Multi-Topology in PIM
draft-xz-pim-flex-algo-06
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| Document | Type | Active Internet-Draft (individual) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authors | Zheng Zhang , BenChong Xu , Stig Venaas , Zhaohui (Jeffrey) Zhang , Hooman Bidgoli | ||
| Last updated | 2025-11-02 | ||
| RFC stream | (None) | ||
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draft-xz-pim-flex-algo-06
PIM Z. Zhang
Internet-Draft B. Xu
Intended status: Standards Track ZTE Corporation
Expires: 6 May 2026 S. Venaas
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Z. Zhang
Juniper Networks
H. Bidgoli
Nokia
2 November 2025
Multi-Topology in PIM
draft-xz-pim-flex-algo-06
Abstract
PIM usually uses the shortest path computed by routing protocols to
build multicast tree. Multi-Topology Routing is a technology to
enable service differentiation within an IP network. IGP Flex
Algorithm provides a way to compute constraint-based paths over the
network. This document defines the PIM message extensions to provide
a way to build multicast tree through the specific topology and
constraint-based path instead of the shortest path.
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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material or to cite them other than as "work in progress."
This Internet-Draft will expire on 6 May 2026.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (c) 2025 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
document authors. All rights reserved.
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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
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.1. Requirements Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3. PIM Message extensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3.1. Group Source Info TAD Sub-TLV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3.2. TAD Attribute Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4. Specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
4.1. Source with TAD Sub-TLV advertisement . . . . . . . . . . 5
4.2. J/P message Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.3. Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
5.1. Group Source Info TAD Sub-TLV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
5.2. TAD Attribute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
5.3. PIM TAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
6. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
7. Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
8. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
8.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
8.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Authors' Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1. Introduction
As described in section 3 in [RFC7761], PIM relies on an underlying
topology-gathering protocol to populate the MRIB (Multicast Routing
Information Base). Usually the MRIB is the best paths over the
network based on the IGP metric. In some cases, alternative paths
with low latency or high bandwidth are needed for specific
requirements.
Multi-Topology Routing (MTR) [RFC4915] [RFC5120] is a technology to
enable service differentiation within an IP network. To support MTR,
an IGP advertises multiple, potentially incongruent, IP topologies,
and computes topology specific routes.
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Flex-Algo [RFC9350] specifies a solution that allows IGPs themselves
to compute constraint-based paths over the network. Flex-Algo(FA)
can be seen as creating a sub-topology within a topology using
algorithm specific constraints and an algorithm specific calculation
type. Flex-algo can operate on any topology supported by the IGPs.
Advertisement of IGP Flex-Algo [RFC9350] participation requires a
data plane context. Currently the following dataplane contexts have
been defined:
* Segment Routing Dataplane [RFC8665] [RFC8667]
* IP Flex Dataplane [RFC9502]
* Soft dataplane [I-D.ietf-lsr-flex-soft-dataplane]
This document defines how PIM can utilize a given combination of a
topology, an algorithm, and a dataplane to populate an MRIB. In the
remainder of this document, we'll refer to this combination as
Topology-Algorithm-Dataplane (TAD).
All the routers on a given PIM multicast tree MUST participate in the
same TAD.
This document defines the PIM message extensions to provide a way to
build a multicast tree using a given TAD instead of simple IGP
shortest path.
1.1. Requirements Language
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].
2. Terminology
This document uses terminologies defined in [RFC7761], [RFC5384],
[RFC5496], [RFC4915], [RFC5120] and [RFC9350].
3. PIM Message extensions
3.1. Group Source Info TAD Sub-TLV
[I-D.ietf-pim-pfm-forwarding-enhancements] defines a 'Group Source
Info TLV' for announcing sources that supports Sub-TLVs that can be
used to advertise various types of information. This document
defines a new Sub-TLV that can be used for carrying the topology ID
and the Algorithm value associated with the TAD to be used.
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0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Type | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Algorithm | MT-ID | DP-ID |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Figure 1
Type: TBD (To be assigned by IANA).
Length: 2-octet. This length is always 4.
Algorithm: A 1-octet value from the IGP Algorithm Types registry
under IGP Parameters registry.
MT-ID: A 2-octet field MT-ID (see Section 3.7 of [RFC4915],
Section 7 of [RFC5120]) to special the topology. If this field is
set to zero, it means the default topology.
DP-ID: A 1-octet field the data plane ID.
MT-ID values are protocol specific. The value advertised therefore
has to match an MT-ID value supported by the IGP deployed in the
network.
3.2. TAD Attribute Format
[RFC5384] defines a pim Join Attributes are encoded as TLVs into the
Encoded-Source Address field of a PIM Join message. This document
specifies the TAD Attribute that allows the receiver to select the
associated topology or algorithm.
0 1 2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|F|E| Type | Length | Algorithm |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| MT-ID | DP-ID |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Figure 2
F bit: The Transitive bit. Specifies whether the attribute is
transitive or non-transitive. This bit RECOMMENDED set to 1 and
the attribute will be transitived.
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E bit: End-of-Attributes bit. Specifies whether this attribute is
the last. Set to zero if there are more attributes. Set to 1 if
this is the last attribute.
Type: TBD (To be assigned by IANA).
Length: 1-octet. This length is always 4.
Algorithm: A 1-octet value from the IGP Algorithm Types registry
under IGP Parameters registry.
MT-ID: A 2-octet field MT-ID (see Section 3.7 of [RFC4915],
Section 7 of [RFC5120]) to special the topology. If this field is
set to zero, it means the default topology.
DP-ID: A 1-octet field the data plane ID.
MT-ID values are protocol specific. The value advertised therefore
has to match an MT-ID value supported by the IGP deployed in the
network.
4. Specification
When TAD is specified, PIM MUST use the topology, algorithm and data-
plane specified.
PIM messages with the local TAD must not be sent outside the IGP
domain, because the value in the TAD may have a different meaning in
another IGP domain, which will cause processing errors.
4.1. Source with TAD Sub-TLV advertisement
PIM Flooding Mechanism and Source Discovery [RFC8364] allows for
announcement of active sources.
[I-D.ietf-pim-pfm-forwarding-enhancements] defines a 'Group Source
Info TLV' for announcing sources that allows for Sub-TLVs that can be
used for providing various types of information. The TAD Sub-TLV is
advertised with the Group Source Info TLV, and flooded in the
network. When MTR is not deployed in the network, the MT-ID in the
Sub-TLV MUST be set to zero.
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The First Hop Router (FHR) advertises the announcing sources carrying
the TAD Sub-TLV to the network. All the routers in the network
receive the information through PFM function. The TAD advertisement
of FHR is used by LHR to select the corresponding TAD to send the
joining message. If two or more FHRs announce same source and group
with different TAD because of wrong configurations or other reasons,
the LHR SHOULD select the TAD by using the lowest or highest
originator address. The highest originator address is preferred.
The PFM function defined in [RFC8364] is not changed.
Similarly, MVPN, EVPN, etc. can also announce the corresponding TAD
when advertising routes, so that PE can select the topology
corresponding to the corresponding TAD.
4.2. J/P message Processing
The LHR PIM router on the receiving side specifies the TAD to the
multicast source according to the received TAD Sub-TLV or the local
policy. The LHR looks up the local TAD aware routing table and gets
the upstream neighbor, then the LHR sends the join message to the
upstream neighbor with the specified TAD value set in the TAD
attribute. The local configured TAD is the same with the
advertisement of LHR usually. In case there is inconsistent, the LHR
MUST NOT send the J/P message with TAD attribute. When there is no
specific TAD in local policy or configuration on LHR, LHR SHOULD use
the TAD received by PFM advertisements if there is.
When a PIM router receives a J/P message with the TAD attribute, the
router checks all the received join messages, if all the received
join messages carried the TAD value, then it looks up the TAD
specific unicast routes and selects the incoming interface and
upstream neighbor. And the continual join messages keep carrying the
TAD Attribute. When the LHR stops to use the function defined in
this document, LHR MUST send the associated prune message. And the
continual prune message MUST carried the attribute.
When a PIM router receives the join messages from different neighbors
for the same (*,G) or (S,G), in case the router finds that not all
the received join messages carried the same TAD value, or unicast
routing is unreachable in the TAD aware routing table, the router
needs to stop the PIM procedure and sends notification to the network
administrator. If the router is FHR, the FHR SHOULD NOT forward the
multicast flow until all the received join messages carried the same
TAD value.
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The TAD attribute SHOULD NOT be used with RPF vector
attribute([RFC5496]). In case the TAD attribute is also received
with the RPF vector attribute, the router SHOULD ignore one of them
according to local policy.
There should be no more than one TAD attribute in an Encoded-Source
Address when PIM build a join message. If the PIM router receives a
join message with multiple TAD attributes in an Encoded-Source
Address, the first one is RECOMMENDED be used.
4.3. Example
+----(gR2)------(gR4)----+
/ | | \
/ | | \
Source--(R1)(RP) | | (R6)--Recv
\ | | /
\ | | /
+----(rR3)------(rR5)----+
Figure 3
In Figure 3, there is only a default topology in the network. R1 is
the source DR and R6 is last-hop DR. Two multicast flows with the
same source address need to be received by the receiver: flow 1
(192.0.2.1/24, 233.252.0.1/32) and flow 2 (192.0.2.1/24,
233.252.0.2/32). The shortest path to the source is: R6-R4-R2-R1.
But the bandwidth on the path is not enough for the two flows
delivery. Packet loss occurs.
The network can be divided into 2 planes by different Flex-Algorithms
defined in [RFC9350]. For example, R1/R2/R4/R6 belong to green plane
of Algorithm X, and R1/R3/R5/R6 belong to red plane of Algorithm Y.
When the soft dataplane defined in [I-D.ietf-lsr-flex-soft-dataplane]
is used, the TAD combinations can be TAD 1 "FA=X, MT-ID=0, DP-ID=3"
and TAD 2 "FA=Y, MT-ID=0, DP-ID=3". All the routers send the
participation of Flex-algo X and Y per
[I-D.ietf-lsr-flex-soft-dataplane]. The IP prefix routes for the
sources of flow 1/2 are advertised in default topology.
R1 sends the PFM messages for flow 1 with TAD 1 sub-TLV and flow 2
with TAD 2 sub-TLV. After receiving the PFM messages, when
JoinDesired(192.0.2.1, 233.252.0.1) ([RFC7761]) is TRUE, R6 looks up
the local routing by the TAD 1, and gets the upstream router R4 for
flow 1. When JoinDesired(192.0.2.1/24, 233.252.0.2) is TRUE, the
process of R6 for TAD 2 is similar, R6 gets the upstream router R5
for flow 2. Then R6 sends the PIM join messages with the TAD 1 to R4
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for flow 1 and TAD 2 to R5 for flow 2. All the routers along the
path process the join messages in similar way and the multicast trees
for flow 1 and flow 2 are built finally.
When the the IP Flex dataplane defined in [RFC9502] is used, the DP-
ID field in the TAD combination should be 2. All the routers send
the participation of Flex-algo X and Y per [RFC9502]. The IP prefix
routes for the sources of flow 1 and 2 are advertised with FA X and Y
separately. Similar with the soft dataplane, the multicast trees for
flow 1 and flow 2 are built by two different TADs separately.
5. IANA Considerations
5.1. Group Source Info TAD Sub-TLV
IANA is request to assign a new sub-type for "Group Source Info TAD
Sub-TLV" in the "PFM Group Source Info Sub-Types" registry.
5.2. TAD Attribute
IANA is request to assign a new sub-type for "TAD Attribute" in the
"PIM Join Attribute Types" registry.
5.3. PIM TAD
IANA is request to create a new registry for "Dataplane ID" in the
"Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) Parameters" registry. For now,
three values are defined:
* 1: Segment Routing Dataplane [RFC8665] [RFC8667]
* 2: IP Flex Dataplane [RFC9502]
* 3: Soft Dataplane [I-D.ietf-lsr-flex-soft-dataplane]
6. Security Considerations
The consideration mentioned in [RFC7761],
[I-D.ietf-pim-pfm-forwarding-enhancements] and
[I-D.ietf-lsr-flex-soft-dataplane] apply to this document.
If PIM routers in the multicast tree select different topology and
algorithm based on different local policy, there may be a loop in the
network, or the multicast flow cannot be forwarded. Forged router
may advertise source and group information with wrong TAD sub-TLV.
The network administrator should be careful for the TAD consistency.
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7. Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge Les Ginsberg, Peter Psenak for
their input on this document.
8. References
8.1. Normative References
[I-D.ietf-pim-pfm-forwarding-enhancements]
Gopal, A., Venaas, S., and F. Meo, "PIM Flooding Mechanism
and Source Discovery Enhancements", Work in Progress,
Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-pim-pfm-forwarding-
enhancements-03, 15 October 2025,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-pim-pfm-
forwarding-enhancements-03>.
[RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119,
DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>.
[RFC4915] Psenak, P., Mirtorabi, S., Roy, A., Nguyen, L., and P.
Pillay-Esnault, "Multi-Topology (MT) Routing in OSPF",
RFC 4915, DOI 10.17487/RFC4915, June 2007,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4915>.
[RFC5120] Przygienda, T., Shen, N., and N. Sheth, "M-ISIS: Multi
Topology (MT) Routing in Intermediate System to
Intermediate Systems (IS-ISs)", RFC 5120,
DOI 10.17487/RFC5120, February 2008,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5120>.
[RFC5384] Boers, A., Wijnands, I., and E. Rosen, "The Protocol
Independent Multicast (PIM) Join Attribute Format",
RFC 5384, DOI 10.17487/RFC5384, November 2008,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5384>.
[RFC5496] Wijnands, IJ., Boers, A., and E. Rosen, "The Reverse Path
Forwarding (RPF) Vector TLV", RFC 5496,
DOI 10.17487/RFC5496, March 2009,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5496>.
[RFC7761] Fenner, B., Handley, M., Holbrook, H., Kouvelas, I.,
Parekh, R., Zhang, Z., and L. Zheng, "Protocol Independent
Multicast - Sparse Mode (PIM-SM): Protocol Specification
(Revised)", STD 83, RFC 7761, DOI 10.17487/RFC7761, March
2016, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7761>.
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[RFC9350] Psenak, P., Ed., Hegde, S., Filsfils, C., Talaulikar, K.,
and A. Gulko, "IGP Flexible Algorithm", RFC 9350,
DOI 10.17487/RFC9350, February 2023,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc9350>.
8.2. Informative References
[I-D.ietf-lsr-flex-soft-dataplane]
Ginsberg, L., Psenak, P., and Z. Zhang, "IGP Flex Soft
Dataplane", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-
lsr-flex-soft-dataplane-00, 20 October 2025,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-lsr-
flex-soft-dataplane-00>.
[RFC8364] Wijnands, IJ., Venaas, S., Brig, M., and A. Jonasson, "PIM
Flooding Mechanism (PFM) and Source Discovery (SD)",
RFC 8364, DOI 10.17487/RFC8364, March 2018,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8364>.
[RFC8665] Psenak, P., Ed., Previdi, S., Ed., Filsfils, C., Gredler,
H., Shakir, R., Henderickx, W., and J. Tantsura, "OSPF
Extensions for Segment Routing", RFC 8665,
DOI 10.17487/RFC8665, December 2019,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8665>.
[RFC8667] Previdi, S., Ed., Ginsberg, L., Ed., Filsfils, C.,
Bashandy, A., Gredler, H., and B. Decraene, "IS-IS
Extensions for Segment Routing", RFC 8667,
DOI 10.17487/RFC8667, December 2019,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8667>.
[RFC9502] Britto, W., Hegde, S., Kaneriya, P., Shetty, R., Bonica,
R., and P. Psenak, "IGP Flexible Algorithm in IP
Networks", RFC 9502, DOI 10.17487/RFC9502, November 2023,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc9502>.
Authors' Addresses
Zheng Zhang
ZTE Corporation
China
Email: zhang.zheng@zte.com.cn
Benchong Xu
ZTE Corporation
China
Email: xu.benchong@zte.com.cn
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Stig Venaas
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Tasman Drive
San Jose, CA 95134,
United States of America
Email: stig@cisco.com
Zhaohui Zhang
Juniper Networks
Boston,
United States of America
Email: zzhang@juniper.net
Hooman Bidgoli
Nokia
Ottawa
Canada
Email: hooman.bidgoli@nokia.com
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