IPv6 Point-to-Point Links
draft-palet-v6ops-p2p-links-00

v6ops                                                  J. Palet Martinez
Internet-Draft                                          The IPv6 Company
Intended status: Informational                             March 5, 2018
Expires: September 6, 2018

                       IPv6 Point-to-Point Links
                     draft-palet-v6ops-p2p-links-00

Abstract

   This document describes different alternatives for configuring IPv6
   point-to-point links, considering the prefix size, numbering choices
   and prefix pool to be used.

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Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
   2.  Prefix Size Choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     2.1.  Rationale for using /64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     2.2.  Rationale for using /127  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     2.3.  Rationale for using /126 and Other Options  . . . . . . .   4
     2.4.  A Possible Middle-Term Choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
   3.  Numbering Choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     3.1.  GUA (Global Unicast Addresses)  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     3.2.  ULA (Unique Local Addresses)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     3.3.  Unnumbered  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   4.  Prefix Pool Choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   5.  /64 from Customer Prefix for point-to-point links . . . . . .   6
     5.1.  Numbering Interfaces  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     5.2.  Routing Aggregation of the Point-to-Point Links . . . . .   6
     5.3.  DHCPv6 Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     5.4.  Router Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
   6.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
   7.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
   8.  Acknowledgements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
   9.  Normative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
   Author's Address  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9

1.  Introduction

   There are different alternatives for numbering IPv6 point-to-point
   links, and from an operational perspective, there may have different
   advantages or disadvantages that need to be taken in consideration
   under the scope of each specific network architecture design.

   [RFC6164] describes using /127 prefixes for inter-router point-to-
   point links, using two different address pools, one for numbering the
   point-to-point links and another one for delegating the prefixes at
   the end of the point-to-point link.  However this doesn't exclude
   other choices.

   This document describes alternative approaches, for the prefix size,
   the numbering of the link and the prefix pool.

   The proposed approaches are suitable for those point-to-point links
   connecting ISP to customers, but not limited to those cases, and in
   fact, all them are being used by a relevant number of networks
   worldwide, in several different scenarios (service providers,
   enterprise networks, etc.).

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2.  Prefix Size Choices

2.1.  Rationale for using /64

   The IPv6 Addressing Architecture ([RFC4291]) specifies that all the
   Interface Identifiers for all the unicast addresses (except for
   000/3) are required to be 64 bits long and to be constructed in
   Modified EUI-64 format.

   The same document also mandates the usage of the predefined subnet-
   router anycast address, which has cleared to zero all the bits that
   do not form the subnet prefix.

   Using /64 is the most common scenario and currently the best practice
   by the number of service providers using this approach compared to
   others.

   Using a /64 has the advantage of being future proof and avoids
   renumbering, in the event that new standards take advantage of the 64
   bits for other purposes, or the link becomes a point-to-multipoint,
   or there is a need to use more addresses in the link (e.g.,
   monitoring equipment, managed bridges).

   It has been raised also the issue of some hardware having limitations
   in using prefixes longer then /64, for example using extra hardware
   resources.

   [RFC6164] describes possible issues when using /64 for the point-to-
   point links, however, it also states that they can be mitigated by
   other means, and indeed, considering the publication date of that
   document, those issues should not be any longer a concern.  The fact
   is that many operators wordwide, today use /64 without any concerns,
   as vendors have taken the necessary code updates.

   Consequently, we shall conclude that it is a valid approach to use
   /64 prefixes for the point-to-point links.

2.2.  Rationale for using /127

   [RFC6164] already do a complete review of reasons why /127 is a good
   approach vs other options.  However, it needs to be considered that
   it was published a number of years ago, and most of the hardware
   today already incorporate mitigations.

   It is a valid approach to use /127 for the point-to-point links,
   however is not future proof considering the comments from the
   previous section, and older equipment may not support it.

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2.3.  Rationale for using /126 and Other Options

   /126 was considered by [RFC3627], and despite this document has been
   obsoleted, because was considering /127 as harmful, the
   considerations in Section 4.3 are still valid.

   The same document describes options such as /112 and /120, and all
   those are commonly used in worldwide IPv6 deployments, though in a
   lesser degree than /64 or /127.

   Consequently, we shall conclude that /126, /120 and /112 are valid
   approaches for the point-to-point links.

2.4.  A Possible Middle-Term Choice

   A possible "middle-term" approach, will be to allocate a /64 for each
   point-to-point link, but use just one /127 out of it, making it
   future proof and at the same time avoiding possible issues indicated
   in the previous sections.

3.  Numbering Choices

   IPv6 provides different unicast addressing types which can be
   considered when numbering a point-to-point link.

   It has been reported that certain hardware may consume resources when
   using numbered links.  This is a very specific situation that may
   need to be consider on a case by case basis.

3.1.  GUA (Global Unicast Addresses)

   Using GUA is the most common approach.  It provides full
   functionality for both and end-points of the point-to-point links and
   consequently, facilitates troubleshooting .

3.2.  ULA (Unique Local Addresses)

   Some networks use ULAs for numbering the point-to-point links.  This
   approach may cause numerous problems and therefore is strongly
   discouraged.  For example, if the CE needs to send an ICMPv6 message
   to a host outside that network (to the Internet), the packet with ULA
   source address will not get thru and PMTUD will break, which in turn
   will completely break that IPv6 connection when the MTU is not the
   same for all the path.

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3.3.  Unnumbered

   Some networks leave the point-to-point links unnumbered, so only
   link-local addresses are used at both ends of the link.

   While this might work for routers, it does not work for devices that
   can't request a prefix delegation over DHCPv6 and are therefore left
   without any usable GUA to allow traffic forwarding.

   In the case of a router, the route for the assigned prefix is pointed
   towards the link-local address on the router WAN port and the default
   route on the router is pointed towards the link-local address on the
   upstream network equipment port.

   This choice seems easier to implement, compared the previous ones,
   but it also brings some drawbacks, such as difficulties with
   troubleshooting and monitoring.  For example, link local addresses do
   not appear in traceroute, so it makes more difficult to locate the
   exact point of failure.

   It is more useful in scenarios where it is known that only a router
   will be attached to the point-to-point link, and where the configured
   address of the router is known.  Non-routers connecting to a network,
   which can't initiate DHCPv6-PD might experience problems and will
   stay unnumbered upon connection, if a /64 prefix is not used to
   number the link.  This may be also the case for routers, which will
   not be able to complete the DHCPv6-PD in unnumbered links.

4.  Prefix Pool Choices

   The logic choice seems to use a dedicated pool of IPv6 addresses, as
   this is the way we are "used to" with IPv4.  Actually this is done
   often by means of different IPv6 pools at every PoP in a service
   provider network.

   A possible benefit of using a dedicated IPv6 pool, is that allows
   applying security policies without harming the customers.  This is
   only true if customers always have a CE at their end of the WAN link.

   However, the fact that the default IPv6 link size is /64 and commonly
   multiple /64's are assigned to a single customer, provides an
   interesting alternative approach for combining "best practices"
   described in the precedent sections.

   The following section depicts this alternative.

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5.  /64 from Customer Prefix for point-to-point links

   Using a /64 from the customer prefix, in addition to the advantages
   already indicated when using /64, simplifies the addressing plan.

   The use of /64 also facilitates an easier way for routing the shorter
   aggregated prefix into the point-to-point link.  Consequently it
   simplifies the "view" of a more unified addressing plan, providing an
   easier path for following up any issue when operating IPv6 networks,
   and typically will have a great impact in saving expensive hardware
   resources (lower usage of TCAM, typically by half).

   This mechanism would not work in broadcast layer two media that rely
   on ND (as it will try ND for all the addresses within the shorter
   prefix being delegated thru the point-to-point link).

5.1.  Numbering Interfaces

   Often, in point-to-point links, hardware tokens are not available, or
   there is the need to keep certain bits (u, g) cleared, so the links
   can be manually numbered sequentially with most of the bits cleared
   to zero.  This numbering makes as well easier to remember the
   interfaces, which typically will become numbered as 1 (with 63
   leading zero bits) for the provider side and 2 (with 63 leading zero
   bits) for the customer side.

   Using interface identifiers as 1 and 2 is not only a very simple
   approach, but also a very common practice.  Other different choices
   can as well be used as required in each case.

   On the other hand, using the EUI-64, makes it more difficult to
   remember and handle the interfaces, but provides an additional degree
   of protection against port (actually address) scanning as described
   at [RFC7707].

5.2.  Routing Aggregation of the Point-to-Point Links

   Following this approach and assuming that a shorter prefix is
   typically delegated to a customer, for example a /48, it is possible
   to simplify the routing aggregation of the point-to-point links.
   Towards this, the point-to-point link may be numbered using the first
   /64 of the /48 delegated to the customer.

   Let's see a practical example:

   o  A service provider uses the prefix 2001:db8::/32 and is using
      2001:db8:aaaa::/48 for a given customer.

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   o  Instead of allocating the point-to-point link from a different
      addressing pool, it may use 2001:db8:aaaa::/64 (which is the first
      /64 subnet from the 2001:db8:aaaa::/48) to number the link.

   o  This means that, in the case the non-EUI-64 approach is used, the
      point-to-point link may be numbered as 2001:db8:aaaa::1/64 for the
      provider side and 2001:db8:aaaa::2/64 for the customer side.

   o  Note that using the first /64 and interface identifiers 1 and 2 is
      a very common practice.  However other values may be chosen
      according to each case specific needs.

   In this way, as the same address pool is being used for both, the
   prefix and the point-to-point link, one of the advantages of this
   approach is to make very easy the recognition of the point-to-point
   link that belongs to a given customer prefix, or in the other way
   around, the recognition of the prefix that is linked by a given
   point-to-point link.

   For example, making a trace-route to debug any issue to a given
   address in the provider network, will show a straight view, and it
   becomes unnecessary one extra step to check a database that correlate
   an address pool for the point-to-point links and the customer
   prefixes, as all they are the same.

   Moreover, it is possible to use the shorter prefix as the provider
   side numbering for the point-to-point link and keep the /64 for the
   customer side.  In our example, it will become:

   o  Point-to-point link at provider side: 2001:db8:aaaa::1/48

   o  Point-to-point link at customer side: 2001:db8:aaaa::2/64

   This provides one additional advantage as in some platforms the
   configuration may be easier saving one step for the route of the
   delegated prefix (no need for two routes to be configured, one for
   the delegated prefix, one for the point-to-point link).  It is
   possible because the longest-prefix-match rule.

   The behavior of this type of configuration has been successfully
   deployed in different operator and enterprise networks, using
   commonly available implementations with different routing protocols,
   including RIP, BGP, IS-IS, OSPF, along static routing, and no
   failures or interoperability issues have been reported.

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5.3.  DHCPv6 Considerations

   As stated in [RFC3633], "the requesting router MUST NOT assign any
   delegated prefixes or subnets from the delegated prefix(es) to the
   link through which is received the DHCP message from the delegating
   router", however the approach described in this document is still
   useful in other DHCPv6 scenarios or non-DHCPv6 scenarios.

   Furthermore, [RFC3633] was updated by Prefix Exclude Option for
   DHCPv6-based Prefix Delegation ([RFC6603]), precisely to define a new
   DHCPv6 option, which covers the case described by this document.

   Moreover, [RFC3769] has no explicit requirement that avoids the
   approach described in this document.

5.4.  Router Considerations

   This approach is being used by operators in both, residential/SOHO
   and enterprise networks, so the routers at the customer end for those
   networks MUST support [RFC6603] if DHCPv6-PD is used.

   In the case of Customer Edge Routers there is a specific requirement
   ([RFC7084]) WPD-8 (Prefix delegation Requirements), marked as SHOULD
   for [RFC6603].  However, in an scenario where the approach described
   in this document is followed, together with DHCPv6-PD, the CE Router
   MUST support [RFC6603].

6.  Security Considerations

   This document does not have any new specific security considerations.

7.  IANA Considerations

   This document does not have any new specific IANA considerations.

8.  Acknowledgements

   The author would like to acknowledge the inputs of Mikael Abrahamsson
   and ...

   Acknowledge is also due to my co-authors of RIPE-690 (Best Current
   Operational Practice for Operators: IPv6 prefix assignment for end-
   users - persistent vs non-persistent, and what size to choose,
   https://www.ripe.net/publications/docs/ripe-690) and global
   community, which provided valuable inputs which have been key for
   this document.

   Acknowledgement to co-authors, Cesar Olvera and Miguel Angel Diaz, of

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   a previous related document (draft-palet-v6ops-point2point, 2006), as
   well as inputs for that version from Alain Durand, Chip Popoviciu,
   Daniel Roesen, Fred Baker, Gert Doering, Olaf Bonness, Ole Troan,
   Pekka Savola and Vincent Jardin, are also granted.

9.  Normative References

   [RFC3627]  Savola, P., "Use of /127 Prefix Length Between Routers
              Considered Harmful", RFC 3627, DOI 10.17487/RFC3627,
              September 2003, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc3627>.

   [RFC3633]  Troan, O. and R. Droms, "IPv6 Prefix Options for Dynamic
              Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) version 6", RFC 3633,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC3633, December 2003,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc3633>.

   [RFC3769]  Miyakawa, S. and R. Droms, "Requirements for IPv6 Prefix
              Delegation", RFC 3769, DOI 10.17487/RFC3769, June 2004,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc3769>.

   [RFC4291]  Hinden, R. and S. Deering, "IP Version 6 Addressing
              Architecture", RFC 4291, DOI 10.17487/RFC4291, February
              2006, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4291>.

   [RFC6164]  Kohno, M., Nitzan, B., Bush, R., Matsuzaki, Y., Colitti,
              L., and T. Narten, "Using 127-Bit IPv6 Prefixes on Inter-
              Router Links", RFC 6164, DOI 10.17487/RFC6164, April 2011,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6164>.

   [RFC6603]  Korhonen, J., Ed., Savolainen, T., Krishnan, S., and O.
              Troan, "Prefix Exclude Option for DHCPv6-based Prefix
              Delegation", RFC 6603, DOI 10.17487/RFC6603, May 2012,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6603>.

   [RFC7084]  Singh, H., Beebee, W., Donley, C., and B. Stark, "Basic
              Requirements for IPv6 Customer Edge Routers", RFC 7084,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC7084, November 2013,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7084>.

   [RFC7707]  Gont, F. and T. Chown, "Network Reconnaissance in IPv6
              Networks", RFC 7707, DOI 10.17487/RFC7707, March 2016,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7707>.

Author's Address

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   Jordi Palet Martinez
   The IPv6 Company
   Molino de la Navata, 75
   La Navata - Galapagar, Madrid  28420
   Spain

   Email: jordi.palet@theipv6company.com
   URI:   http://www.theipv6company.com/

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