Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Options for Broadcast and Multicast Control Servers
RFC 4280
Network Working Group K. Chowdhury
Request for Comments: 4280 Starent Networks
Category: Standards Track P. Yegani
Cisco Systems
L. Madour
Ericsson
November 2005
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Options for
Broadcast and Multicast Control Servers
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2005).
Abstract
This document defines new options to discover the Broadcast and
Multicast Service (BCMCS) controller in an IP network. BCMCS is
being developed for Third generation (3G) cellular telephone
networks. Users of the service interact with a controller in the
network via the Mobile Node (MN) to derive information required to
receive Broadcast and Multicast Service. Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol can be used to configure the MN to access a particular
controller. This document defines the related options and option
codes.
Chowdhury, et al. Standards Track [Page 1]
RFC 4280 DHCP Options for BMCS November 2005
Table of Contents
1. Motivation ......................................................2
2. Overview of the 3GPP2 BCMCS Network .............................3
3. Terminology .....................................................4
4. Broadcast and Multicast Service Controller Options ..............4
4.1. Broadcast and Multicast Service Controller Domain
Name List for DHCPv4 .......................................4
4.2. Broadcast and Multicast Service Controller Domain
Name List Option for DHCPv6 ................................5
4.3. Broadcast and Multicast Service Controller IPv4
Address Option for DHCPv4 ..................................6
4.4. Broadcast and Multicast Service Controller IPv6
Address Option for DHCPv6 ..................................6
4.5. Consideration for Client Operation .........................7
4.6. Consideration for Server Operation .........................7
5. Security Considerations .........................................8
6. IANA Considerations .............................................8
7. Acknowledgements ................................................8
8. Normative References ............................................9
1. Motivation
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol [RFC2131] and [RFC3315] can be
used to configure various non-IP address type of parameters. These
parameters are required for normal operation of various services that
are offered over an IP network.
Broadcast and Multicast Service (BCMCS) is one such service that is
being standardized in various mobile wireless standard bodies such as
Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), Open Mobile Alliance
(OMA), and 3GPP. A description of the BCMCS as defined in 3GPP2 can
be found in [BCMCS].
While DHCP already defines many options for device configuration, no
option exists for configuring a mobile device to use BCMCS. This
memo defines extensions for both DHCPv4 and DHCPv6 so that DHCP can
be used to provide necessary configuration information to a mobile
device about the BCMCS controllers.
DHCP is being used in 3GPP2, to assist Mobile Nodes (MNs) with the
discovery of the BCMCS Controller in a mobile operator's IP network.
The BCMCS includes a controller component that is responsible for
managing the service via interaction with the MN and other network
entities. In this document, we will call this a BCMCS controller.
Chowdhury, et al. Standards Track [Page 2]
RFC 4280 DHCP Options for BMCS November 2005
An overview of the 3GPP2 BCMCS architecture is given in the next
section. It provides enough information to understand the basics of
the 3GPP2 BCMCS operation. Readers are encouraged to find a more
detailed description in [BCMCS].
As described in [BCMCS], the MNs are required to know the IPv4 or the
IPv6 address of the BCMCS controller entity so that they can download
all the necessary information about a desired broadcast and/or a
multicast program. In a roaming environment, static configuration of
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