Generalized Labels for Lambda-Switch-Capable (LSC) Label Switching Routers
RFC 6205

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Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)                     T. Otani, Ed.
Request for Comments: 6205                                          KDDI
Updates: 3471                                                 D. Li, Ed.
Category: Standards Track                                         Huawei
ISSN: 2070-1721                                               March 2011

           Generalized Labels for Lambda-Switch-Capable (LSC)
                        Label Switching Routers

Abstract

   Technology in the optical domain is constantly evolving, and, as a
   consequence, new equipment providing lambda switching capability has
   been developed and is currently being deployed.

   Generalized MPLS (GMPLS) is a family of protocols that can be used to
   operate networks built from a range of technologies including
   wavelength (or lambda) switching.  For this purpose, GMPLS defined a
   wavelength label as only having significance between two neighbors.
   Global wavelength semantics are not considered.

   In order to facilitate interoperability in a network composed of next
   generation lambda-switch-capable equipment, this document defines a
   standard lambda label format that is compliant with the Dense
   Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and Coarse Wavelength
   Division Multiplexing (CWDM) grids defined by the International
   Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector.
   The label format defined in this document can be used in GMPLS
   signaling and routing protocols.

Status of This Memo

   This is an Internet Standards Track document.

   This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force
   (IETF).  It represents the consensus of the IETF community.  It has
   received public review and has been approved for publication by the
   Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG).  Further information on
   Internet Standards is available in Section 2 of RFC 5741.

   Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
   and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
   http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6205.

Otani & Li                   Standards Track                    [Page 1]
RFC 6205             Generalized Labels for LSC LSRs          March 2011

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2011 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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   not be created outside the IETF Standards Process, except to format
   it for publication as an RFC or to translate it into languages other
   than English.

1.  Introduction

   As described in [RFC3945], GMPLS extends MPLS from supporting only
   Packet Switching Capable (PSC) interfaces and switching to also
   supporting four new classes of interfaces and switching:

   o Layer-2 Switch Capable (L2SC)

   o Time-Division Multiplex (TDM) Capable

   o Lambda Switch Capable (LSC)

   o Fiber Switch Capable (FSC)

   A functional description of the extensions to MPLS signaling needed
   to support new classes of interfaces and switching is provided in
   [RFC3471].

   This document presents details that are specific to the use of GMPLS
   with LSC equipment.  Technologies such as Reconfigurable Optical
   Add/Drop Multiplex (ROADM) and Wavelength Cross-Connect (WXC) operate

Otani & Li                   Standards Track                    [Page 2]
RFC 6205             Generalized Labels for LSC LSRs          March 2011

   at the wavelength switching level.  [RFC3471] states that wavelength
   labels "only have significance between two neighbors" (Section
   3.2.1.1); global wavelength semantics are not considered.  In order
   to facilitate interoperability in a network composed of LSC
   equipment, this document defines a standard lambda label format,
   which is compliant with both the Dense Wavelength Division
   Multiplexing (DWDM) grid [G.694.1] and the Coarse Wavelength Division