Technical Summary
Transport protocols are extended through the use of transport header
options. This document updates RFC 768 (UDP) by indicating the
location, syntax, and semantics for UDP transport layer options
within the surplus area after the end of the UDP user data but
before the end of the IP length.
Working Group Summary
The TSVWG working group has worked on this document since adopting this in
2017. It has been discussed extensively and has been stable in recent
revisions. The document retains the support of the TSVWG working group, and there is
consensus (rough) to publish this version.
Document Quality
Results were presented to the WG for tests using the option format across a
range of Internet paths to explore traversal (whether an option is passed or
modified by devices on path); and the method has been updated to reflect this
experience. Significant inputs were provided on approaches to implementation, a
pilot integration into a fork of BSD provided input; as did consideration of
the requirements for offload; and exploration of the complexity of the various
proposed fragmentation methods. It is therefore expected that the protocol is
implementable. The shepherd is not aware of an implementation or the proposed
transport API that supports the final specification.
Personnel
The Document Shepherd for this document is Gorry Fairhurst. The
Responsible Area Director is Zaheduzzaman Sarker.