MPLS Generic Associated Channel (G-ACh) Advertisement Protocol
RFC 7212

Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)                          D. Frost
Request for Comments: 7212                                      Blue Sun
Category: Standards Track                                      S. Bryant
ISSN: 2070-1721                                            Cisco Systems
                                                                M. Bocci
                                                          Alcatel-Lucent
                                                               June 2014

     MPLS Generic Associated Channel (G-ACh) Advertisement Protocol

Abstract

   The MPLS Generic Associated Channel (G-ACh) provides an auxiliary
   logical data channel associated with a Label Switched Path (LSP), a
   pseudowire, or a section (link) over which a variety of protocols may
   flow.  These protocols are commonly used to provide Operations,
   Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) mechanisms associated with the
   primary data channel.  This document specifies simple procedures by
   which an endpoint of an LSP, pseudowire, or section may inform the
   other endpoints of its capabilities and configuration parameters, or
   other application-specific information.  This information may then be
   used by the receiver to validate or adjust its local configuration,
   and by the network operator for diagnostic purposes.

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/rfc7212.

Frost, et al.                Standards Track                    [Page 1]
RFC 7212            MPLS G-ACh Advertisement Protocol          June 2014

Copyright Notice

   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
   Provisions Relating to IETF Documents
   (http://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 and restrictions with respect
   to this document.  Code Components extracted from this document must
   include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of
   the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as
   described in the Simplified BSD License.

Frost, et al.                Standards Track                    [Page 2]
RFC 7212            MPLS G-ACh Advertisement Protocol          June 2014

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     1.1.  Motivation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     1.2.  Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     1.3.  Requirements Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
   2.  Overview  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
   3.  Message Format  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
     3.1.  GAP Message Format  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     3.2.  Applications Data Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     3.3.  TLV Object Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
   4.  G-ACh Advertisement Protocol TLVs . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     4.1.  Source Address TLV  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     4.2.  GAP Request TLV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     4.3.  GAP Flush TLV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
     4.4.  GAP Suppress TLV  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
     4.5.  GAP Authentication TLV  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
   5.  Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
     5.1.  Message Transmission  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
     5.2.  Message Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
   6.  Message Authentication  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     6.1.  Authentication Key Identifiers  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     6.2.  Authentication Process  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
     6.3.  MAC Computation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
   7.  Link-Layer Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
   8.  Manageability Considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
   9.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
   10. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20