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Deterministic Forwarding PHB
draft-svshah-tsvwg-deterministic-forwarding-00

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This is an older version of an Internet-Draft whose latest revision state is "Expired".
Authors Shitanshu Shah , Pascal Thubert
Last updated 2014-01-08
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draft-svshah-tsvwg-deterministic-forwarding-00
Network Working Group                                            S. Shah
Internet-Draft                                                P. Thubert
Intended status: Informational                             Cisco Systems
Expires: July 12, 2014                                  January 08, 2014

                      Deterministic Forwarding PHB
             draft-svshah-tsvwg-deterministic-forwarding-00

Abstract

   This document defines a Differentiated Services Per-Hop-Behavior
   (PHB) Group called Deterministic Forwarding (DF).  The document
   describes the purpose and semantics of this PHB.  It also describes
   creation and forwarding treatment of the service class.  The document
   also describes how the code-point can be mapped into one of the
   aggregated Diffserv service classes [RFC5127].

Status of this Memo

   This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the
   provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.

   Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering
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   This Internet-Draft will expire on July 12, 2014.

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   Copyright (c) 2014 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
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   the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as

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   described in the Simplified BSD License.

   This document may contain material from IETF Documents or IETF
   Contributions published or made publicly available before November
   10, 2008.  The person(s) controlling the copyright in some of this
   material may not have granted the IETF Trust the right to allow
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   it for publication as an RFC or to translate it into languages other
   than English.

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
     1.1.  Use-cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
   2.  Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
   3.  DF code-point Behavior  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
     3.1.  Potential implementation of DF scheduling . . . . . . . . . 6
     3.2.  Conditioning DF traffic at Enqueue  . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
   4.  Diffserv behavior through non-DF DS domains . . . . . . . . . . 8
   5.  Updates to RFC4594 and RFC5127  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
   6.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
   7.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
   8.  Acknowledgements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
   9.  References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
     9.1.  Normative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
     9.2.  Informative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
   Authors' Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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1.  Introduction

   IP Networks typically implement Diffserv to provide differentiated
   forwarding behavior to different class of traffic.  Networks that
   implement Diffserv relies on DSCP code-point in the IP header of a
   packet to select PHB as a specific forwarding treatment for that
   packet [RFC2474, RFC2475].  This document describes a particular PHB
   called Deterministic Forwarding (DF).  The proposed new code-point
   defines a service class for the purpose of forwarding treatment of a
   packet at determined/fixed scheduled time providing no jitter service
   to the class of traffic (updates RFC4594 with the addition of a new
   Service Class).

   DF PHB can be used for the network services that require the
   capability to ensure a predictable interaction between networked
   systems and guarantee a very strict time scheduled services.
   Applications of such networks may be able to absorb a loss but are
   very sensitive to end to end latency and jitter.  Examples of such
   networks include Machine to Machine (M2M) control and monitoring
   deployment with IP over varieties of Layer 2 networks.

   The definition of Expedited Forwarding (EF) [RFC2598] PHB is low
   latency and thus one can envision use of EF code-point for such
   service.  However, even though EF defines low latency and low jitter,
   it does not guarantee deterministic/fixed scheduled time service.
   Depending on co-existence of the other traffic in the network, EF
   traffic may have more or less variance on jitter and thus not
   suitable for the deterministic service.  DF PHB thus is more suitable
   for deterministic time sensitive traffic.

   Typically for an application where end to end deterministic service
   is important, relevant traffic should be provisioned through DF PHB
   at every hop in that end to end path.  However, in cases where
   intermediate hops (or DS domains) either do not support DF PHB or
   supports only aggregated service classes described in RFC5127, DF
   traffic in those DS domains MUST be mapped to Real Time Treatment
   class (EF PHB) defined in RFC5127.  Traffic in such scenario MUST be
   conditioned at the Edge before entering and after exiting such DS
   domains.  This is described further in later section.

1.1.  Use-cases

   With an introduction of machine to machine networks over IP, a new
   set of applications are emerging.  Traffic types from such
   applications/networks are some-what different from the traditional
   traffic types.  Though most traffic types have characteristics
   similar to that of traditional ones [LLN-DIFF], certain control
   signals for some of the applications are extremely sensitive to

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   latency and jitter.  Such control signals demand much stricter
   latency and jitter, at pretty much decisive time scheduled delivery,
   end to end.  Industrial automation, Smart cities and automobiles/
   planes/trains built around such networks are examples of such use-
   cases.

   Machine to machine networks may be implemented on varieties of Layer
   2 protocols. 802.3 and 802.15e [TiSCH] are examples of layer 2 that
   are enhancing their capabilities to allow time scheduled delivery of
   packets.

   In a wireless sensor networks, that are implemented over IP, multiple
   LLN (Low power and Lossy Networks) may be connected through Backbone.

                    ---+------------------------
                       |   Converged Campus Network
                       |
                    +-----+
                    |     | Gateway
                    |     |
                    +-----+
                       |
                       |      Backbone
                 +--------------------+------------------+
                 |                    |                  |
              +-----+             +-----+             +-----+
              |     | LLN border  |     | LLN border  |     | LLN border
         o    |     | router      |     | router      |     | router
              +-----+             +-----+             +-----+
         o                  o                   o                 o
             o    o   o         o   o  o   o         o  o   o o
             o o   o  o   o  o  o o   o  o  o   o   o   o  o  o  o o
            o  o o  o o    o   o   o  o  o  o       o  o  o o o
            o   o  M o  o  o     o  o    o  o  o    o  o   o  o   o
              o   o o       o        o  o         o        o o
                      o           o          o             o     o

                LLN-1               LLN-2              LLN-3

   As shown in the diagram, multiple LL Networks are connected to each
   other via Backbone through LLN Border routers.  Each LL Network
   consist of many nodes.  There are different types of traffic
   forwarded through each LL node and from one LL Network to another.
   Most LLN traffic types have characteristics similar to that of
   traditional ones and thus can be supported through existing Diffserv
   classes except time sensitive control signals.  Without segregating

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   such control signals to a specific Diffserv class would require
   Intserv support for LLN traffic in such networks.  All traffic would
   be subject to flow classification to differentiate time sensitive
   control signals which can be a big scale concern.  Supporting time
   sensitive control signals via newly proposed DF Diffserv class allows
   implementation of Diffserv in LLN Networks.

2.  Terminology

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
   document are to be interpreted as described in RFC2119.

3.  DF code-point Behavior

   The DF PHB is to implement time scheduled forwarding treatment.
   Provisioning of such a service has two parts,

       1) Provisioning of the fixed/relative time for scheduling of such
          service
       2) Provisioning of the max size of the data to be transmitted at
          each scheduled time

   Provisioned scheduled time may be absolute or relative.  For example,
   a DF class may be provisioned to schedule packets (or bytes) at every
   fixed time.  Fixed time can be time of a day or any other absolute
   definition.  In a multi hop forwarding of DF traffic, absolute time
   service provisioning at each hop may require to be dependent on the
   clock synchronization (clock synchronization is not in the scope of
   this specification).  In relative time scheduling, packets to be
   scheduled at every specific interval or it could be relative to any
   other specific event/trigger.  The definition of the time interval or
   any other event is relevant to that specific provisioned node only.

   The size of the data, to be transmitted at each scheduled time
   service, provisioned can be in the unit of bytes or time.  Once DF
   PHB is provisioned and enabled, forwarding treatment MUST service
   packets (bytes) from this class at the scheduled time for max
   allowable data.  Scheduling MUST pre-empt any other service,
   including EF, during the schedule time service for the DF class.  In
   order to avoid incurred latency to EF class of traffic, it is
   expected to carefully provision DF class to limit scheduled time
   service to as minimal data transmission that would prevent larger
   than expected delays to EF class of traffic.

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   Provisioning can be done via any of multiple possible methods.  It
   could be via command interface, or could be via external provisioning
   agents, or could be via some sort of signaling that may dynamically
   pre-negotiate time window of transmission at each node in a network
   path.

3.1.  Potential implementation of DF scheduling

   Following are examples of potential implementations.  They are not
   any form of guidelines or recommendations.

    There are at least two ways to implement scheduling for DF traffic
    class.

    1) One queue to buffer and schedule all DF traffic (from all flows),

    2) Multiple sub-queues for DF traffic class, one queue for each DF
       provisioned flow

    Flow here represents macro definition, it does not have to be only
    5-tuple.

   Any chosen DF scheduling implementation MUST run traffic conditioning
   at enqueue to decide if packets to be enqueued or discarded.
   Discussed more in later section.

      1) One data-plane queue to buffer all DF traffic

   This one queue maintains, possibly a circular, indexed buffer list.
   Every time scheduled slot is an index in the buffer list.  If enqueue
   conditioning decides not to discard a packet, packet gets en-queued
   at the relevant index in the buffer list in such a way that relevant
   index pointer, and thus buffered relevant packets for that index, at
   the head of the list is ready to be de-queued at next scheduled time.
   Subsequent buffer index is scheduled for the subsequent scheduled
   time slot and so forth.  If a specific flow has not received any
   packet for a scheduled time then buffer index for that flow remains
   empty.  A packet from other flows do not get buffered at that empty
   index.  That means during dequeue, at a schedule time service, an
   empty index results in no packets to dequeue and thus nothing to be
   transmitted from the DF queue at that point in time.

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                                              .
                                              |`.
       EF (Low latency) ----------------||---->  `.
                                       High   |    `.
                    .                         |      `.
       rate queues  |`.                       |        `.
       AF1 ----||--->  `.                     |          `.
                    |    `.                   |            `.
       AF3 ----||--->      '------------------>              '------>
                    |     .'            Low   |            .'
       BE  ----||--->   .'                    |          .'
                    | .'                      |        .'
                    .'                        |      .'
                                 Deterministic|    .'
       DF               ----------------||---->  .'
    (scheduled time/interrupt driven de-queue)|.'

      2) multiple sub-queues for each DF flows

   If enqueue conditioning decides not to discard a packet, packet gets
   enqueued in the relevant DF sub-queue designated for that flow.  At a
   scheduled time slot, scheduler dequeues a packet from the respective
   sub-queue.  Every scheduled time service interrupt is mapped to a
   specific DF sub-queue to dequeue a packet from.

                                                        .
                                                        |`.
       EF (Low latency) ----------------||---->  `.
                                       High   |    `.
                    .                         |      `.
       rate queues  |`.                       |        `.
       AF1 ----||--->  `.                     |          `.
                    |    `.                   |            `.
       AF3 ----||--->      '------------------>              '------>
                    |     .'            Low   |            .'
       BE  ----||--->   .'                    |          .'
                    | .'                      |        .'
                    .'                        |      .'
       (DF queues)               Deterministic|    .'
       DF (at interval 1, 6, 11 ..) ----||---->  .'
       DF (at interval 3, 8, 13 ..) ----||---->.'

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3.2.  Conditioning DF traffic at Enqueue

   DF traffic MUST be conditioned at the enqueue.  As per PHB
   definition, packets are required to be scheduled and delivered at a
   precise absolute or relative time interval.  Any packet that has
   missed the window of its service time MUST be discarded.  That would
   also mean any packet coming from the previous hop MUST be conditioned
   at the enqueue for validity of its scheduled service.  For example if
   a DF queue is provisioned to serve a packet with less than x ms of
   jitter and for an arrived packet, if next scheduled time for a packet
   results in more than x ms of jitter then such packet MUST be
   discarded.  The enqueued packet MUST also be checked against the size
   of the data.  If size of the data to be enqueued in a DF queue is
   bigger than what scheduled time slot is provisioned for then such
   packet MUST be discarded.

4.  Diffserv behavior through non-DF DS domains

   In cases where DF traffic is forwarded through multiple DS domains,
   DS domains close to the source and receiver understand application's
   deterministic service requirement well and so MUST be provisioned for
   the precise time scheduled forwarding treatment.  Intermediate DS
   domains MAY support DF PHB.  Intermediate domains that can not
   support DF PHB, DF traffic from such domains SHOULD get EF treatment,
   as defined in RFC5127 for Real Time Service aggregation.  Sender and
   Receiver DS domains, in such cases, MUST condition DF traffic at the
   respective Edge.  If EF service through intermediate DS domains can
   have a predictable upper bound, receiver DS domain Edge can add a
   correction to an incurred latency/jitter with its own defined time
   interval for DF service.

5.  Updates to RFC4594 and RFC5127

   This specification updates RFC4594 with an addition of a new Diffserv
   Class.  It also updates RFC5127 to aggregate DF class of traffic to
   Real Time Aggregation Class.

6.  IANA Considerations

   This document defines a new DSCP code-point DF.  IANA maintains the
   list of existing DSCPs.  Proposal is to allocate a new one for the DF
   code-point.

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7.  Security Considerations

   There is no security considerations required besides ones already
   understood in the context of Differentiated services architecture

8.  Acknowledgements

   Fred Baker and Norm Finn.

9.  References

9.1.  Normative References

   [RFC2474]  Nichols, K., Blake, S., Baker, F., and D. Black,
              "Definition of the Differentiated Services Field (DS
              Field) in the IPv4 and IPv6 Headers", RFC 2474,
              December 1998.

   [RFC2475]  Blake, S., Black, D., Carlson, M., Davies, E., Wang, Z.,
              and W. Weiss, "An Architecture for Differentiated
              Services", RFC 2475, December 1998.

   [RFC2598]  Jacobson, V., Nichols, K., and K. Poduri, "An Expedited
              Forwarding PHB", RFC 2598, June 1999.

   [RFC5127]  Chan, K., Babiarz, J., and F. Baker, "Aggregation of
              Diffserv Service Classes", RFC 5127, February 2008.

9.2.  Informative References

   [TiSCH]    Thubert, P., Watteyne, T., and R. Assimiti, "An
              Architecture for IPv6 over the TSCH mode of IEEE
              802.15.4e, I-D.draft-ietf-6tisch-architecture", Nov 2013.

   [LLN-DIFF]
              Shah, S. and P. Thubert, "Differentiated Service Class
              Recommendations for LLN Traffic,
              I-D.draft-svshah-tsvwg-lln-diffserv-recommendations",
              Aug 2013.

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Authors' Addresses

   Shitanshu Shah
   Cisco Systems
   170 W. Tasman Drive
   San Jose, CA  95134
   US

   Email: svshah@cisco.com

   Pascal Thubert
   Cisco Systems
   Village d'Entreprises Green Side
   400, Avenue de Roumanille
   Batiment T3
   Biot - Sophia Antipolis  06410
   FRANCE

   Email: pthubert@cisco.com

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