links and ILAs of OMS links;
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* the physical connectivity between the optical transponders and the
ROADMs.
The OTN Topology Model also reports the CBR client LTPs that
terminates the cross-technology Ethernet links: one CBR client LTP is
reported for each CBR or multi-function client interface on the
optical nodes (see sections 4.4 and 5.1 of
[I-D.ietf-ccamp-transport-nbi-app-statement] for the description of
multi-function client interfaces).
The Ethernet Topology Model reports the Ethernet client LTPs that
terminate the cross-technology Ethernet links: one Ethernet client
LTP is reported for each Ethernet or multi-function client interface
on the optical nodes.
The optical transponders and, optionally, the OTN access cards, are
abstracted at MPI by the O-PNC as Trail Termination Points (TTPs),
defined in [RFC8795], within the optical network topology. This
abstraction is valid independently of the fact that optical
transponders are physically integrated within the same WDM node or
are physically located on a device external to the WDM node since it
both cases the optical transponders and the WDM node are under the
control of the same O-PNC and abstracted as a single WDM TE Node at
the O-MPI.
The association between the Ethernet or CBR client LTPs terminating
the Ethernet cross-technology Ethernet links and the optical TTPs is
reported using the Inter Layer Lock-id (ILL) identifiers, defined in
[RFC8795].
For example, with a reference to Figure 5, the ILL values X and Y are
used to associate the client LTPs (7-0) in NE11 and (8-0) in NE12
with the corresponding optical TTPs (7) in NE11 and (8) in NE12,
respectively.
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+----------------------------------------------------------+
/ /
/ <X> <Y> /
/ +------O------+ +------O------+ /
/ | (7-0) | | (8-0) | /
/ | | | | /
/ | NE11 | | NE12 | /
/ +-------------+ +-------------+ /
/ Ethernet or OTN Topology (O-PNC 1) /
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
+----------------------------------------------------------+
/ <X> (7) (8) <Y> /
/ --- --- /
/ +-----\ /-----+ +-----\ /-----+ /
/ | V | | V | /
/ | | | | /
/ | NE11 | | NE12 | /
/ +-------------+ +-------------+ /
/ Optical Topology (O-PNC 1) /
+----------------------------------------------------------+
Legenda:
========
O LTP
---
\ / TTP
V
< > Inter-Layer Lock-id reported by the PNC
Figure 5: Multi-layer optical topology discovery
The intra-domain optical links are discovered by O-PNCs, using
mechanisms which are outside the scope of this document, and reported
at the MPIs within the optical network topology.
In the case of a multi-layer DWDM/OTN network domain, multi-layer
intra-domain OTN links are supported by underlay WDM tunnels: this
relationship is reported by the mechanisms described in Section 4.2.
4.2. Optical Path Discovery
The WDM Tunnel Model is used to report all the WDM tunnels
established within the optical network.
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When the OTN switching layer is deployed within the optical domain,
the OTN Tunnel Model is used to report all the OTN tunnels
established within the optical network.
The Ethernet client signal model and the Transparent CBR client
signal model are used to report all the connectivity services
provided by the underlay optical tunnels between Ethernet or CBR
client LTPs, depending on whether the connectivity service is frame-
based or transparent. The underlay optical tunnels can be either WDM
tunnels or, when the optional OTN switching layer is deployed, OTN
tunnels.
The WDM tunnels can be used to support either Ethernet or CBR client
signals or multi-layer intra-domain OTN links. In the latter case,
the hierarchical-link container, defined in [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te],
associates the underlay WDM tunnel with the supported multi-layer
intra-domain OTN link, and it allows discovery of the multi-layer
path supporting all the connectivity services provided by the optical
network.
The O-PNCs report in their operational datastores all the Ethernet
and CBR client connectivities and all the optical tunnels deployed
within their optical domain regardless of the mechanisms being used
to set them up, such as the mechanisms described in Section 5.2, as
well as other mechanism (e.g., static configuration), which are
outside the scope of this document.
4.3. Packet Topology Discovery
The L3 Topology Model is used to report the IP network topology.
The L3 Topology Model, SR Topology Model, TE Topology Model and the
TE Packet Topology Model are used together to report the SR-TE
network topology, as described in Figure 2 of
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-sr-te-topo].
The TE Topology Model, TE Packet Topology Model and MPLS-TE Topology
Model are used together to report the MPLS-TE network topology, as
described in [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te-mpls-topology].
As described in [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-l3-te-topo], the relationship
between the IP network topology and the MPLS-TE network topology
depend on whether the two network topologies are congruent or not: in
the latter case, the L3 TE Topology Model is used, together with the
L3 Topology Model to provide the association between the two network
topologies.
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To allow the MDSC to discover the complete multi-layer and multi-
domain network topology and to correlate it with the hardware
inventory information as well as to perform multi-domain TE path
computation, the P-PNCs report the full packet network, including all
the information that the MDSC requires to perform TE path
computation. In particular, one TE node is reported for each IP
router and one TE link is reported for each intra-domain IP link.
The packet topology also reports the IP LTPs terminating the inter-
domain IP links.
The Ethernet Topology Model is used to report the intra-domain
Ethernet links supporting the intra-domain IP links as well as the
Ethernet LTPs that might terminate cross-technology Ethernet links,
inter-domain Ethernet links or access links, as described in detail
in Section 4.5 and in Section 4.6.
All the intra-domain Ethernet and IP links are discovered by the
P-PNCs, using mechanisms, such as Link Layer Discovery Protocol
(LLDP) [IEEE_802.1AB], which are outside the scope of this document,
and reported at the MPIs within the Ethernet or the packet network
topology.
4.4. TE Path Discovery
This document assumes that the discovery of existing TE paths,
including their bandwidth, at the MPI is done using the generic TE
tunnel YANG data model, defined in [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te], with
packet technology-specific (e.g., MPLS-TE or SR-TE) augmentations.
Note that technology-specific augmentations of the generic path TE
tunnel model for SR-TE path setup and discovery is outlined in
section 1 of [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te] but are currently identified as
a gap in Section 6.
To enable MDSC to discover the full end-to-end TE path configuration,
the technology-specific augmentation of the [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te]
should allow the P-PNC to report the TE path within its domain (e.g.,
the SID list assigned to an SR-TE path).
For example, considering the L3VPN in Figure 2, the TE path 1 in one
direction (PE13-P16-PE14) and the TE path in the reverse direction
(between PE14 and PE13) should be reported by the P-PNC1 to the MDSC
as TE primary and primary-reverse paths of the same TE tunnel
instance. The bandwidth of these TE paths represents the bandwidth
allocated by P-PNC1 to the two TE paths, which can be symmetric or
asymmetric in the two directions.
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The P-PNCs use the TE tunnel model to report, at the MPI, all the TE
paths established within their packet domain regardless of the
mechanism being used to set them up; i.e., independently on whether
the mechanisms described in Section 5.3 or other means, such as
static configuration, which are outside the scope of this document,
are used.
4.5. Inter-domain Link Discovery
In the reference network of Figure 1, there are three types of inter-
domain links:
* Inter-domain Ethernet links supporting inter-domain IP links
between two adjacent IP domains;
* Cross-technology Ethernet links between an IP domain and an
adjacent optical domain;
* Access links between a CE device and a PE router.
All the three types of links are Ethernet links.
It is worth noting that the P-PNC may not be aware whether an
Ethernet interface terminates a cross-technology Ethernet link, an
inter-domain Ethernet link or an access link. The TE Topology Model
supports the discovery for all these types of links with no need for
the P-PNC to know the type of inter-domain link.
There are two possible models to report the access links between CEs
and PEs: the TE Topology Model, defined in [RFC8795], or the Service
Attachment Points (SAP) Model, defined in [RFC9408].
Although the discovery of access links is outside the scope of this
document, clarifying the relationship between these two models has
been identified as a gap.
The inter-domain Ethernet links and cross-technology Ethernet links
are discovered by the MDSC using the plug-id attribute, as described
in section 4.3 of [RFC8795].
A more detailed description of how the plug-id can be used to
discover inter-domain links is also provided in section 5.1.4 of
[I-D.ietf-ccamp-transport-nbi-app-statement].
The plug-id attribute can also be used to discover the access-links,
but the analysis of the access-link discovery is outside the scope of
this document.
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This document considers the following two options for discovering
inter-domain links:
1. Static configuration
2. LLDP [IEEE_802.1AB] automatic discovery
Other link discovery options are possible but not described in this
document.
As outlined in [I-D.ietf-ccamp-transport-nbi-app-statement], the
encoding of the plug-id namespace and the specific LLDP information
reported within the plug-id value, such as the Chassis ID and Port ID
mandatory TLVs, is implementation-specific and needs to be consistent
across all PNCs within the network.
The static configuration requires an administrative burden to
configure network-wide unique identifiers, making it more viable for
inter-domain Ethernet links. For cross-technology Ethernet links,
the automatic discovery solution based on LLDP snooping is preferable
when possible.
The routers exchange standard LLDP packets as defined in
[IEEE_802.1AB], and the optical nodes snoop the LLDP packets received
from the local Ethernet interface and report the extracted
information, such as the Chassis ID, Port ID, and System Name TLVs,
to the O-PNCs.
Note that the optical nodes do not actively participate in the LLDP
packet exchange and do not send any LLDP packets.
4.5.1. Cross-technology Ethernet link Discovery
The MDSC can discover a cross-technology Ethernet link by matching
the plug-id values of the two LTPs reported by adjacent O-PNC and
P-PNCs. In case LLDP snooping is used, the P-PNC reports the LLDP
information sent by the corresponding Ethernet interface on the IP
router, while the O-PNC reports the LLDP information received by the
corresponding Ethernet interface on the optical node, e.g., between
LTP 5-0 on PE13 and LTP 7-0 on NE11, as shown in Figure 6.
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+-----------------------------------------------------------+
/ Ethernet Topology (P-PNC) /
/ +-------------+ +-------------+ /
/ | PE13 | | BR11 | /
/ | | | | /
/ | (5-0) | | (6-0) | /
/ +------O------+ +------O------+ /
/ {PE13,5} ^ ^ {BR11,6} /
+-----------------:------------------------------:----------+
: :
: :
: :
: :
+--------:------------------------------:------------------+
/ : : /
/ {PE13,5} v v {BR11,6} /
/ +------O------+ +------O------+ /
/ | (7-0) | | (8-0) | /
/ | | | | /
/ | NE11 | | NE12 | /
/ +-------------+ +-------------+ /
/ Ethernet or OTN Topology (O-PNC) /
+----------------------------------------------------------+
Legenda:
========
O LTP
<...> Link discovered by the MDSC
{ } LTP Plug-id reported by the PNC
Figure 6: Cross-technology Ethernet link discovery
As described in Section 4.1, the LTP terminating a cross-technology
Ethernet link is reported by an O-PNC in the Ethernet topology, the
OTN topology model, or both, depending on the type of corresponding
physical port on the optical node.
It is worth noting that the discovery of cross-technology Ethernet
links is based solely on the LLDP information sent by the Ethernet
interfaces of the routers and snooped by the Ethernet interfaces of
the optical nodes. Therefore, the MDSC can discover these links even
before optical paths, supporting overlay multi-technology IP links,
are set up.
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4.5.2. Inter-domain IP Link Discovery
The MDSC can discover an inter-domain Ethernet link supporting an
inter-domain IP link by matching the plug-id values of the two
Ethernet LTPs reported by adjacent P-PNCs. The P-PNCs report the
LLDP information being sent and received from the corresponding
Ethernet interfaces, e.g., between Ethernet LTP 3-1 on BR11 and
Ethernet LTP 4-1 on BR21, as shown in Figure 7.
+--------------------------+ +-------------------------+
/ IP Topology (P-PNC 1) / / IP Topology (P-PNC 2) /
/ +-------------+ / / +-------------+ /
/ | BR11 | / / | BR21 | /
/ | (3-2)O<................>O(4-2) | /
/ | |\ / / /| | /
/ +-------------+| / / |+-------------+ /
/ | / / | /
+------------------------|-+ +-------------------------+
| |
Supporting LTP | | Supporting LTP
| |
| |
+--------------|----------+ +|------------------------+
/ V / / V /
/ +-------------+/ / / \+-------------+ /
/ | {1}(3-1)O<................>O(4-1){1} | /
/ | |\ / / /| | /
/ | BR11 |V(*) / / (*)V| BR21 | /
/ | |/ / / \| | /
/ | {2}(3-0)O<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>O(4-0){3} | /
/ +-------------+ / / +-------------+ /
/ Eth. Topology (P-PNC 1) / / Eth. Topology (P-PNC 2) /
+-------------------------+ +-------------------------+
Notes:
=====
(*) Supporting LTP
{1} {BR11,3,BR21,4}
{2} {BR11,3}
{3} {BR21,4}
Legenda:
========
O LTP
----> Supporting LTP
<...> Link discovered by the MDSC
<~~~> Link inferred by the MDSC
{ } LTP Plug-id reported by the PNC
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Figure 7: Inter-domain Ethernet and IP link discovery
Different information is required to be encoded by the P-PNC within
the plug-id attribute of the Ethernet LTPs to discover cross-
technology Ethernet links and inter-domain Ethernet links.
If the P-PNC does not know a priori whether an Ethernet interface on
an IP router terminates a cross-technology Ethernet link or an inter-
domain Ethernet link, it must report at the MPI two Ethernet LTPs
representing the same Ethernet interface, e.g., both Ethernet LTP 3-0
and Ethernet LTP 3-1, supported by LTP 3-0, as shown in Figure 7.
* The physical Ethernet LTP (e.g., LTP 3-0 in BR11, as shown in
Figure 7) represents the physical adjacency between the Ethernet
interface on an IP router and the Ethernet interface on its
physically adjacent node. This node can be either an IP router
(in the case of a single-technology Ethernet link) or an optical
node (in the case of a cross-technology Ethernet link).
Therefore, as described in Section 4.5.1, the P-PNC reports,
within the plug-id attribute of this LTP, the LLDP information
sent by the corresponding Ethernet interface on the IP router,
such as {BR11,3} and {BR21,4} plug-id values reported by the
Ethernet LTP 3-0 on BR11 and the Ethernet LTP 4-0 on BR21, as
shown in Figure 7.
* The logical Ethernet LTP (e.g., LTP 3-1 in BR11, as shown in
Figure 7), supported by a physical Ethernet LTP (e.g., LTP 3-0 in
BR11, as shown in Figure 7), is used to discover the logical
adjacency between Ethernet interfaces on IP routers, which can be
either single-technology or multi-technology. Therefore, the
P-PNC reports, within the plug-id attribute of this LTP, the LLDP
information sent and received by the corresponding Ethernet
interface on the IP router, such as the {BR11,3,BR21,4} plug-id
values reported by the Ethernet LTP 3-1 on BR11 and the Ethernet
LTP 4-1 on BR21, as shown in Figure 7.
It is worth noting that in the case of inter-domain Ethernet links,
the MDSC cannot discover, using the LLDP information reported in the
plug-id attributes, the physical adjacency between two Ethernet
interfaces on physically adjacent IP routers, because these plug-id
values do not match, such as the {BR11,3} and {BR21,4} plug-id values
shown in Figure 7. However, the MDSC may infer the physical intra-
domain Ethernet links if it knows a priori, using mechanisms outside
the scope of this document, that the Ethernet interfaces on the IP
routers either terminate a cross-technology or single-technology
(intra-domain or inter-domain) Ethernet link, e.g., as shown in
Figure 7.
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The P-PNC can omit to report the physical Ethernet LTPs when it
knows, through mechanisms outside the scope of this document, that
the corresponding Ethernet interfaces terminate inter-domain Ethernet
links.
The MDSC can then discover an inter-domain IP link between the two IP
LTPs supported by the two Ethernet LTPs terminating an inter-domain
Ethernet link, discovered as described in Section 4.5.2, e.g.,
between IP LTP 3-2 on BR21 and IP LTP 4-2 on BR22, supported
respectively by Ethernet LTP 3-1 on BR11 and Ethernet LTP 4-1 on
BR21, as shown in Figure 7.
4.6. Multi-technology IP Link Discovery
A multi-technology intra-domain IP link and its supporting multi-
technology intra-domain Ethernet link are discovered by the P-PNC
like any other intra-domain IP and Ethernet links, as described in
Section 4.3, and reported at the MPI within the packet and the
Ethernet network topologies, e.g., as shown in Figure 8.
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
/ IP Topology (P-PNC 1) /
/ +---------+ +---------+ /
/ | PE13 | | BR11 | /
/ | (5-2)O<======================>O(6-2) | /
/ | | | | | /
/ +---------+ | +---------+ /
/ | /
+-----------------------------------|-----------------------+
|
| Supporting Link
|
+---------------------------|-------------------------------+
/ Ethernet Topology (P-PNC 1)| /
/ +-------------+ | +-------------+ /
/ | PE13 | V | BR11 | /
/ | (5-1)O<==============>O(6-1) | /
/ | (5-0) |\ /| (6-0) | /
/ +------O------+|(*) (*)|+------O------+ /
/ ^ \<----+ +----->/^ /
+-----------------:------------------------------:----------+
: :
: :
: :
+---------:------------------------------:------------------+
/ : Ethernet or OTN Topology : /
/ V (O-PNC 1) V /
/ +------O------+ ETH/CBR +------O------+ /
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/ | (7-0) | client sig. | (8-0) | /
/ | X----------+-------------------X | /
/ | NE11 | | | NE12 | /
/ +-------------+ | +-------------+ /
+----------------------------|------------------------------+
| Underlay
| tunnel
|
+----------------------------------------------------------+
/ (7) | (8) /
/ --- | --- /
/ +-----\ /-----+ v +-----\ /-----+ /
/ | V | | V | /
/ | X======|================|======X | /
/ | NE11 | Opt. Tunnel | NE12 | /
/ +-------------+ +-------------+ /
/ Optical Topology (O-PNC 1) /
+----------------------------------------------------------+
Notes:
=====
(*) Supporting LTP
Legenda:
========
O LTP
---
\ / TTP
V
----> Supporting LTP or Supporting Link or Underlay tunnel
<===> Link discovered by the PNC and reported at the MPI
<...> Link discovered by the MDSC
x---x Ethernet/CBR client signal
X===X Optical tunnel
Figure 8: Multi-technology intra-domain Ethernet and IP link
discovery
The Ethernet interface 5 on the P13 router is terminating two
Ethernet abstract links:
* The multi-technology intra-domain Ethernet link between logical
Ethernet LTP 5-1 on PE13 and the logical Ethernet LTP 6-1 on BR11;
* The cross-technology Ethernet link, which is supporting that
multi-technology intra-domain Ethernet link, between the physical
Ethernet LTPs 5-0 on PE13 and the physical Ethernet LTP 7-0 on the
optical NE11.
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The P-PNC does not report any plug-id information on the logical
Ethernet LTPs terminating intra-domain Ethernet links, such as the
LTP 5-1 on PE13 and LTP 6-1 in BR11 shown in Figure 8, since these
links are discovered by the PNC.
In addition, the P-PNC also reports the physical Ethernet LTPs that
terminate the cross-technology Ethernet links supporting the multi-
technology intra-domain Ethernet links, e.g., the Ethernet LTP 5-0 on
PE13 and the Ethernet LTP 6-0 on BR11, shown in Figure 8.
The MDSC discovers, using the mechanisms described in Section 4.5,
which cross-technology Ethernet links support the multi-technology
intra-domain Ethernet links, e.g., the link between LTP 5-0 on PE13
and LTP 7-0 on NE11, shown in Figure 8.
The MDSC also discovers, from the information provided by the O-PNC
and described in Section 4.2, which optical tunnels support the
multi-technology intra-domain IP links and therefore the path within
the optical network that supports a multi-technology intra-domain IP
link, e.g., as shown in Figure 8.
4.6.1. Intra-domain single-technology IP Links
It is worth noting that the P-PNC may not be aware of whether an
Ethernet interface on the IP router terminates a multi-technology or
a single-technology intra-domain Ethernet link.
In this case, the P-PNC, always reports two Ethernet LTPs for each
Ethernet interface on the IP router, e.g., the Ethernet LTP 1-0 and
1-1 on PE13, shown in Figure 9.
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+-----------------------------------------------------------+
/ IP Topology (P-PNC 1) /
/ +---------+ +---------+ /
/ | PE13 | | P16 | /
/ | (1-2)O<======================>O(2-2) | /
/ | | | | | /
/ +---------+ | +---------+ /
/ | /
+---------------------------------|-------------------------+
|
| Supporting Link
|
|
+-----------------------|---------------------------------+
/ | /
/ +---------+ v +---------+ /
/ | (1-1)O<======================>O(2-1) | /
/ | |\ /| | /
/ | PE13 |V(*) (*)V| P16 | /
/ | |/ \| | /
/ | {1}(1-0)O<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>O(2-0){2} | /
/ +---------+ +---------+ /
/ Ethernet Topology (P-PNC 1) /
+---------------------------------------------------------+
Notes:
=====
(*) Supporting LTP
{1} {PE13,1}
{2} {P16,2}
Legenda:
========
O LTP
----> Supporting LTP
<===> Link discovered by the PNC and reported at the MPI
<~~~> Link inferred by the MDSC
{ } LTP Plug-id reported by the PNC
Figure 9: Single-technology intra-domain Ethernet and IP link
discovery
It is worth noting that in the case of intra-domain single-technology
Ethernet links, the MDSC cannot discover, using the LLDP information
reported in the plug-id attributes, the physical adjacency between
two Ethernet interfaces on physically adjacent IP routers, because
the plug-id values do not match, such as {PE13,1} and {P16,2}, as
shown in Figure 9. However, the MDSC may infer the physical intra-
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domain Ethernet links, e.g., between LTP 1-0 on PE13 and LTP 2-0 on
P16, as shown in Figure 9, if it knows a priori, using mechanisms
outside the scope of this document, that all Ethernet interfaces on
the IP routers terminate either a cross-technology or single-
technology (intra-domain or inter-domain) Ethernet link, e.g., as
shown in Figure 9.
The P-PNC can omit reporting the physical Ethernet LTP if it knows,
through mechanisms outside the scope of this document, that the
intra-domain Ethernet link is single-technology.
4.7. LAG Discovery
The P-PNCs can discover the configuration of LAG groups within its
domain and report each intra-domain LAG as an Ethernet bundle link
within the Ethernet topology exposed at the MPI.
This is done by bundling multiple single-domain Ethernet links, as
shown in Figure 10. For example, the Ethernet bundled link between
Ethernet LTP 5-1 on BR21 and Ethernet LTP 6-1 on P24 is built from
the Ethernet links set up respectively:
* between the Ethernet LTP 1-1 on BR21 and the Ethernet LTP 2-1 on
P24; and
* between the Ethernet LTP 3-1 on BR21 and the Ethernet LTP 4-1 on
P24.
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+-----------------------------------------------------------+
/ IP Topology (P-PNC 2) /
/ +---------+ +---------+ /
/ | BR21 | | P24 | /
/ | (5-2)O<======================>O(6-2) | /
/ | | | | | /
/ +---------+ | +---------+ /
/ | /
+---------------------------------|-------------------------+
|
| Supporting Link
|
|
+-----------------------|---------------------------------+
/ | /
/ +---------+ v +---------+ /
/ | (5-1)O<======================>O(6-1) | /
/ | BR21 | Bundled Link | P24 | /
/ | | | | /
/ | (3-1)O<======================>O(4-1) | /
/ | (1-1)O<======================>O(2-1) | /
/ +---------+ +---------+ /
/ Ethernet Topology (P-PNC 2) /
+---------------------------------------------------------+
Legenda:
========
O LTP
<===> Link discovered by the PNC and reported at the MPI
Figure 10: LAG
The mechanisms used by the MDSC to discover single-technology and
multi-technology intra-domain LAG links are the same, with the only
difference being whether the bundled links are single-technology or
multi-technology.
However, the mechanisms used by the MDSC to discover single-
technology inter-domain LAG links between two BRs are different and
outside the scope of this document, as they do not imply cross-
technology coordination between packet and optical domains.
As described in Section 4.3, the mechanisms used by the P-PNC to
discover the configuration of LAG groups within its domain, such as
LLDP [IEEE_802.1AB], are outside the scope of this document.
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It is worth noting that according to [IEEE_802.1AB], LLDP can be
configured on a LAG group (Aggregated Port) and/or on any number of
its LAG members (Aggregation Ports).
If LLDP is enabled on both LAG members and groups, two types of LLDP
packets are transmitted by the routers and received by the optical
nodes on some cross-technology Ethernet links: one sent for the LLDP
session configured at LAG member (Aggregation Port) level and another
one for the LLDP session configured at LAG group (Aggregated Port)
level. This could cause some issues when LLDP snooping is used to
discover the cross-technology Ethernet links, as defined in
Section 4.5.1.
The cross-technology Ethernet link discovery is based only on the
LLDP session configured on the LAG members (Aggregation Ports) to
allow discovery of these links independently from the configuration
of the underlay optical tunnel or from the LAG group.
To avoid any ambiguity on how the optical nodes can identify which
LLDP packets belong to which LLDP session, the P-PNC can disable the
LLDP sessions on the LAG groups configured by the MDSC (e.g., the
multi-technology single-domain LAG groups configured using the
mechanisms described in Section 5.2.1), keeping the LLDP sessions on
the LAG members enabled.
Another option is to rely on other mechanisms (e.g., the Port type
field in the Link Aggregation TLV defined in Annex F of
[IEEE_802.1AX]) that allow the optical node to identify which LLDP
packets belong to which LLDP session: the O-PNC can then use only the
LLDP information from the LLDP sessions configured on the LAG members
to support the cross-technology Ethernet link discovery mechanisms
defined in Section 4.5.1.
4.8. L2/L3 VPN Network Services Discovery
The P-PNC reports the L2/L3 VPN services configured within its
domain, using the L2NM and L3NM network service models, and which
packet TE tunnels (e.g., MPLS-TE or SR-TE) are used by each L2/L3 VPN
service, using the L2NM and L3NM TE service mapping models.
The MDSC can use the information mentioned above together with the
packet TE path, packet topology, multi-technology IP links, optical
topology and optical path information discovered as described in the
previous sections, to discover the multi-technology path used to
carry the traffic for each L2/L3 VPN service.
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4.9. Inventory Discovery
There are no YANG data models in IETF that could be used to report at
the MPI the whole inventory information discovered by a PNC.
[RFC8345] had foreseen some work for inventory as an augmentation of
the network model, but no YANG data model has been developed so far.
There are also no YANG data models in IETF that could be used to
correlate topology information, e.g., a link termination point (LTP),
with inventory information, e.g., the physical port supporting an
LTP, if any.
Inventory information through MPI and correlation with topology
information is identified as a gap requiring further work and outside
of the scope of this draft.
5. Establishment of L2/L3 VPN Services with TE Requirements
In this scenario the MDSC needs to setup a multi-domain L2VPN or a
multi-domain L3VPN with some SLA requirements.
The MDSC receives the request to setup a L2/L3 VPN network service
from the OSS/Orchestration layer (see Appendix A).
The MDSC translates the L2/L3 VPN SLA requirements into TE
requirements (e.g., bandwidth, TE metric bounds, SRLG disjointness,
nodes/links/domains inclusion/exclusion) and find the TE paths that
meet these TE requirements (see Section 2.1.1).
For example, considering the L3VPN in Figure 2 and Figure 3, the MDSC
finds that:
* PE13-P16-PE14 TE path already exists but does not have enough
bandwidth to support the new L3VPN, as described in Section 4.4,
and that:
- the IP link(s) between PE13 and P16 does not have enough
bandwidth to support increasing the bandwidth of that TE path,
as described in Section 4.3;
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- a new underlay optical tunnel could be setup to increase the
bandwidth of the IP link(s) between PE13 and P16 to support
increasing the bandwidth of that overlay TE path, as described
in Section 5.1. The dimensioning of the underlay optical
tunnel is decided by the MDSC based on the TE requirements
(e.g., the bandwidth) requested by the TE path and on its
multi-layer optimization policy, which is an internal MDSC
implementation issue;
* a new multi-domain TE path needs to be setup between PE13 and
PE23, e.g., either because existing TE paths between PE13 and PE23
are not able to meet the TE and binding requirements of the L2/L3
VPN service or because there is no TE path between PE13 and PE23.
As described in Section 2.1.2, with partial summarization, the MDSC
will use the TE topology information provided by the P-PNCs and the
results of the path computation requests sent to the O-PNCs, as
described in Section 5.1, to compute the multi-layer/multi-domain
path between PE13 and PE23.
For example, the multi-layer/multi-domain performed by the MDSC could
require the setup of:
* a new underlay optical tunnel between PE13 and BR11, supporting a
new IP link, as described in Section 5.2;
* a new underlay optical tunnel between BR21 and P24 to increase the
bandwidth of the IP link(s) between BR21 and P24, as described in
Section 5.2.
When setting up the L2/L3 VPN network service requires multi-domain
and multi-layer coordination, the MDSC is also responsible for
coordinating the network configuration needed to realize the
requested network service across the appropriate optical and packet
domains.
The MDSC would therefore request:
* the O-PNC1 to setup a new optical tunnel between the ROADMs
connected to PE13 and P16, as described in Section 5.2;
* the P-PNC1 to update the configuration of the existing IP link, in
case of LAG, or configure a new IP link, in case of ECMP, between
PE13 and P16, as described in Section 5.2;
* the P-PNC1 to update the bandwidth of the selected TE path between
PE13 and PE14, as described in Section 5.3.
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After that, the MDSC requests P-PNC2 to set up a TE path between BR21
and PE23, with an explicit path (BR21, P24, PE23) to constrain the
new TE path to use the underlay optical tunnel setup between BR21 and
P24, as described in Section 5.3. The P-PNC2 properly configures the
routers within its domain to set up the requested path and returns
the information needed for multi-domain TE path stitching. For
example, in inter-domain SR-TE, the P-PNC2, knowing the node and
adjacency SIDs assigned within its domain, can install the proper SR
policy or hierarchical policies within BR21 and return to the MDSC
the binding SID assigned to this policy in BR21.
Then the MDSC requests P-PNC1 to set up a TE path between PE13 and
BR11, with an explicit path (PE13, BR11) to constrain the new TE path
to use the underlay optical tunnel setup between PE13 and BR11,
specifying which inter-domain link should be used to send traffic to
BR21 and the information for multi-domain TE path stitching, as
described in Section 4.4 (e.g., in inter-domain SR-TE, the binding
SID assigned by P-PNC2 to the corresponding SR policy in BR21). The
P-PNC1 properly configures the routers within its domain to set up
the requested path and the multi-domain TE path stitching. For
example, in inter-domain SR-TE, the P-PNC1, knowing the node and
adjacency SIDs assigned within its domain and the PE SID assigned by
P-PNC1 to the inter-domain link between BR11 and BR21, along with the
binding SID assigned by P-PNC2, installs the proper policy or
policies within PE13.
Once the TE paths have been selected and, if needed, set up or
modified, the MDSC can request both P-PNCs to configure the L3VPN and
its binding with the selected TE paths, as described in Section 5.4.
5.1. Optical Path Computation
As described in Section 2.1.2, optical path computation is usually
performed by the O-PNCs.
When performing multi-layer/multi-domain path computation, the MDSC
can delegate single-domain optical path computation to the O-PNC.
As described in Section 4.1, Section 4.5, and Section 4.6, there is a
one-to-one relationship between a multi-layer intra-domain IP link
and its underlay optical tunnel. Therefore, the properties of an
optical path between two optical TTPs, as computed by the O-PNC, can
be used by the MDSC to infer the properties of the associated multi-
layer single-domain IP link.
As discussed in [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-path-computation], there are two
options to request an O-PNC to perform optical path computation:
either via a "compute-only" TE tunnel path, using the generic TE
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tunnel YANG data model defined in [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te], or via the
path computation RPC defined in
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-path-computation].
This draft assumes that the path computation RPC is used.
There are no YANG data models in IETF that could be used to augment
the generic path computation RPC with technology-specific attributes.
Optical technology-specific augmentation for the path computation RPC
is identified as a gap requiring further work outside of this draft's
scope.
5.2. Multi-technology IP Link Setup
As described in Section 5.1, there is a one-to-one relationship
between a multi-technology intra-domain IP link and its underlay
optical tunnel.
Therefore, to set up a new multi-technology intra-domain IP link, the
MDSC requires the O-PNC to set up the optical tunnel (using either
the WDM Tunnel model or the OTN Tunnel model, if optional OTN
switching is supported) within the optical network and steer client
traffic between the two cross-technology Ethernet links over that
optical tunnel, using either the Ethernet Client Signal Model (for
frame-based transport) or the Transparent CBR Client Signal Model
(for transparent transport).
For example, with reference to Figure 11, the MDSC can request O-PNC1
to set up an optical tunnel between optical TTPs (7) on NE11 and (8)
on NE12 and steer client traffic over this tunnel between LTP (7-0)
on NE11 and LTP (8-0) on NE12.
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
/ IP Topology (P-PNC 1) /
/ +---------+ +---------+ /
/ | PE13 | | BR11 | /
/ | (5-2)O<======================>O(6-2) | /
/ | | | | | /
/ +---------+ | +---------+ /
/ | /
+-----------------------------------|-----------------------+
|
| Supporting Link
|
+---------------------------|-------------------------------+
/ Ethernet Topology (P-PNC 1)| /
/ +-------------+ | +-------------+ /
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/ | PE13 | V | BR11 | /
/ | (5-1)O<==============>O(6-1) | /
/ | (5-0) |\ /| (6-0) | /
/ +------O------+|(*) (*)|+------O------+ /
/ ^ \<----+ +----->/^ /
+-----------------:------------------------------:----------+
: :
: :
: :
+---------:------------------------------:------------------+
/ : Ethernet or OTN Topology : /
/ V (O-PNC 1) V /
/ +------O------+ ETH/CBR +------O------+ /
/ | (7-0) | client sig. | (8-0) | /
/ | X----------+-------------------X | /
/ | NE11 | | | NE12 | /
/ +-------------+ | +-------------+ /
+----------------------------|------------------------------+
| Underlay
| tunnel
|
+----------------------------------------------------------+
/ (7) | (8) /
/ --- | --- /
/ +-----\ /-----+ v +-----\ /-----+ /
/ | V | | V | /
/ | X======|================|======X | /
/ | NE11 | Opt. Tunnel | NE12 | /
/ +-------------+ +-------------+ /
/ Optical Topology (O-PNC 1) /
+----------------------------------------------------------+
Notes:
=====
(*) Supporting LTP
Legenda:
========
O LTP
---
\ / TTP
V
----> Supporting LTP or Supporting Link or Underlay tunnel
<===> Link discovered by the PNC and reported at the MPI
<...> Link discovered by the MDSC
x---x Ethernet/CBR client signal
X===X Optical tunnel
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Figure 11: Multi-technology IP link setup
Note: Figure 11 is an exact copy of Figure 8.
After the optical tunnel has been set up and the client traffic
steering configured, the two IP routers can exchange Ethernet frames
between themselves, including LLDP messages.
If LLDP [IEEE_802.1AB] or any other discovery mechanisms, outside the
scope of this document, are used between the adjacency of the two IP
routers' ports, the P-PNC can automatically discover the underlay
multi-technology single-domain Ethernet link set up by the MDSC and
report it to the P-PNC, as described in Section 4.6.
Otherwise, if no automatic discovery mechanisms are used, the MDSC
can configure this multi-technology single-domain Ethernet link at
the MPI of the P-PNC.
The two Ethernet LTPs terminating this multi-technology single-domain
Ethernet link are supported by the two underlay Ethernet LTPs
terminating the two cross-technology Ethernet links, e.g., LTP 5-1 on
PE13 and 6-1 on BR11, as shown in Figure 11.
After the multi-technology single-domain Ethernet link has been
configured by the MDSC or discovered by the P-PNC, the corresponding
multi-technology single-domain IP link can also be configured either
by the MDSC or the P-PNC.
This document assumes that the IP link is configured by the P-PNC.
It is worth noting that if LAG is not supported within the domain
controlled by the P-PNC, the P-PNC can configure the multi-technology
single-domain IP link as soon as the underlay multi-technology
single-domain Ethernet link is either discovered by the P-PNC or
configured by the MDSC at the MPI. However, if LAG is supported, the
P-PNC lacks enough information to determine whether the discovered or
configured multi-technology single-domain Ethernet link would be:
1. Used to support a multi-technology single-domain IP link;
2. Used to create a new LAG group;
3. Added to an existing LAG group.
The MDSC can request the P-PNC to configure a new multi-technology
single-domain IP link, supported by the just discovered or configured
multi-technology single-domain Ethernet link, by creating an IP link
within the running datastore of the P-PNC MPI. Only the IP link, IP
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LTPs, and the reference to the supporting multi-technology single-
domain Ethernet link are configured by the MDSC. All other
configuration is provided by the P-PNC.
For example, with reference to Figure 11, the MDSC can request P-PNC1
to set up a multi-technology single-domain IP link between IP LTP 5-2
on PE13 and IP LTP 6-2 on BR11, supported by the multi-technology
single-domain Ethernet link between ETH LTP 5-1 on PE13 and ETH LTP
6-1 on BR11.
The P-PNC configures the requested multi-technology single-domain IP
link and, once finished, reports it to the MDSC within the IP
topology exposed at its MPI.
5.2.1. Multi-technology LAG Setup
The P-PNC configures a new LAG group between two routers when the
MDSC creates a new Ethernet bundled link at the MPI (using the
bundled-link container defined in [RFC8795]), bundling the multi-
technology single-domain Ethernet link(s) being created, as described
above.
When a new LAG link is created, it is recommended to configure the
minimum number of active member links required to consider the LAG
link as up. For example, a LAG link with three members can be
considered up when only one member link fails and down when at least
two member links fail.
The attribute required to configure the minimum number of active
member links is missing in [I-D.ietf-ccamp-eth-client-te-topo-yang]
and is identified as a gap in Section 6.
It is worth noting that a new LAG group can be created to bundle one
or more multi-technology single-domain Ethernet link(s).
For example, with reference to Figure 10, the MDSC can request P-PNC2
to set up an Ethernet bundled link between Ethernet LTP 5-1 on BR21
and Ethernet LTP 6-1 on P24, bundling the multi-technology single-
domain Ethernet link between Ethernet LTP 1-1 on BR21 and Ethernet
LTP 2-1 on P24.
It is also worth noting that the MDSC needs to create the Ethernet
LTPs terminating the Ethernet bundled link.
The MDSC can request the P-PNC to configure a new multi-technology
single-domain IP link, supported by the just configured Ethernet
bundled link, following the same procedure described in Section 5.2
above.
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For example, with a reference to Figure 10, the MDSC can request the
P-PNC2 to setup a multi-technology single-domain IP Link between IP
LTP 5-2 on BR21 and IP LTP 6-2 on P24 supported by the Ethernet
bundle link between ETH LTP 5-1 on BR21 and the Ethernet LTP 6-1 on
P24.
5.2.2. Multi-technology LAG Update
The P-PNC adds new member(s) to an existing LAG group when the MDSC
updates the configuration of an existing Ethernet bundled link at the
MPI, adding the multi-technology single-domain Ethernet link(s) being
created, as described above.
When member links are added or removed from a LAG link, the minimum
number of active member links required to consider the LAG link as up
may also need to be updated.
For example, with reference to Figure 10, the MDSC can request P-PNC2
to add the multi-technology single-domain Ethernet link set up
between Ethernet LTP 3-1 on BR21 and Ethernet LTP 4-1 on P24 to the
existing Ethernet bundle link set up between Ethernet LTP 5-1 on node
BR21 and Ethernet LTP 6-1 on node P24.
After the LAG configuration has been updated, the P-PNC can also
update the bandwidth information of the multi-technology single-
domain IP link supported by the updated Ethernet bundled link.
5.2.3. Multi-technology TE path properties Configuration
The MDSC can discover the TE path properties (e.g., the list of
SRLGs, the delay) of a multi-technology IP link from the TE
properties of:
* the IP LTPs terminating the multi-technology IP link (e.g., the
list of SRLGs reported by the P-PNC using the packet TE topology
model);
* the optical path (e.g., the list of SRLGs reported by the O-PNC
using the WDM or OTN tunnel model); and
* the cross-domain links (e.g., the list of SRLGs reported by the
O-PNC and P-PNC respectively, using the WSON and/or flexi-grid,
the OTN and the packet TE topology models).
The MDSC can also report this information to the P-PNC by properly
configuring the multi-technology IP link properties using the packet
TE topology model at the packet PNC MPI.
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This information is used by the P-PNC at least when computing the
local protection path, as described in Section 5.3, e.g., to ensure
that the local protection path is SRLG disjoint with the primary
path.
It is worth noting that the list of SRLGs for a multi-technology IP
link can be quite long. Implementation-specific mechanisms can be
implemented by the MDSC or by the O-PNC to summarize the SRLGs of an
optical tunnel. These mechanisms are implementation-specific and
have no impact on the YANG models nor on the interoperability at the
MPI, but cares have to be taken to avoid missing information.
5.3. TE Path Setup and Update
This document assumes that TE path setup and update at the MPI could
be done using the generic TE tunnel YANG data model, defined in
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te], with packet technology-specific
augmentations, described in Section 3.2.3.
When a new TE path needs to be setup, the MDSC can use the
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te] model to request the P-PNC to set it up,
properly specifying the path constraints, such as the explicit path,
to ensure the P-PNC sets up a TE path that meets the end-to-end TE
and binding constraints and uses the optical tunnels set up by the
MDSC to support this new TE path.
The [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te] model supports requesting the setup of
both end-to-end as well as segment TE tunnels (within one domain).
In the latter case, the technology-specific augmentations should
allow the configuration of the information needed for multi-domain TE
path stitching.
For example, the SR-TE specific augmentations of the
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te] model should be defined to allow the MDSC to
configure the binding SIDs to be used for the multi-domain SR-TE path
stitching and to allow the P-PNC to report the binding SID assigned
to the segment TE paths. Note that the assigned binding SID should
be persistent in case IP router or P-PNC rebooting.
The MDSC can also use the [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te] model to request
the P-PNC to increase the bandwidth allocated to an existing TE path,
and, if needed, also on its reverse TE path. The
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te] model supports both symmetric and asymmetric
bandwidth configuration in the two directions.
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The MDSC also request the P-PNC to configure local protection
mechanisms. For example, the FRR local protection, as defined in
[RFC4090] in case of MPLS-TE domain or the TI-LFA local protection,
as defined in [I-D.ietf-rtgwg-segment-routing-ti-lfa] in case of SR-
TE domain. The mechanisms to request the configuration TI-LFA local
protection for SR-TE paths using the [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te] are a
gap in the current YANG models.
The requested local protection mechanisms within the P-PNC domain are
configured by the P-PNC through implementation specific mechanisms
which are outside the scope of this document.
The P-PNC takes into account the multi-layer TE path properties
(e.g., SRLG information), configured by the MDSC as described in
Section 5.2.3, when computing the protection configuration (e.g., in
case of SR-TE domains, the TI-LFA post-convergence path or, in case
of MPLS-TE domain, the FRR backup tunnel) for multi-technology
single-domain IP links.
SR-TE path setup and update (e.g., bandwidth increase) through MPI is
identified as a gap requiring further work, which is outside of the
scope of this draft.
5.4. L2/L3 VPN Network Service Setup
The MDSC can use the L2NM and L3NM network service models to request
the P-PNCs to setup L2/L3 VPN services, and the L2NM and L3NM TE
service mapping models to request the P-PNCs to configure the PE
routers to steer the L2/L3 VPN traffic to the selected TE tunnels
(e.g., MPLS-TE or SR-TE).
It is worth noting that the L2NM and L3NM TE service mapping models,
defined in [I-D.ietf-teas-te-service-mapping-yang], provide a list of
TE tunnel(s) that should be used to forward L2/L3 VPN traffic between
the two PEs terminating the listed TE tunnel(s). If the list
contains more than one TE tunnel for the same pair of PEs, these TE
tunnels are used to load balance the associated L2/L3 VPN traffic
between the same set of two PEs.
The possibility to request splitting the traffic between multiple TE
tunnels for the same PE pair in a way other than load balancing is
identified as a gap requiring further work and is outside the scope
of this draft.
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6. Conclusions
The analysis provided in this document shows that the IETF YANG
models described in Section 3.2 provide useful support for Packet
Optical Integration (POI) scenarios for resource discovery (network
topology, service, tunnels, and network inventory discovery), as well
as for supporting multi-layer/multi-domain L2/L3 VPN network
services.
The following gaps were identified that may need to be addressed by
the relevant IETF Working Groups:
* how both WSON and Flexi-grid topology models could be used
together (through multi-inheritance): this gap has been identified
in Section 4.1;
* network inventory model: this gap has been identified in
Section 4.9 and the solution in
[I-D.ietf-ivy-network-inventory-yang] has been proposed to resolve
it;
* technology-specific augmentations of the path computation RPC,
defined in [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-path-computation] for optical
networks: this gap has been identified in Section 5.1 and the
solution in [I-D.ietf-ccamp-optical-path-computation-yang] has
been proposed to resolve it;
* relationship between common discovery mechanisms applicable to
access links, inter-domain IP links and cross-technology Ethernet
links and the UNI topology discovery mechanism defined in
[RFC9408]: this gap has been identified in Section 4.3;
* a mechanism applicable to the P-PNC NBI to configure the SR-TE
paths. Technology-specific augmentations of TE Tunnel model,
defined in [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te], are foreseen in section 1 of
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te] but not yet defined: this gap has been
identified in Section 5.3;
* an attribute, which is used to configure the minimum number of
active member links required to consider the LAG link as being up,
is missing from the topology model defined in
[I-D.ietf-ccamp-eth-client-te-topo-yang]: this gap has been
identified in Section 5.2.1;
* a mechanism to configure splitting the L2/L3 VPN traffic, between
multiple TE tunnels for the same PEs pair, in a different way than
load balancing: this gap has been identified in Section 5.4;
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* a mechanism to report client connectivity constraints imposed by
some muxponder design: this gap has been identified in
Appendix A.3.
Although not applicable to this document, it has been noted that
being able to use WSON and Flexi-grid topology models together
(through multi-inheritance) is not only useful for mixed fixed-grid
and flexible-grid DWDM network topologies but also the only viable
option for a mixed CWDM and DWDM network topology.
Although not applicable to this document, it has been noted that the
WDM tunnel model would also support optical tunnel setup in the case
of a mixed CWDM and DWDM network topology.
Although not analyzed in this document, it has been noted that the TE
Tunnel model, defined in [I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te], needs enhancement
to support scenarios where multiple parallel TE paths are used in
load-balancing to carry traffic between two end-points (e.g., VPN
traffic between two PEs).
7. Security Considerations
This document highlights how the ACTN architecture can deploy packet
over optical infrastructure services. It highlights how existing
IETF protocols and data models may be used for multi-layer services.
It reuses several existing IETF protocols and data models for the MPI
interfaces between each PNC (Optical or Packet) and the MDSC,
including:
* RESTCONF
* NETCONF
* PCEP
* YANG
Several existing authentication and encryption practices and
techniques may be used to help secure these MPI interfaces. These
mechanisms include using Transport Layer Security (TLS) to provide
secure transport for RESTCONF, NETCONF and PCEP. Furthermore, access
control techniques can also provide additional security. NETCONF
supports an Access Control Model (NACM), and RESTCONF supports Role
Based Access Control (RBAC), which should also ensure that MDSC to
PNC communication is based on authorised use and granular control of
connectivity and resource requests.
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7.1. LLDP Snooping Security Considerations
Earlier in the document, LLDP is discussed as a mechanism for the
PNCs to discover the intra-domain Ethernet and IP links. While LLDP
provides valuable information for network management and
troubleshooting, it also presents several security issues:
* Eavesdropping: LLDP transmissions are not encrypted. Potentially,
LLDP packets could be captured using a packet sniffer. An
attacker can leverage this information to gain insights into the
network topology, device types, and configurations, which could be
used for further attacks;
* Unauthorized Access: Information disclosed by LLDP can include
device types, software versions, and network configuration
details. This might help an attacker identify vulnerable devices
or configurations that can be exploited to gain unauthorized
access or escalate privileges within the network;
* Data Manipulation: If an attacker gains access to a network
device, they could manipulate LLDP information to advertise false
device information, leading to potential misconfigurations or
trust relationships being exploited. This can disrupt network
operations or redirect traffic to malicious devices;
* Denial of Service (DoS): By flooding the network with fake LLDP
packets, an attacker could overwhelm network devices or management
systems, potentially leading to a denial of service where
legitimate network traffic is disrupted;
* Spoofing: An attacker could spoof LLDP packets to impersonate
other network devices. Potentially, this might lead to incorrect
network mappings or trust relationships being established with
malicious devices;
* Lack of Authentication: LLDP does not include mechanisms for
authenticating the source of LLDP messages, which means that
devices accept LLDP information from any source as legitimate.
To mitigate these security issues, network administrators might
implement several security measures, including:
* Disabling LLDP on ports where it is not needed, especially those
facing untrusted networks;
* Using network segmentation and Access Control Lists (ACLs) to
limit who can send and receive LLDP packets;
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* Employing network monitoring and anomaly detection systems to
identify unusual LLDP traffic patterns that may indicate an
attack;
* Regularly updating and patching network devices to address known
vulnerabilities that could be exploited through information
gathered via LLDP.
8. Operational Considerations
This document has identified the need and enabling components for
automating the management and control of multi-layer Service
Providers' transport networks, combining the optical and microwave
transport layer with the packet (IP/MPLS) layer to create a more
efficient and scalable network infrastructure. This approach is
particularly beneficial for Service Providers and large enterprises
dealing with high bandwidth demands and looking for cost-effective
ways to expand their networks. However, integrating these two
traditionally separate network layers involves several operational
considerations:
* Network Design and Capacity Planning: Deciding the degree of
integration between the packet and optical layers is critical.
Furthermore, this includes determining whether to pursue a loose
integration (keeping layers distinct but coordinated) or a tight
integration (combining layers more closely, potentially at the
hardware level) coordinated via the MDSC. Accurate forecasting
and planning will also be essential to ensure that the integrated
ACTN infrastructure can handle future capacity demand without
excessive over-provisioning;
* System Interoperability: Networks often comprise equipment from
various vendors. Ensuring that packet and optical devices can
interoperate seamlessly and the PNCs can manage them is crucial
for a successful integration. The Service Provider must also
check with the vendors to ensure they support the IETF-based
technologies outlined in this document;
* Performance Monitoring: The integrated POI network will require
comprehensive monitoring solutions that can provide visibility to
the PNCs across both packet and optical layers. Identifying and
diagnosing issues may become more complex with integrated layers.
Telemetry data may also be required to collect lower-layer
networking health and consider network and service performance.
This topic is further discussed in
[I-D.poidt-teas-actn-poi-assurance];
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* Fault Management and Recovery: The POI networks should be
resilient, including considerations for automatic protection
switching and fast reroute mechanisms that span both layers.
Fault isolation and recovery may become more challenging, as
issues in one layer can have cascading effects on the other.
Effective fault management strategies must be in place to quickly
identify and rectify such issues. This topic is further discussed
in [I-D.poidt-teas-actn-poi-assurance];
Specific Security Considerations are discussed in Section 7.
9. IANA Considerations
This document requires no IANA actions.
10. References
10.1. Normative References
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-l3-te-topo]
Liu, X., Bryskin, I., Beeram, V. P., Saad, T., Shah, H.,
and O. G. de Dios, "YANG Data Model for Layer 3 TE
Topologies", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-
teas-yang-l3-te-topo-18, 7 July 2024,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-teas-
yang-l3-te-topo-18>.
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-path-computation]
Busi, I., Belotti, S., de Dios, O. G., Sharma, A., and Y.
Shi, "A YANG Data Model for requesting path computation",
Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-teas-yang-
path-computation-26, 5 February 2026,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-teas-
yang-path-computation-26>.
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te]
Saad, T., Gandhi, R., Liu, X., Beeram, V. P., and I.
Bryskin, "A YANG Data Model for Traffic Engineering
Tunnels, Label Switched Paths, and Interfaces", Work in
Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-teas-yang-te-43, 28
February 2026, <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/
draft-ietf-teas-yang-te-43>.
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[IEEE_802.1AB]
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, "IEEE
Standard for Local and metropolitan area networks -
Station and Media Access Control Connectivity Discovery",
IEEE 802.1AB-2016 , March 2016,
<https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7433915>.
[IEEE_802.1AX]
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, "IEEE
Standard for Local and metropolitan area networks - Link
Aggregation", IEEE 802.1AX-2014 , December 2014,
<https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7055197>.
[ITU-T_G.694.1]
International Telecommunication Union, "Spectral grids for
WDM applications: DWDM frequency grid", ITU-T
Recommendation G.694.1 , October 2020,
<https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-G.694.1-202010-I>.
[RFC7923] Voit, E., Clemm, A., and A. Gonzalez Prieto, "Requirements
for Subscription to YANG Datastores", RFC 7923,
DOI 10.17487/RFC7923, June 2016,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc7923>.
[RFC7950] Bjorklund, M., Ed., "The YANG 1.1 Data Modeling Language",
RFC 7950, DOI 10.17487/RFC7950, August 2016,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc7950>.
[RFC7951] Lhotka, L., "JSON Encoding of Data Modeled with YANG",
RFC 7951, DOI 10.17487/RFC7951, August 2016,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc7951>.
[RFC8040] Bierman, A., Bjorklund, M., and K. Watsen, "RESTCONF
Protocol", RFC 8040, DOI 10.17487/RFC8040, January 2017,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8040>.
[RFC8342] Bjorklund, M., Schoenwaelder, J., Shafer, P., Watsen, K.,
and R. Wilton, "Network Management Datastore Architecture
(NMDA)", RFC 8342, DOI 10.17487/RFC8342, March 2018,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8342>.
[RFC8345] Clemm, A., Medved, J., Varga, R., Bahadur, N.,
Ananthakrishnan, H., and X. Liu, "A YANG Data Model for
Network Topologies", RFC 8345, DOI 10.17487/RFC8345, March
2018, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8345>.
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[RFC8346] Clemm, A., Medved, J., Varga, R., Liu, X.,
Ananthakrishnan, H., and N. Bahadur, "A YANG Data Model
for Layer 3 Topologies", RFC 8346, DOI 10.17487/RFC8346,
March 2018, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8346>.
[RFC8453] Ceccarelli, D., Ed. and Y. Lee, Ed., "Framework for
Abstraction and Control of TE Networks (ACTN)", RFC 8453,
DOI 10.17487/RFC8453, August 2018,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8453>.
[RFC8525] Bierman, A., Bjorklund, M., Schoenwaelder, J., Watsen, K.,
and R. Wilton, "YANG Library", RFC 8525,
DOI 10.17487/RFC8525, March 2019,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8525>.
[RFC8527] Bjorklund, M., Schoenwaelder, J., Shafer, P., Watsen, K.,
and R. Wilton, "RESTCONF Extensions to Support the Network
Management Datastore Architecture", RFC 8527,
DOI 10.17487/RFC8527, March 2019,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8527>.
[RFC8641] Clemm, A. and E. Voit, "Subscription to YANG Notifications
for Datastore Updates", RFC 8641, DOI 10.17487/RFC8641,
September 2019, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8641>.
[RFC8650] Voit, E., Rahman, R., Nilsen-Nygaard, E., Clemm, A., and
A. Bierman, "Dynamic Subscription to YANG Events and
Datastores over RESTCONF", RFC 8650, DOI 10.17487/RFC8650,
November 2019, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8650>.
[RFC8795] Liu, X., Bryskin, I., Beeram, V., Saad, T., Shah, H., and
O. Gonzalez de Dios, "YANG Data Model for Traffic
Engineering (TE) Topologies", RFC 8795,
DOI 10.17487/RFC8795, August 2020,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8795>.
10.2. Informative References
[I-D.ietf-ccamp-client-signal-yang]
Zheng, H., Guo, A., Busi, I., Snitser, A., and C. Yu, "A
YANG Data Model for Transport Network Client Signals",
Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-ccamp-client-
signal-yang-17, 4 February 2026,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-ccamp-
client-signal-yang-17>.
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[I-D.ietf-ccamp-eth-client-te-topo-yang]
Yu, C., Zheng, H., Guo, A., Busi, I., Xu, Y., Zhao, Y.,
and X. Liu, "A YANG Data Model for Ethernet TE Topology",
Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-ccamp-eth-
client-te-topo-yang-10, 15 October 2025,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-ccamp-
eth-client-te-topo-yang-10>.
[I-D.ietf-ccamp-flexigrid-yang]
de Madrid, U. A., Burrero, D. P., King, D., Lee, Y., and
H. Zheng, "A YANG Data Model for Flexi-Grid Optical
Networks", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-
ccamp-flexigrid-yang-19, 2 February 2026,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-ccamp-
flexigrid-yang-19>.
[I-D.ietf-ccamp-optical-impairment-topology-yang]
Beller, D., Le Rouzic, E., Belotti, S., Galimberti, G.,
and I. Busi, "A YANG Data Model for Optical Impairment-
aware Topology", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-
ietf-ccamp-optical-impairment-topology-yang-23, 27
February 2026, <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/
draft-ietf-ccamp-optical-impairment-topology-yang-23>.
[I-D.ietf-ccamp-optical-path-computation-yang]
Busi, I., Guo, A., and S. Belotti, "YANG Data Models for
requesting Path Computation in WDM Optical Networks", Work
in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-ccamp-optical-
path-computation-yang-08, 27 February 2026,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-ccamp-
optical-path-computation-yang-08>.
[I-D.ietf-ccamp-otn-topo-yang]
Zheng, H., Busi, I., Liu, X., Belotti, S., and O. G. de
Dios, "A YANG Data Model for Optical Transport Network
Topology", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-
ccamp-otn-topo-yang-20, 7 November 2024,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-ccamp-
otn-topo-yang-20>.
[I-D.ietf-ccamp-otn-tunnel-model]
Zheng, H., Busi, I., Belotti, S., Lopez, V., and Y. Xu, "A
YANG Data Model for Optical Transport Network (OTN)
Tunnels and Label Switched Paths", Work in Progress,
Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-ccamp-otn-tunnel-model-24, 1
December 2025, <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/
draft-ietf-ccamp-otn-tunnel-model-24>.
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[I-D.ietf-ccamp-transport-nbi-app-statement]
Busi, I., King, D., Zheng, H., and Y. Xu, "Transport
Northbound Interface Applicability Statement", Work in
Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-ccamp-transport-nbi-
app-statement-17, 10 July 2023,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-ccamp-
transport-nbi-app-statement-17>.
[I-D.ietf-ccamp-wdm-tunnel-yang]
Guo, A., Belotti, S., Galimberti, G., de Madrid, U. A.,
and D. P. Burrero, "A YANG Data Model for WDM Tunnels",
Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-ccamp-wdm-
tunnel-yang-06, 20 October 2025,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-ccamp-
wdm-tunnel-yang-06>.
[I-D.ietf-ivy-network-inventory-yang]
Yu, C., Belotti, S., Bouquier, J., Peruzzini, F., and P.
Bedard, "A Base YANG Data Model for Network Inventory",
Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-ivy-network-
inventory-yang-14, 5 February 2026,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-ivy-
network-inventory-yang-14>.
[I-D.ietf-rtgwg-segment-routing-ti-lfa]
Bashandy, A., Litkowski, S., Filsfils, C., Francois, P.,
Decraene, B., and D. Voyer, "Topology Independent Fast
Reroute using Segment Routing", Work in Progress,
Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-rtgwg-segment-routing-ti-lfa-
21, 12 February 2025,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-rtgwg-
segment-routing-ti-lfa-21>.
[I-D.ietf-teas-actn-vn-yang]
Lee, Y., Dhody, D., Ceccarelli, D., Bryskin, I., and B. Y.
Yoon, "A YANG Data Model for Virtual Network (VN)
Operations", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-
teas-actn-vn-yang-29, 22 June 2024,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-teas-
actn-vn-yang-29>.
[I-D.ietf-teas-te-service-mapping-yang]
Lee, Y., Dhody, D., Fioccola, G., Wu, Q., Ceccarelli, D.,
and J. Tantsura, "Traffic Engineering (TE) and Service
Mapping YANG Data Model", Work in Progress, Internet-
Draft, draft-ietf-teas-te-service-mapping-yang-18, 12
October 2025, <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/
draft-ietf-teas-te-service-mapping-yang-18>.
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[I-D.ietf-teas-te-topology-profiles]
Busi, I., Liu, X., Bryskin, I., Saad, T., and O. G. de
Dios, "Profiles for Traffic Engineering (TE) Topology Data
Model and Applicability to non-TE-centric Use Cases", Work
in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-teas-te-topology-
profiles-05, 2 March 2026,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-teas-te-
topology-profiles-05>.
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-sr-te-topo]
Liu, X., Bryskin, I., Beeram, V. P., Saad, T., Shah, H.,
and S. Litkowski, "YANG Data Model for SR and SR TE
Topologies on MPLS Data Plane", Work in Progress,
Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-teas-yang-sr-te-topo-19, 4 July
2024, <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-
teas-yang-sr-te-topo-19>.
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te-mpls]
Saad, T., Gandhi, R., Liu, X., Beeram, V. P., and I.
Bryskin, "A YANG Data Model for MPLS Traffic Engineering
Tunnels", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-
teas-yang-te-mpls-04, 26 May 2023,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-teas-
yang-te-mpls-04>.
[I-D.ietf-teas-yang-te-mpls-topology]
Busi, I., Guo, A., Liu, X., Saad, T., and R. Gandhi, "A
YANG Data Model for MPLS-TE Topology", Work in Progress,
Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-teas-yang-te-mpls-topology-04,
1 March 2026, <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/
draft-ietf-teas-yang-te-mpls-topology-04>.
[I-D.poidt-teas-actn-poi-assurance]
Busi, I., Bouquier, J., Peruzzini, F., Volpato, P., and P.
Manna, "Applicability of Abstraction and Control of
Traffic Engineered Networks (ACTN) for Packet Optical
Integration (POI) service assurance", Work in Progress,
Internet-Draft, draft-poidt-teas-actn-poi-assurance-05, 26
February 2025, <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/
draft-poidt-teas-actn-poi-assurance-05>.
[RFC1930] Hawkinson, J. and T. Bates, "Guidelines for creation,
selection, and registration of an Autonomous System (AS)",
BCP 6, RFC 1930, DOI 10.17487/RFC1930, March 1996,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc1930>.
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[RFC2991] Thaler, D. and C. Hopps, "Multipath Issues in Unicast and
Multicast Next-Hop Selection", RFC 2991,
DOI 10.17487/RFC2991, November 2000,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2991>.
[RFC4090] Pan, P., Ed., Swallow, G., Ed., and A. Atlas, Ed., "Fast
Reroute Extensions to RSVP-TE for LSP Tunnels", RFC 4090,
DOI 10.17487/RFC4090, May 2005,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc4090>.
[RFC4397] Bryskin, I. and A. Farrel, "A Lexicography for the
Interpretation of Generalized Multiprotocol Label
Switching (GMPLS) Terminology within the Context of the
ITU-T's Automatically Switched Optical Network (ASON)
Architecture", RFC 4397, DOI 10.17487/RFC4397, February
2006, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc4397>.
[RFC5212] Shiomoto, K., Papadimitriou, D., Le Roux, JL., Vigoureux,
M., and D. Brungard, "Requirements for GMPLS-Based Multi-
Region and Multi-Layer Networks (MRN/MLN)", RFC 5212,
DOI 10.17487/RFC5212, July 2008,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5212>.
[RFC5440] Vasseur, JP., Ed. and JL. Le Roux, Ed., "Path Computation
Element (PCE) Communication Protocol (PCEP)", RFC 5440,
DOI 10.17487/RFC5440, March 2009,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5440>.
[RFC5623] Oki, E., Takeda, T., Le Roux, JL., and A. Farrel,
"Framework for PCE-Based Inter-Layer MPLS and GMPLS
Traffic Engineering", RFC 5623, DOI 10.17487/RFC5623,
September 2009, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5623>.
[RFC7424] Krishnan, R., Yong, L., Ghanwani, A., So, N., and B.
Khasnabish, "Mechanisms for Optimizing Link Aggregation
Group (LAG) and Equal-Cost Multipath (ECMP) Component Link
Utilization in Networks", RFC 7424, DOI 10.17487/RFC7424,
January 2015, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc7424>.
[RFC8001] Zhang, F., Ed., Gonzalez de Dios, O., Ed., Margaria, C.,
Hartley, M., and Z. Ali, "RSVP-TE Extensions for
Collecting Shared Risk Link Group (SRLG) Information",
RFC 8001, DOI 10.17487/RFC8001, January 2017,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8001>.
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[RFC8231] Crabbe, E., Minei, I., Medved, J., and R. Varga, "Path
Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP)
Extensions for Stateful PCE", RFC 8231,
DOI 10.17487/RFC8231, September 2017,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8231>.
[RFC8277] Rosen, E., "Using BGP to Bind MPLS Labels to Address
Prefixes", RFC 8277, DOI 10.17487/RFC8277, October 2017,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8277>.
[RFC8281] Crabbe, E., Minei, I., Sivabalan, S., and R. Varga, "Path
Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP)
Extensions for PCE-Initiated LSP Setup in a Stateful PCE
Model", RFC 8281, DOI 10.17487/RFC8281, December 2017,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8281>.
[RFC8283] Farrel, A., Ed., Zhao, Q., Ed., Li, Z., and C. Zhou, "An
Architecture for Use of PCE and the PCE Communication
Protocol (PCEP) in a Network with Central Control",
RFC 8283, DOI 10.17487/RFC8283, December 2017,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8283>.
[RFC8309] Wu, Q., Liu, W., and A. Farrel, "Service Models
Explained", RFC 8309, DOI 10.17487/RFC8309, January 2018,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8309>.
[RFC8637] Dhody, D., Lee, Y., and D. Ceccarelli, "Applicability of
the Path Computation Element (PCE) to the Abstraction and
Control of TE Networks (ACTN)", RFC 8637,
DOI 10.17487/RFC8637, July 2019,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8637>.
[RFC8751] Dhody, D., Lee, Y., Ceccarelli, D., Shin, J., and D. King,
"Hierarchical Stateful Path Computation Element (PCE)",
RFC 8751, DOI 10.17487/RFC8751, March 2020,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8751>.
[RFC9094] Zheng, H., Lee, Y., Guo, A., Lopez, V., and D. King, "A
YANG Data Model for Wavelength Switched Optical Networks
(WSONs)", RFC 9094, DOI 10.17487/RFC9094, August 2021,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9094>.
[RFC9182] Barguil, S., Gonzalez de Dios, O., Ed., Boucadair, M.,
Ed., Munoz, L., and A. Aguado, "A YANG Network Data Model
for Layer 3 VPNs", RFC 9182, DOI 10.17487/RFC9182,
February 2022, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9182>.
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[RFC9291] Boucadair, M., Ed., Gonzalez de Dios, O., Ed., Barguil,
S., and L. Munoz, "A YANG Network Data Model for Layer 2
VPNs", RFC 9291, DOI 10.17487/RFC9291, September 2022,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9291>.
[RFC9408] Boucadair, M., Ed., Gonzalez de Dios, O., Barguil, S., Wu,
Q., and V. Lopez, "A YANG Network Data Model for Service
Attachment Points (SAPs)", RFC 9408, DOI 10.17487/RFC9408,
June 2023, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9408>.
[RFC9543] Farrel, A., Ed., Drake, J., Ed., Rokui, R., Homma, S.,
Makhijani, K., Contreras, L., and J. Tantsura, "A
Framework for Network Slices in Networks Built from IETF
Technologies", RFC 9543, DOI 10.17487/RFC9543, March 2024,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9543>.
Appendix A. Additional Scenarios
A.1. OSS/Orchestration Layer
The OSS/Orchestration layer is a vital part of the architecture
framework for a service provider:
* to abstract (through MDSC and PNCs) the underlying transport
network complexity to the Business Systems Support layer;
* to coordinate NFV, Transport (e.g. IP, optical and microwave
networks), Fixed Access, Core and Radio domains enabling full
automation of end-to-end services to the end customers;
* to enable catalogue-driven service provisioning from external
applications (e.g. Customer Portal for Enterprise Business
services), orchestrating the design and lifecycle management of
these end-to-end transport connectivity services, consuming IP
and/or optical transport connectivity services upon request.
As discussed in Section 2.1, in this document, the MDSC interfaces
with the OSS/Orchestration layer and, therefore, it performs the
functions of the Network Orchestrator, defined in [RFC8309].
The OSS/Orchestration layer requests the creation of a network
service to the MDSC specifying its end-points (PEs and the interfaces
towards the CEs) as well as the network service SLA and then proceeds
to configuring accordingly the end-to-end customer service between
the CEs in the case of an operator managed service.
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A.1.1. MDSC NBI
As explained in Section 2, the OSS/Orchestration layer can request
the MDSC to setup L2/L3VPN network services (with or without TE
requirements).
Although the OSS/Orchestration layer interface is usually operator-
specific, typically it would be using a RESTCONF/YANG interface with
a more abstracted version of the MPI YANG data models used for
network configuration (e.g. L3NM, L2NM).
Figure 12 shows an example of possible control flow between the OSS/
Orchestration layer and the MDSC to instantiate L2/L3 VPN network
services, using the YANG data models under the definition in
[I-D.ietf-teas-actn-vn-yang], [RFC9291], [RFC9182] and
[I-D.ietf-teas-te-service-mapping-yang].
+-------------------------------------------+
| |
| OSS/Orchestration layer |
| |
+-----------------------+-------------------+
|
1.VN 2. L2/L3NM & | ^
| TSM | |
| | | |
| | | |
v v | 3. Update VN
|
+-----------------------+-------------------+
| |
| MDSC |
| |
+-------------------------------------------+
Figure 12: Service Request Process
* The VN YANG data model, defined in [I-D.ietf-teas-actn-vn-yang],
whose primary focus is the CMI, can also provide VN Service
configuration from an orchestrated network service point of view
when the L2/L3 VPN network service has TE requirements. However,
this model is not used to setup L2/L3 VPN service with no TE
requirements.
- It provides the profile of VN in terms of VN members, each of
which corresponds to an edge-to-edge link between customer end-
points (VNAPs). It also provides the mappings between the
VNAPs with the LTPs and the connectivity matrix with the VN
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member. The associated traffic matrix (e.g., bandwidth,
latency, protection level, etc.) of VN member is expressed
(i.e., via the TE-topology's connectivity matrix).
- The model also provides VN-level preference information (e.g.,
VN member diversity) and VN-level admin-status and operational-
status.
* The L2NM and L3NM YANG data models, defined in [RFC9291] and
[RFC9182], whose primary focus is the MPI, can also be used to
provide L2VPN and L3VPN network service configuration from an
orchestrated connectivity service point of view.
* The TE & Service Mapping YANG data model
[I-D.ietf-teas-te-service-mapping-yang] provides TE-service
mapping.
* TE-service mapping provides the mapping between a L2/L3 VPN
instance and the corresponding VN instances.
* The TE-service mapping also provides the binding requirements as
to how each L2/L3 VPN/VN instance is created concerning the
underlay TE tunnels (e.g., whether they require a new and isolated
set of TE underlay tunnels or not).
* Site mapping provides the site reference information across L2/L3
VPN Site ID, VN Access Point ID, and the LTP of the access link.
A.2. Multi-layer and Multi-domain Resiliency
A.2.1. Maintenance Window
Before planned maintenance operation on DWDM network takes place, IP
traffic should be moved hitless to another link.
MDSC must request to reroute IP traffic before the event takes place.
It should
be possible to lock IP traffic to the protection route until the
maintenance event is finished, unless a fault occurs on such path.
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A.2.2. Router Port Failure
The focus is on client-side protection scheme between IP router and
reconfigurable ROADM. Scenario here is to define only one port in
the routers and in the ROADM muxponder board at both ends as back-up
ports to recover any other port failure on client-side of the ROADM
(either on the IP router port side or on the muxponder side or on the
link between them). When client-side port failure occurs, alarms are
raised to MDSC by IP-PNC and O-PNC (port status down, LOS etc.).
MDSC checks with OP-PNC(s) that there is no optical failure in the
optical layer.
There can be two cases here:
1. LAG was defined between the IP routers at the two ends. MDSC,
after checking that optical layer is fine between the two edge
WDM nodes, triggers the WDM edge node re-configuration so that
the IP router's back-up port with its associated muxponder port
can reuse the WDM tunnel that was already in use previously by
the failed IP router port and adds the new link to the LAG on the
failure side.
While the ROADM reconfiguration takes place, IP/MPLS traffic is
using the reduced bandwidth of the IP link bundle, discarding
lower priority traffic if required. Once back-up port has been
reconfigured to reuse the existing WDM tunnel and the new link
has been added to the LAG then original Bandwidth is recovered
between the end routers.
Note: in this LAG scenario let us assume that BFD is running at
LAG level so that there is nothing triggered at MPLS level when
one of the link member of the LAG fails.
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2. If there is no LAG then the scenario is not clear since an IP
router port failure would automatically trigger (through BFD
failure) first a sub-50ms protection at MPLS level :FRR (MPLS
RSVP-TE case) or TI-LFA (MPLS based SR-TE case) through a
protection port. At the same time MDSC, after checking that
optical network connection is still fine, would trigger the
reconfiguration of the back-up port of the IP router and of the
muxponder to re-use the same WDM tunnel as the one used
originally for the failed IP router port. Once everything has
been correctly configured, MDSC Global PCE could suggest to the
operator to trigger a possible re-optimization of the back-up
MPLS path to go back to the MPLS primary path through the back-up
port of the IP router and the original WDM tunnel if overall
cost, latency etc. is improved. However, in this scenario, there
is a need for protection port PLUS back-up port in the IP router
which does not lead to clear port savings.
A.3. Muxponders
The setup of a client connectivity service between two transponders
is relatively clear and its implementation simple.
There is a one to one relationship between the transponder's client
and trunk (or DWDM) port. The client port bitrate determines the
trunk port bit rate which will also determine the Baud-rate, the
modulation format, the FEC etc.
The controller, when asked to set up a client connectivity service,
needs to find a WDM tunnel suitable to comply the DWDM port
parameters.
The setup of a client connectivity service between two muxponders is
different since there is a one to many relationship between the
muxponder's trunk (or DWDM) port and client ports. For example,
there might be a 100Gb/s trunk port shared by ten 10GE client ports.
The controller, when asked to set a 10GE client connectivity service
between two muxponder's client ports, needs first to check whether
there is already an existing WDM tunnel between the two muxponders
and then take different actions:
1. if the WDM tunnel already exists, the controller needs only to
enable the 10GE client ports to establish the 10GE client
connectivity service;
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2. if the WDM tunnel does not exist, the controller has to first
establish the WDM tunnel, finding a proper optical path matching
the optical parameters of the two muxponders' trunk ports (e.g.,
an OTSi carrying an OTU4), and then enable the 10GE client ports
to establish the 10GE client connectivity service.
Since multiple client connectivity services are sharing the same WDM
tunnel, a multiplexing label shall be assigned to each client
connectivity service. The multiplexing label can either be a
standard label (e.g., an OTN timeslot) or a vendor-specific label.
The multiplexing label can be either configurable (flexible
configuration) or assigned by design to each muxponder's client port
(fixed configuration). In the former case, any muxponder client port
can be connected with any other client port of the peer muxponder
(for example client port 1 on one muxponder can be connected with
client port 5 on the peer muxponder) while in the latter case only
client ports with the same port number can be connected (for example
client port 2 on one muxponder can be connected only with client port
2 on the peer muxponder and not with any other client port).
In case of flexible configuration, since the two muxponders are under
the control of the same O-PNC, the configuration of the multiplexing
label, regardless of whether it is a standard or vendor-specific
label, can be done by the O-PNC using mechanisms which are vendor-
specific and outside the scope of this document. The MDSC can just
request the O-PNC to setup a client connectivity service over a WDM
tunnel.
In case of fixed configuration, the multiplexing label is assigned by
the muxponder but the O-PNC and MDSC needs to be aware of the
connectivity constraints to avoid try and fail.
It is worth noting that the current WSON and Flexi-grid topology
models in [RFC9094] and [I-D.ietf-ccamp-flexigrid-yang] do not
provide sufficient information to the MDSC about this connectivity
constraint and this is identified as a gap.
Acknowledgments
Some of this analysis work was supported in part by the European
Commission funded H2020-ICT-2016-2 METRO-HAUL project (G.A. 761727).
The authors would like to thank Young Lee for his valuable input on
the initial discussions which have triggered this work as well as for
his contribution to the first drafts of this document.
The authors would like to thank Adrian Farrel for his review and
comments to this document.
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Previous versions of document were prepared using 2-Word-
v2.0.template.dot.
This document was prepared using kramdown.
Contributors
Sergio Belotti
Nokia
Email: sergio.belotti@nokia.com
Gabriele Galimberti
Email: ggalimbe56@gmail.com
Yanlei Zheng
China Unicom
Email: zhengyanlei@chinaunicom.cn
Anton Snitser
Cisco
Email: asnizar@cisco.com
Washington Costa Pereira Correia
TIM Brasil
Email: wcorreia@timbrasil.com.br
Michael Scharf
Hochschule Esslingen - University of Applied Sciences
Email: michael.scharf@hs-esslingen.de
Jeff Tantsura
Nvidia
Email: jefftant.ietf@gmail.com
Paolo Volpato
Huawei
Email: paolo.volpato@huawei.com
Brent Foster
Cisco
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Email: brfoster@cisco.com
Oscar Gonzalez de Dios
Telefonica
Email: oscar.gonzalezdedios@telefonica.com
Authors' Addresses
Fabio Peruzzini
FiberCop
Email: fabio.peruzzini@fibercop.com
Jean-Francois Bouquier
Vodafone
Email: jeff.bouquier@vodafone.com
Italo Busi
Huawei
Email: italo.busi@huawei.com
Daniel King
Old Dog Consulting
Email: daniel@olddog.co.uk
Daniele Ceccarelli
Cisco
Email: daniele.ietf@gmail.com
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