Hormuzd Khosravi
   Internet Draft                                         Shuchi Chawla
   Document: draft-ietf-forces-tcptml-04.txt                Intel Corp.
   Expires: January 2007                                 Furquan Ansari
   Working Group: ForCES                                   Lucent Tech.
                                                              Jon Maloy
                                                               Ericsson


                                                            July 2006


        TCP/IP based TML (Transport Mapping Layer) for ForCES protocol


  Status of this Memo

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  Copyright Notice

      Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2006).

  Conventions used in this document

   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 [2].

   Abstract




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   This document defines the IP based TML (Transport Mapping Layer) for
   the ForCES protocol. It explains the rationale for choosing the
   transport protocols and also describes how this TML addresses all
   the requirements described in the Forces [3] requirements and
   ForCES protocol [5] document.


                             Table of Contents

   1. Definitions.....................................................3
   2. Introduction....................................................3
   3. Protocol Framework Overview.....................................4
   3.1.1. The PL layer................................................5
   3.1.2. The TML layer...............................................5
   4. TML Overview....................................................5
   4.1. Rationale for using TCP and DCCP..............................6
   4.2. Separate Control and Data channels............................6
   4.3. Reliability...................................................8
   4.4. Congestion Control............................................8
   4.5. Security......................................................8
   4.6. Addressing....................................................8
   4.7. Prioritization................................................9
   4.8. HA Decisions..................................................9
   4.9. Encapsulations Used..........................................10
   5. TML Messaging..................................................10
   6. TML Interface to Upper layer Protocol..........................10
   6.1. TML Service Interface Overview...............................10
   6.2. Protocol Initialization and Shutdown Model...................11
   6.2.1. Protocol Initialization....................................11
   6.2.2. Protocol Shutdown..........................................13
   6.3. Multicast Model..............................................14
   6.4. Broadcast Model..............................................17
   7. Security Considerations........................................17
   7.1. TLS Usage for Securing TML...................................17
   7.2. IPSec Usage for securing TML.................................18
   8. IANA Considerations............................................18
   9. Manageability..................................................18
   10. References....................................................18
   10.1. Normative References........................................18
   10.2. Informative References......................................18
   11. Acknowledgments...............................................19
   Appendix A. TML Service Interface................................19
   A.1.  TML Initialize.............................................19
   A.2.  TML Channel Open...........................................20
   A.3.  TML Channel Close..........................................21
   A.4.  TML Channel Write..........................................22
   A.5.  TML Channel Read...........................................23
   A.6.  TML Multicast Group Join...................................25




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   A.7.  TML Multicast Group Leave..................................25
   Authors' Addresses...............................................26


1.
  Definitions

   The following definitions are taken from [3], [5]

   ForCES Protocol - While there may be multiple protocols used within
   the overall ForCES architecture, the term "ForCES protocol" refers
   only to the protocol used at the Fp reference point in the ForCES
   Framework in RFC3746 [4].  This protocol does not apply to
   CE-to-CE communication, FE-to-FE communication, or to communication
   between FE and CE managers.  Basically, the ForCES protocol works in
   a master-slave mode in which FEs are slaves and CEs are masters.


   ForCES Protocol Layer (ForCES PL) -- A layer in ForCES protocol
   architecture that defines the ForCES protocol messages, the protocol
   state transfer scheme, as well as the ForCES protocol architecture
   itself (including requirements of ForCES TML (see below)).
   Specifications of ForCES PL are defined by this document.

   ForCES Protocol Transport Mapping Layer (ForCES TML) -- A layer in
   ForCES protocol architecture that specifically addresses the
   protocol message transportation issues, such as how the protocol
   messages are mapped to different transport media (like TCP, IP, ATM,
   Ethernet, etc), and how to achieve and implement reliability,
   multicast, ordering, etc.  This document defines an IP based ForCES
   TML.


2.
  Introduction

   The ForCES (Forwarding and Control Element Separation) working group
   in the IETF is defining the architecture and protocol for separation
   of control and forwarding elements in network elements such as
   routers.  [3
              .],  [4]  define  both  architectural  and  protocol
   requirements for the communication between CE and FE. The ForCES
   protocol layer [5] describes the protocol specification. It is
   envisioned that the ForCES protocol would be independent of the
   interconnect technology between the CE and FE and can run over
   multiple  transport  technologies  and  protocol.  Thus  a  Transport
   Mapping Layer (TML) has been defined in the protocol framework that
   will  take  care  of  mapping  the  protocol  messages  to  specific
   transports. This document defines the IP based TML for the ForCES
   protocol layer. It also addresses all the requirements for the TML
   including security, reliability, etc.



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3.
  Protocol Framework Overview

   The reader is referred to the Framework document [4], and in
   particular sections 3 and 4, for architectural overview and where
   and how the ForCES protocol fits in.  There may be some content
   overlap between the ForCES protocol draft [5] and this section in
   order to provide clarity.

   The ForCES protocol constitutes two pieces: the PL and TML layer.
   This is depicted in Figure 1 below.

            +------------------------------------------------
            |               CE PL layer                     |
            +------------------------------------------------
            |              CE TML layer                     |
            +------------------------------------------------
                                      ^
                                      |
                         ForCES       |   (i.e. Forces data + control
                         PL           |    packets )
                         messages     |
                         over         |
                         specific     |
                         TML          |
                         encaps       |
                         and          |
                         transport    |
                                      |
                                      v
            +------------------------------------------------
            |              FE TML layer                     |
            +------------------------------------------------
            |               FE PL layer                     |
            +------------------------------------------------

                          Figure 1: ForCES Interface

   The PL layer is in fact the ForCES protocol.  Its semantics and
   message layout are defined in [5].  The TML Layer is necessary to
   connect two ForCES PL layers as shown in Figure 1 above.

   Both the PL and TML layers are standardized by the IETF.  While only
   one PL layer is defined, different TMLs are expected to be
   standardized.  To interoperate the TML layer at the CE and FE are
   expected to be of the same definition.





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   On transmit, the PL layer delivers its messages to the TML layer.
   The TML layer delivers the message to the destination TML layer(s).
   On reception, the TML delivers the message to its destination PL
   layer(s).

3.1.1.The PL layer

   The PL is common to all implementations of ForCES and is
   standardized by the IETF [5].  The PL layer is responsible for
   associating an FE or CE to an NE.  It is also responsible for
   tearing down such associations.  An FE uses the PL layer to throw
   various subscribed-to events to the CE PL layer as well as respond
   to various status requests issued from the CE PL.  The CE configures
   both the FE and associated LFBs attributes using the PL layer.  In
   addition the CE may send various requests to the FE to activate or
   deactivate it, reconfigure it’s HA parameterization, subscribe to
   specific events etc.

3.1.2.The TML layer

   The TML layer is essentially responsible for transport of the PL
   layer messages.  The TML is where the issues of how to achieve
   transport level reliability, congestion control, multicast,
   ordering, etc. are handled.  All TMLs will deliver a standard set of
   services and capabilities to the PL; the PL may use any available
   TML. The different TMLs each could implement things differently
   based on capabilities of underlying media and transport.
   However, since all TMLs will support a standardized interface,
   interoperability is guaranteed as long as both endpoints support the
   same TML.  All ForCES Protocol Layer implementations should be
   portable across all TMLs, because all TMLs have the same top edge
   semantics.


4.
   TML Overview

   The TML consists of two connections between the CE and FE over which
   the protocol messages are exchanged. One of the connections is
   called the control channel, over which control messages are
   exchanged, the other is called data channel over which external
   protocol packets, such as routing packets will be exchanged. The
   control channel is a TCP connection; the data channel is a DCCP
   connection.  The TCP and DCCP connections will use unique server
   port numbers for each of the channels. In addition to this, this TML
   will provide mechanisms to prioritize the messages over the
   different channels.






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   Some of the rationale for choosing these transport mechanisms as
   well as explanation of how they meet the TML requirements is
   explained below. The ForCES protocol defines requirements to be met
   by the TML.  However, the requirements in the draft do not always
   differentiate between control versus data messaging.  The assumption
   is that the requirements for messaging over the data channel are a
   subset of those specified for control messaging.  When such an
   assumption is made, it is explicitly specified and the justification
   for the same stated.

4.1.Rationale for using TCP and DCCP

   For control messaging, TCP meets all the reliability requirements
   (no losses, no data corruption, no re-ordering of data) for the
   ForCES protocol/TML and also provides congestion control mechanism,
   which is important to meet the scalability requirement. In addition,
   it helps with interoperability since TCP is a well-understood,
   widely deployed transport protocol. Using TCP also enables this TML
   and the protocol to work seamlessly in single hop and multihop
   scenarios.

   The reliability requirements for the data channel messages are
   different from that of the control messages [3] i.e. they don’t
   require strict reliability in terms of retransmission, etc. However
   congestion control is important for the data channel because in case
   of DoS attacks, if an unreliable transport such as UDP is used for
   the data traffic, it can more easily overflow the physical
   connection, overwhelming the control traffic with congestion. Thus
   we need a transport protocol that provides congestion control but
   does not necessarily provide full reliability. Datagram Congestion
   Control Protocol (DCCP) [9], which is on the RFC track is a
   transport protocol that exactly meets this requirement.


4.2.Separate Control and Data channels

   The ForCES NEs are subject to Denial of Service (DoS) attacks
   [Requirements Section 7 #15]. A malicious system in the network can
   flood a ForCES NE with bogus control packets such as spurious RIP or
   OSPF packets in an attempt to disrupt the operation of and the
   communication between the CEs and FEs. In order to protect against
   this situation, the TML uses separate control and data channels for
   communication between the CEs and FEs. Figure 2 below illustrates
   the different communication channels between the CEs and the FEs. As
   an example, the communication channels for support of High
   Availability with redundant CEs are also included.  The setup of
   these channels would be dependent on the High Availability model
   used in the NE.



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                           ACTIVE CE              STANDBY CE
                    +-------------------+  +-------------------+
                    | CE: PL            |  | CE: PL            |
                    +-------------------+  +-------------------+
                    | CE: TML           |  | CE: TML           |
                    +-------------------+  +-------------------+
                    | CE: TCP/DCCP      |  | CE: TCP/DCCP      |
                    +-------------------+  +-------------------+
                      | |    | |    | |       |  |     |  |
                      | .    | .    | .       |  .     |  .
                      | |    | |    | |       |  |     |  |
                      | .    | .    | .       |  .     |  .
                      | |    | |    | |    Cc1’ Cd1’ Cc2’ Cd2…Ccn’ Cdn’
                      | .    | .    | .
            +-Cc1-----+ |    | |    | +-.-.-.-.-.Cdn.-+
            |  +-Cd1-.-.+    | .    +--------Ccn---+  |
            |  |             | |                   |  .
            |  .         +Cc2+ .                   |  |
            |  |         | +Cd2+                   |  .
            |  .         | |                       |  |
         +------------+ +------------+          +------------+
         |FE: TCP/DCCP| |FE: TCP/DCCP|   . . .  |FE: TCP/DCCP|
         +------------+ +------------+          +------------+
         | FE: TML    | | FE: TML    |          | FE: TML    |
         +------------+ +------------+          +------------+
         | FE: PL     | | FE: PL     |          | FE: PL     |
         +------------+ +------------+          +------------+
           FE1            FE2                    FEn
        \-------------V------------/
                 FE 1+1 Redundancy

   Legend:
       ---- Cc# : Unicast Control Channel between Active CE and FE#
       -.-. Cd# : Unicast Data Channel between Active CE and FE#

       ---- Cc#’: Unicast Control Channel between Standby CE and FE#
       -.-. Cd#’: Unicast Data Channel between Standby CE and FE#

                          Figure 2: CE-FE Communication Channels


   The data channel carries IP packets from the network needed by the
   CE, such as RIP, OSPF packets as outlined in Requirements [3]
   Section 7 #10, which are carried in ForCES Packet Redirect messages
   [5], between the CEs and FEs. All the other ForCES messages, which
   are used for configuration/capability exchanges, event notification,





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   etc, are carried over the control channel. The data channel is set
   up only after the control channel is set up.


4.3.Reliability

   TCP provides the reliability (no losses, no data corruption, no re-
   ordering of data) required for ForCES protocol control messages.

   As mentioned earlier, as per [3], strict reliability is not a
   requirement for payload carried over the data channel.  Hence, the
   use of DCCP is adequate for the data channel.

4.4.Congestion Control

   TCP provides congestion control needed to satisfy this requirement
   for the control channel.

   DCCP provides congestion control to satisfy this requirement for the
   data channel. DCCP supports two congestion control mechanisms – TCP
   like congestion control specified with a CCID of 2 and TFRC
   congestion control specified with a CCID of 3.  The DCCP channel may
   use either of these mechanisms; the CE and the FE may be configured
   with the mechanism to be used.  The default CCID to be used if none
   is configured is CCID 2 which provides TCP like congestion control.

4.5.Security

   The TML channel can be secured in multiple ways. The default mode is
   to support the “no security”, a mode that is commonly used when it
   is determined that securing the ForCES channel is not needed (e.g.
   closed-box scenario). For scenarios where security is important, the
   TML uses either the TLS [6] or the IPSec [15] mechanisms to secure
   the channel(s). The security mode selection is normally done through
   configuration on either ends. Note that the TML will operate
   correctly only when both the ends are configured with the same
   security mechanism. The security mode used by the CE and FE is
   dependent on the deployment scenario as per the ForCES protocol
   requirements draft [3
                       .]. Please see section 7 on security
   considerations for more details.


4.6.Addressing

   This TML uses addressing provided by IP layer.

   For unicast addressing/delivery of control messages, it uses the TCP
   connection between the CE and FE. For multicast/broadcast



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   addressing/delivery of control messages, this TML uses multiple TCP
   connections between the CE and FEs.

   Additionally, the TML layer maintains the mapping between the PL
   layer addresses and the channel descriptors assigned by the TML
   layer.  The PL layer is unaware of these descriptors; the PL layer
   only uses the PL layer addresses for all communication with the TML
   layer.

   For unicast addressing/delivery over the data channel, it uses the
   DCCP connection between the CE and FE.  Multicast/broadcast
   addressing and delivery is not supported over the data channel; data
   messages may only be sent from the CE to the FEs using unicast
   FEIds. If multicast support is required, the higher level protocol
   being carried over the data channel is responsible for it.


4.7.Prioritization

   This TML provides prioritization of messages sent over control
   channel as compared to the data channel. This has also been found to
   be useful in face of DoS attacks on the protocol. Additionally the
   TML can support multiple levels of prioritization for control
   messages if it supports a multi-queue strategy. The scheduling
   algorithm used at the TML layer would give preferential treatment to
   higher priority messages.  The scheduling algorithm used in the TML
   layer is implementation dependent.


4.8.HA Decisions

   The TML transports the heartbeat messages generated at the PL layer
   to detect liveness of the CE/FE.  The TML does not generate any
   heartbeat messages of its own.  The PL heartbeat messages are
   carried over the control channel. For the data channel, the TML will
   propagate any DCCP detected connectivity issues over the channel to
   the PL layer.  If the PL wishes to actively monitor the data
   channel, it may do so by sending periodic redirect packets from the
   CE to the FE.  This details of this mechanism are however outside
   the scope of the TML.

   TML is responsible for keeping the control and data communication
   channels up.  It however does not have the authority to decide which
   CE to set up the channels with.  That is outside its control.

   If a FE-CE communication channel goes down or connectivity is lost,
   the following steps are taken by the TML layer:
   - FE TML attempts to reestablish the communication channel



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   - If the FE TML is unable to reestablish the channel (after some
     configured number of retries/timeout), it notifies the FE PL that
     the channel is down.
   - CE TML waits for the channel to be reestablished (since only the
     FE can reestablish it) for some configured timeout prior to
     notifying the CE PL that the channel is down.  Alternatively, the
     PL may detect the channel is down via the use of the PL generated
     heartbeat messages.

   If the control channel or data channel goes down, PL will control
   initiation of a failover to a new CE – both control and data
   channels will be reestablished with the new CE.

   If an FE goes down and a standby FE exists for it, and it has
   communication channels set up with the CE, the CE PL may start to
   use the channels associated with the standby FE.  This is not within
   the scope of TML itself, but falls in the scope of High
   Availability.


4.9.Encapsulations Used

   There is no further message encapsulation of control and data
   messages done at the TML layer.  The PL generated control messages
   are transported as is by the TML layer. The ForCES protocol control
   messages are encapsulated with a TCP/IP header. The PL data messages
   carried over the data channel are encapsulated in a DCCP header.


5.
  TML Messaging

   There is no TML layer messaging.  TML only transports messages from
   the PL layer.

6.
  TML Interface to Upper layer Protocol

   ForCES TML interfaces with an upper layer protocol, the PL Layer and
   a lower layer protocol, TCP (in the case of TCP TML).  This section
   defines the interface to the upper layer protocol.  This interface
   should be used only as a guideline in implementing the API.
   Additionally, although the current interface is defined mainly as a
   synchronous interface, the interface may be implemented to be
   asynchronous if desired.

6.1.TML Service Interface Overview

   This section provides an overview of the TML service interface to
   help with understanding the following sections on protocol behavior



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   with respect to initialization and multicast support.  Note that
   this is just a brief overview for understanding the protocol
   initialization/shutdown sequences.  It is by no means complete; the
   complete service interface is being specified in a separate draft.
   More details on this interface are specified in Appendix A.

   tmlInit() – Enables establishment of communication channels

   tmlOpen() – Opens one or more communication channels for control and
   data messaging

   tmlClose() – Closes one or more communication channels used for
   control and data messaging

   tmlWrite() – Write messages to a specific CE or FE

   tmlRead() – Read messages from a specific CE or FE

   tmlMulticastGroupJoin() – Request an FE to join a multicast group

   tmlMulticastGroupLeave() - Request an FE to leave a multicast group


6.2.Protocol Initialization and Shutdown Model

   In order for the peer PL Layers to communicate, the control and data
   channels must be setup.  This section defines a model for the setup
   of the channels, using the TML interface defined above. In this
   model, the peer TML Layers may establish the control and data
   channels between the FE and the CE without the involvement of the PL
   Layers, or if desired, the PL Layer may trigger the setup of the
   channels; this is left as an implementation decision.  Both modes
   may also be supported within an implementation.

6.2.1.Protocol Initialization

   The control channel must be established between the FE TML and the
   CE TML for establishment of association to proceed.  This channel
   will be used for messages related to the association setup and
   capability query.  The data channel must be established no later
   than the response from the FE to the CE Topology query message.  The
   following are the significant aspects associated with channel setup:
   - A single call by the PL layer sets up the communication channels
     for both control and data messaging to a specific FE.  The call
     specifies Unicast CE Id and attributes for control and data
     channels.
   - It is up to the TML layer whether to set up a single channel for
     both control and data or distinct channels for control and data



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   - TML sets up the appropriate channels and allocates required
     descriptors for the channels.  TML layer maintains a mapping
     between the Unicast FE/CE Id and the channel descriptors and
     channel type (control versus data) it creates once the FEId/CEId
     is known.
   - There is no need for channel descriptors to be returned to the PL
     layer at either the FE or the CE.  PL Layer only uses the Unicast
     FE/CE Id for read/write calls and specifies the type of message
     (control versus data) to be read/written.
   - If only one of the channels is setup successfully, the TML layer
     will have to return appropriate status that specifies which
     channel is setup successfully and which isn’t.

   Figure 4 illustrates the initialization model where the PL layer via
   an interface provided by the TML Layer, triggers the setup of the
   control and data channels.

     FE1 PL           FE1 TML                  CE TML          CE PL
           |               |                       |               | \
        /  |               |                       | tmlInit()     | |
   FE   |  |               |                       |<--------------| > CE Init/
 Init/  <  |               |                       |               | | Bootup
 Bootup |  |               |                       |               | /
        \  |               |                       |               |
           | tmlOpen(CeId) |                       |               |
           |-------------->|                       |               | \
           |               |CtrlChan(Cc) Setup     |               | | Setup control
           |               |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>|               | | channel if not
           |               |                                       | > already setup
           |               |CtrlChan(Cc) Setup Rsp |               | |
           |               |<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|               | |
           |        CeId . [CcDes<ctrl>]          |               | |
           |                                       |               | /
           |               |                       |               |
           |               |DataChan(Cd) Setup     |               | | Setup data
           |               |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>|               | | channel if not
           |               |                       |               | > already setup
           |               |DataChan(Cd) Setup Rsp |               | |
           |               |<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|               | |
           |        CeId . [CcDes<ctrl>,          |               | |
           |               | CdDes<data>]          |               | /
           |               |                       |               |
           |  <-- status   |                       |               |
           |               |                       |               |
           |tmlEvent(ChUp) |                       |tmlEvent(ChUp) |
           |<--.--.--.--.--|                       |--.--.--.--.-->|
           |               |                       |               |
           |               |   Asso Setup Req      |               |
           |---------------|-----------------------|-------------->|
           |                              FeId . [CcDes<ctrl>,    | \



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           |                                       CdDes<data>]    | | TML updates
           |                                                       | > its mappings
           |                                                       | | once FEId is
           |               |   Asso Setup Rsp      |               | | available.
           |<--------------|-----------------------|---------------| /
           |               |                       |               |
           |               |    Capability Query   |               |
           |<--------------|-----------------------|---------------|
           |               | Capability Query Rsp  |               |
           |---------------|-----------------------|-------------->|
           |               |                       |               |
           |               |   Topology Query      |               |
           |<--------------|-----------------------|---------------|
           |               | Topology Query Rsp    |               |
           |---------------|-----------------------|-------------->|
           |               |                       |               |
           |               |STEADY STATE OPERATION |               |
           |<--------------|-----------------------|-------------->|
           |               |                       |               |
Legend:
 PL  --------> PL : Protocol layer messaging
 PL  --------> TML: TML API
 TML --.--.--> PL : Events/Notifications/Upcalls
 TML ~~~~~~~~> TML: Internal protocol communication

                      Figure 4: Protocol Initialization (Channel Setup)

6.2.2.Protocol Shutdown

The control channel teardown must occur only after the association
teardown has occurred.  The data channel teardown may occur no earlier
than the association teardown.

The PL Layer may shutdown control and data channels via invocation of
the tmlClose() API.  When the PL layer shuts down the channels, the
channels are torn down; hence ForCES messaging between the CE and FE is
no longer possible over those channels.  A tmlClose() results in both
control and data channels (regardless of whether they are implemented
as a single channel or distinct channels in the TML layer) being
shutdown; it is not possible to close just one of them. A subsequent
tmlOpen() triggers establishment of the channel.  The channel(s) may be
shutdown by either the FE or the CE. If an FE initiates the shutdown,
it specifies the CE Id associated with the channel(s) to be shutdown.
If a CE initiates the shutdown, it specifies the FE Id associated with
the channel(s) to be shutdown.  A channel shutdown by the FE is
illustrated in Figure 5 and a channel shutdown by the CE is illustrated
in Figure 6.

        FE PL           FE TML                  CE TML          CE PL
           |               |                       |               |



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           |               |STEADY STATE OPERATION |               |
           |<--------------|-----------------------|-------------->|
           |               | Config Request        |               |
           |<--------------|-----------------------|---------------|
           |               | Config Response       |               |
           |---------------|-----------------------|-------------->|
           |               |                       |               |
           |               | Association Teardown  |               |
           |<--------------|-----------------------|---------------|
           |               |                       |               |
           |               |                       |               | \
           |tmlClose(CeId) |                       |               | | FE initiated:
           |-------------->|                       |               | > FE specifies CE
           | <-- status    |                       |               | | Id associated
           |               |                       |               | / with channel.

Legend:
 PL  --------> PL : Protocol layer messaging
 PL  --------> TML: TML API
 TML --.--.--> PL : Events/Notifications/Upcalls
 TML ~~~~~~~~> TML: Internal protocol communication

                       Figure 5: Protocol Shutdown: FE Initiated

        FE PL           FE TML                  CE TML          CE PL
           |               |                       |               |
           |               |STEADY STATE OPERATION |               |
           |<--------------|-----------------------|-------------->|
           |               | Config Request        |               |
           |<--------------|-----------------------|---------------|
           |               | Config Response       |               |
           |---------------|-----------------------|-------------->|
           |               |                       |               |
           |               | Association Teardown  |               |
           |<--------------|-----------------------|---------------|
           |               |                       |               |
           |               |                       |               | \
           |               |                       |tmlClose(FeId) | | CE initiated:
           |               |                       |<--------------| > FE specifies CE
           | <-- status    |                       | status -->    | | Id associated
           |               |                       |               | / with channel.

Legend:
 PL  --------> PL : Protocol layer messaging
 PL  --------> TML: TML API
 TML --.--.--> PL : Events/Notifications/Upcalls
 TML ~~~~~~~~> TML: Internal protocol communication

                       Figure 6: Protocol Shutdown: CE Initiated

6.3.Multicast Model



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   The TML layer provides support for multicast of control messages.
   In the ForCES model, support is required to multicast to the FEs
   from a CE; in this case, the CE is the source or root of the
   multicast and the FEs are the leaves.

   Support for multicast requires that a channel for supporting
   multicast be opened between an FE and the CE.  In the case of TCP
   TML, the same channel is used for both unicast and multicast
   messaging since multicast mode is simulated using unicast channels
   in this case. Once the channel is open, a CE may request FEs to join
   and leave specified multicast groups.  Multicast support is CE-
   initiated.  FEs can join a multicast group only if the CE requests
   them to join the group.  TML maintains the mapping between PL layer
   IDs and channel descriptors for multicast.  The following are the
   significant steps for adding or removing members from a multicast
   group:

   - CE PL communicates with FE PL for requesting the FE to join or
     leave a multicast group.
   - FE PL informs FE TML regarding the join or leave request.
   - FE TML updates the multicast group information.  It updates the
     mapping between the FE Multicast Id and the channel descriptor to
     be used for multicast for that FE.  This mapping may be from
     [Multicast FE Id] . [FE Id] . [Channel descriptor] or directly
     from [Multicast FE Id] . [Channel descriptor].  This is
     implementation dependent.
   - FE PL responds to CE PL informing it of the status of the join or
     leave request.
   - If the join or leave request was successful, CE PL informs CE TML
     regarding the update to the multicast group membership.
   - CE TML updates the multicast group membership.  It updates the
     mapping between the FE Multicast Id and the set of channel
     descriptors to be used for multicast to the FEs that are members
     of this group.  This mapping may be from [Multicast FE Id] . [Set
     of FE Ids] . [Set of channel descriptors] or directly from
     [Multicast FE Id] . [Set of channel descriptors].  This is
     implementation dependent.
   - There is no need for any descriptors to be returned to the PL
     layer at either the FE or the CE.  PL Layer only uses the
     Multicast FE Id for write calls and specifies the type of message
     (control versus data) to be written.

   A tmlWrite() on a unicast FE Id results in a unicast message being
   sent to the FE associated with the channel.  A tmlWrite() on a
   multicast FE Id results in multicast messaging. Figures 7 and 8
   illustrate multicast scenarios with 2 FEs, FE1 and FE2.  In Figure
   7, the CE requests FE1 to join a multicast group.  Although not




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   shown as a separate figure, if FE2 were to join the same group, the
   join procedure would be the same as in Figure 7; it would result in
   the multicast group membership being updated at the TML layer on the
   CE to include FE2 in the group.  In Figure 8, the CE requests FE1 to
   leave the multicast group, thus resulting in only FE2 being a member
   of the multicast group.

   Multicast Scenario with FE1 joining group: New group created

       FE1 PL        FE1 TML              CE TML           CE PL
         |               |                   |               |
         |               |                   |               | \
         |               MC Grp Join Req (McId)              | |
         |<--------------|-------------------|---------------| | CE:PL Level multicast group
[TML     | tmlJoin(McId) |                   |               | | join request sent to each
updates  |-------------->|                   |               | | FE:PL that needs to be part
MC grp   |        McId = {FE1_ChDes}         |               | > of a multicast group, McId,
info]    |               |                   |               | | where McId specifies a
         |  <-- status   |                   |               | | multicast group Id at the
         |               |                   |               | | PL layer.
         |              MC Grp Join Rsp (status)             | |
         |---------------|-------------------|-------------->| /
         |               |                   |               |
         |               |                   |               | \
         |               |                   |tmlJoin(McId)  | | TML updates multicast
         |               |                   |<--------------| | group membership.  PL is
         |               |              McId = {FE1_ChDes}   | > only aware of PL layer
         |               |                   |               | | multicast group Id, that is,
         |               |                   |  status -->   | | McId]
         |               |                   |               | /

                       Figure 7: Multicast Support: FE1 Joins Group


   Multicast Scenario with FE1 leaving group: Group membership updated
   to exclude FE1

        FE1 PL        FE1 TML              CE TML           CE PL
         |               |                   |               |
         |               |                   |               | \
         |               MC Grp Leave Req (McId, FE1)        | |
         |<--------------|-------------------|---------------| | CE:PL Level multicast group
[TML     | tmlLeave(McId)|                   |               | | leave request sent to FE1:PL
removes  |-------------->|                   |               | | that needs to be removed
MC grp   |        McId = {}                  |               | > from multicast group, McId,
info]    |               |                   |               | | where McId specifies a
         |  <-- status   |                   |               | | multicast group Id at the
         |               |                   |               | | PL layer.
         |              MC Grp Leave Rsp (status)            | |
         |---------------|-------------------|-------------->| /
         |               |                   |               |
         |               |                   |               | \
         |               |                   |tmlLeave(McId) | | TML removes FE1 from
         |               |                   |<--------------| | multicast group McId.
         |               |              McId = {FE2_ChDes}   | > That leaves only FE2



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         |               |                   |               | | in the group.
         |               |                   |  status -->   | |
         |               |                   |               | /


                       Figure 8: Multicast Support: FE1 Leaves Group

6.4.Broadcast Model

   The TML layer provides support for broadcast of control messages.
   In the ForCES model, support is required to broadcast to the FEs
   from a CE.  The broadcast model is just a special case of multicast,
   where all FEs are included.  This TML does not support CE or NE
   broadcast.


7.
  Security Considerations

   If the CE or FE are in a single box and network operator is running
   under a secured environment then it is up to the network
   administrator to turn off all the security functions. This is
   configured during the pre-association phase of the protocol. This
   mode is called “no security” mode of operation.

   When the CEs, FEs are running over IP networks or in an insecure
   environment, the operator has the choice of configuring either TLS
   [6] or IPSec [15] to provide security. The security association
   between the CEs and FEs MUST be established before any ForCES
   protocol messages are exchanged between the CEs and FEs.


7.1.TLS Usage for Securing TML

   This section is applicable for CE or FE endpoints that use the TML
   with TLS [6] to secure communication.

   Since CE is master and FEs are slaves, the FEs are TLS clients and
   CEs are TLS server. The endpoints that implement TLS MUST perform
   mutual authentication during TLS session establishment process. CE
   must request certificate from FE and FE needs to pass the requested
   information.

   We recommend “TLS-RSA-with-AES-128-CBC-SHA” cipher suite, but CE or
   FE may negotiate other TLS cipher suites. With this TML, TLS is used
   only for the control channel while the data channel is left
   unsecured since the data packets (e.g. routing protocol packets) may
   contain their own security mechanisms. Further, TLS has not yet been
   defined for usage with DCCP.




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7.2.IPSec Usage for securing TML
   This section is applicable for CE or FE endpoints that use the TML
   with IPSec [15] to secure their respective communication. IPSec is
   transparent to the higher-layer applications and can provide
   security for any transport layer protocol. This mechanism is can be
   used to secure just the control or both the control and the data
   channel simultaneously.


8.
  IANA Considerations

   This TML needs to have a one well-defined TCP port number for
   control messaging, which needs to be assigned by IANA.  The control
   port is referred to as the TCP_TML_CONTROL_PORT.  Similarly, TML
   requires one well-defined DCCP port number for data messaging.  This
   data port is referred to as the DCCP_TML_DATA_PORT.

9.
  Manageability

   TBD


10.
   References
10.1.Normative References

  1. S. Bradner, "The Internet Standards Process -Revision 3", RFC 2026,
     October 1996.

  2. S. Bradner, "Keywords for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement
     Levels", RFC2119 (BCP), IETF, March 1997.

  3. Khosravi, et al., ’’Requirements for Separation of IP Control and
     Forwarding”, RFC 3654, November 2003.

  4. L. Yang, et al., ” ForCES Architectural Framework”, RFC 3746,
     April 2004.

  5.  A. Doria, et al., ”ForCES protocol specification”, draft-ietf-
     forces-protocol-06.txt, December 2005.


10.2.Informative References


  6. Dierks, T., Allen, C., Treese, W., Karlton, P., Freier, A. and P.
     Kocher, "The TLS Protocol Version 1.0", RFC 2246, January 1999.




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  7. Jungmaier, A., Rescorla, E. and M. Tuexen, "Transport Layer
     Security over Stream Control Transmission Protocol", RFC 3436,
     December 2002.

  8. R. Stewart, et al., “Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP)”,
     RFC 2960, October 2000.

  9. E. Kohler, M. Handley, S. Floyd, J. Padhye, “Datagram Congestion
     Control Protocol (DCCP)”, draft-ietf-dccp-spec-13.txt, December
     2005.

  10.Floyd, S., “Congestion Control Principles”, RFC 2914, September
     2000.

  11.A. Doria, F. Hellstrand, K. Sundell, T. Worster, “General Switch
     Management Protocol (GSMP) V3”, RFC 3292, June 2002.

  12.H. Balakrishnan, et al. “The Congestion Manager”, RFC 3124, June
     2001.

  13.H. Khosravi, S. Lakkavali, “Analysis of protocol design issues for
     open standards based programmable routers and switches” [SoftCOM
     2004]

  14.S. Lakkavali, H. Khosravi, “ForCES protocol design analysis for
     protection against DoS attacks” [ICCCN 2004]

  15.S. Kent, R. Atkinson, “Security Architecture for the Internet
     Protocol”, RFC 2401


11.
   Acknowledgments


Appendix A. TML Service Interface


   Note that this is just an overview for understanding the protocol
   initialization/shutdown sequences.  It is by no means complete; the
   complete service interface is being specified in a separate draft.

A.1. TML Initialize

   status tmlInit(
     in  channelType,
     in  initAttributes)

   Input Parameters:




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     channelType: control versus data channel
     initAttributes: initialization parameters

   Output Parameters:
     none

   Returns:
     status: SUCCESS
             Errors TBD

   Synopsis:
   tmlInit() enables establishment of communication channels on the
   entity that this API is invoked.  Optionally specifies attributes if
   any, for initialization. This call does not however result in the
   setup of any channels.

   ForCES Usage Model:
   In the case of ForCES which follows a client-server model, this API
   would be invoked on the CE, which functions as the server. It is
   invoked once for every class of TML channels on a per channel type
   basis (control channel versus data channel).  For example, say for
   control messaging, the CE communicates with five FEs using TCP TML
   and with another two FEs, using UDP TML.  tmlInit() will need to be
   invoked twice, once for the TCP TML attributes and once for the UDP
   TML attributes for the control channel setup with all of the FEs.
   The same holds true for the data channel setup in the above case.


A.2. TML Channel Open

   status tmlOpen(
     in  elementId,
     in  channelMode,
     in  ctrlChannelAttributes,
     in  dataChannelAttributes,
     in  eventHandlerCallBack)

   Input Parameters:
     elementId: Specific CE for which channel needs to be setup
     channelMode: unicast versus multicast
     ctrlChannelAttributes: control channel establishment parameters
     dataChannelAttributes: data channel establishment parameters
     eventHandlerCallback: Callback function to be invoked on event
   generation

   Output Parameters:
     none





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   Returns:
     status: SUCCESS
             Errors TBD

   Synopsis:
   tmlOpen() results in one or more communication channels for control
   and data messaging being established with the specified elementId.
   It is up to the TML layer implementation whether to setup a single
   channel for both control and data messaging or distinct channels for
   each. The channel may be specified as unicast or multicast via
   channelMode.  This call may either trigger the establishment of the
   channel(s), or if the channel(s) are already established, it only
   results in a registration for the channel(s).  In either case, if
   successful, status is returned to indicate successful
   creation/registration of the control and data channels.  No
   descriptors are returned to the PL layer since the TML layer
   maintains the mapping between the PL provided elementId and the
   descriptors it allocates. If this call triggers the establishment of
   the control and data channels, the channels are established using
   the ctrlChannelAttributes and dataChannelAttributes parameters
   respectively, specified to the call.  Once the channel(s) are setup
   (or if already setup prior to this call), the caller of this API is
   also capable of receiving TML events via the specified event
   handling callback function. If this call is invoked multiple times
   on a channel that has already been opened and registered, a return
   status of ALREADY_REGISTERED is returned, with no change to
   registration.

   ForCES Usage Model:
   In the case of ForCES which follows a client-server model, this API
   would be invoked on the FE by FE PL, which functions as the client.
   On each FE, it is invoked once for both control and data channels
   that the FE wishes to setup with the CE.

   Notes:
   In the case of TCP TML for the control channel, since there is no
   inherent support for multicast, regardless of the channelMode
   specified, the specified channel would be setup as a unicast
   channel; however, the unicast channel would be able to support
   pseudo multicast.  Hence, TCP TML has no need to set up distinct
   channels for unicast and multicast communication; they are both
   mapped to the same TCP connection.

   In the case of DCCP TML for the data channel, multicast mode is not
   being supported.  Hence, channelMode would be ignored.


A.3. TML Channel Close




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   status tmlClose(
     in  elementId,
     in  mode)

   Input Parameters:
     elementId: address of element with which communication channel is
   to be terminated
     mode: mode of operation for the close – forced versus controlled

   Output Parameters:
     none

   Returns:
     status: SUCCESS
             Errors TBD

   Synopsis:
   Tears down/terminates communication channels connecting to the
   specified elementId.  This API closes both control and data channels
   (regardless of whether they are implemented as a single channel or
   distinct channels in the TML layer); it is not possible to close
   just one of them.   No further CE PL – FE PL messaging is possible
   after this.  If the mode is specified as controlled, current
   messages that are pending in the TML layer shall be sent, but no new
   messages shall be accepted by the TML layer on this channel.  In the
   forced mode, messages pending in the TML layer shall be discarded.
   Since the channel was terminated, a subsequent tmlOpen() will
   trigger establishment of the channel.

   ForCES Usage Model:
   This API may be invoked by either the CE or the FE.  If the FE PL
   invokes it, it specifies a CE ID for the elementId.  If the CE PL
   invokes it, it specifies an FE ID for the elementId.

A.4. TML Channel Write

   status tmlWrite(
     in  elementId,
     in  msgType,
     in  msg,
     in  msgSize,
     in  timeout,
     out bytesWritten)

   Input Parameters:
     elementId: address of element to be written to; may be a unicast,
   multicast or broadcast address




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     msgType: control versus data message
     msg: message to be sent
     msgSize: size of message to be sent
     timeout: specifies blocking or non-blocking write.  Value of -1
   implies blocking write (wait forever), value of 0 implies non-
   blocking write

   Output Parameters:
     bytesWritten: number of bytes actually transmitted

   Returns:
     status: SUCCESS
             Errors TBD

   Synopsis:
   Sends message to the address specified by elementId.  If the
   specified elementId is associated with a multicast group, the
   message will be sent to all members of the group.  Similarly, if the
   elementId specified is a broadcast address, the message is sent to
   all elements associated with the broadcast address.  The msgType
   parameter is used to specify whether the message is a control or
   data type of message.  Based on the message type, the TML will send
   the message over the appropriate channel.  The TML layer uses the
   address specified by elementId and the msgType to map to the
   appropriate channel to be used for sending the message.  The message
   is queued in the appropriate queue for transmission.  Once this call
   returns, the message buffer may be freed.  If TML’s message queues
   are full, the timeout will be used to determine how long to wait
   prior to returning; if the specified timeout expires, and no message
   buffer becomes available, the API returns with an error.

   ForCES Usage Model:
   This API may be invoked by either the FE PL or the CE PL.  If the FE
   PL invokes it, it specifies a CE ID for the elementId.  If the CE PL
   invokes it, it specifies an (unicast/multicast/broadcast) FE ID for
   the elementId.
   In the case of TCP TML since there is a single channel used for
   unicast, multicast and broadcast messaging, the same channel is used
   for sending messages regardless of the address specified.  In other
   cases where there are distinct channels for unicast versus
   multicast, the channel to be written to will differ based on the
   address specified.


A.5. TML Channel Read

   status tmlRead(
     in  elementId,




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     in  msgType,
     in  msgBuf,
     in  timeout,
     out bytesRead)

   Input Parameters:
     elementId: address of element to be read from; may be a unicast,
   multicast or broadcast address
     msgType: control versus data message
     msgBuf: buffer into which message is to be read
     timeout: specifies blocking or non-blocking read.  Value of -1
   implies blocking read (wait forever), value of 0 implies non-
   blocking read

   Output Parameters:
     bytesRead: number of bytes actually read

   Returns:
     status: SUCCESS
             Errors TBD

   Synopsis:
   Reads message from the specified address. The msgType parameter is
   used to specify whether the message to be read is a control or data
   type of message.  The TML layer uses the address specified by
   elementId and the msgType to map to the appropriate channel to be
   used for reading the message.  Once the message is copied into
   msgBuf specified by the call, the TML message buffer may be freed.
   If TML’s message queues are empty (no message is available), the
   timeout will be used to determine how long to wait prior to
   returning; if the specified timeout expires, and no message becomes
   available, the API returns with an error.
   If a non-blocking read is executed, the caller of the API is
   notified via an upcall when a message becomes available.

   ForCES Usage Model:
   This API may be invoked by either the CE or the FE.  If the FE PL
   invokes it, it specifies a CE ID for the elementId.  If the CE PL
   invokes it, it specifies an (unicast/multicast/broadcast) FE ID for
   the elementId.

   In the case of TCP TML since there is a single channel used for
   unicast, multicast and broadcast messaging, the same channel is used
   for reading messages regardless of the address specified.  In other
   cases where there are distinct channels for unicast versus
   multicast, the channel to be read from will differ based on the
   address specified.





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A.6. TML Multicast Group Join

   status tmlMulticastGroupJoin(
     in  groupId,
     in  groupAttributes)

   Input Parameters:
     groupId: address of multicast group to join
     groupAttributes: attributes associated with the multicast group to
   be joined

   Output Parameters:
     none

   Returns:
     status: SUCCESS
             Errors TBD

   Synopsis:
   Joins the multicast group specified by groupId as leaf node in the
   group. Once a member of this group, the entity calling this API will
   be capable of receiving messages addressed to this multicast group.
   The TML layer on each end (CE/FE) maintains the mapping between the
   PL layer multicast address and the descriptors.  The TML layer on
   the element which is the root of the multicast updates the set of
   elements that are members of the group specified by groupId.

   ForCES Usage Model:
   This API would be invoked on both the CE and the FE.  Initially, the
   intent is to only support FE multicast.  In such a case. on the FE
   the API is invoked once the PL layer on the FE receives a request
   from the PL layer on the CE to join a specified multicast group. On
   the CE it is invoked after the FE has successfully joined the
   multicast group.

A.7. TML Multicast Group Leave

   status tmlMulticastGroupLeave(
     in  groupId)

   Input Parameters:
     groupId: address of multicast group to leave

   Output Parameters:
     none

   Returns:




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     status: SUCCESS
             Errors TBD

   Synopsis:
   Leaves the multicast group specified by groupId it had previously
   joined. Once an entity is not a member of the multicast group, it is
   no longer capable of receiving messages addressed to group.   The
   TML layer on each end (CE/FE) updates the mapping between the PL
   layer multicast address and the descriptors.  The TML layer on the
   element which is the root of the multicast updates the set of
   elements that are members of the group specified by groupId.

   ForCES Usage Model:
   This API would be invoked on both the CE and the FE.  Initially, the
   intent is to only support FE multicast.  In such a case, on the FE
   the API is invoked once the PL layer on the FE receives a request
   from the PL layer on the CE to leave a specified multicast group. On
   the CE it is invoked after the FE has successfully left the
   multicast group.


Authors' Addresses

   Hormuzd Khosravi
   Intel
   2111 NE 25th Avenue
   Hillsboro, OR 97124
   Phone: 1-503-264-0334
   Email: hormuzd.m.khosravi@intel.com


   Furquan Ansari
   101 Crawfords Corner Road
   Holmdel, NJ 07733
   USA
   Phone: +1 732-949-5249
   Email: furquan@lucent.com

   Jon Maloy
   Ericsson Research Canada
   8400 Boul Decarie
   Ville Mont-Royal, Quebec H4P 2N2
   Canada
   Phone: 1-514-345-7900
   Email: jon.maloy@ericsson.com

   Shuchi Chawla
   Intel



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   2111 NE 25th Avenue
   Hillsboro, OR 97124
   Phone: 1-503-712-4539
   Email: shuchi.chawla@intel.com


   Copyright Statement

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2006).  This document is subject
   to the rights, licenses and restrictions contained in BCP 78, and
   except as set forth therein, the authors retain all their rights.

   This document and the information contained herein are provided on
   an "AS IS" basis and THE CONTRIBUTOR, THE ORGANIZATION HE/SHE
   REPRESENTS OR IS SPONSORED BY (IF ANY), THE INTERNET SOCIETY AND THE
   INTERNET ENGINEERING TASK FORCE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
   IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF
   THE INFORMATION HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED
   WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
































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