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An Architecture for Use of PCE and the PCE Communication Protocol (PCEP) in a Network with Central Control
RFC 8283

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Document history

Date By Action
2018-12-20
(System)
Received changes through RFC Editor sync (changed abstract to 'The Path Computation Element (PCE) is a core component of Software- Defined Networking (SDN) systems. It …
Received changes through RFC Editor sync (changed abstract to 'The Path Computation Element (PCE) is a core component of Software- Defined Networking (SDN) systems. It can compute optimal paths for traffic across a network and can also update the paths to reflect changes in the network or traffic demands.

PCE was developed to derive paths for MPLS Label Switched Paths (LSPs), which are supplied to the head end of the LSP using the Path Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP).

SDN has a broader applicability than signaled MPLS traffic-engineered (TE) networks, and the PCE may be used to determine paths in a range of use cases including static LSPs, segment routing, Service Function Chaining (SFC), and most forms of a routed or switched network. It is, therefore, reasonable to consider PCEP as a control protocol for use in these environments to allow the PCE to be fully enabled as a central controller.

This document briefly introduces the architecture for PCE as a central controller, examines the motivations and applicability for PCEP as a control protocol in this environment, and introduces the implications for the protocol. A PCE-based central controller can simplify the processing of a distributed control plane by blending it with elements of SDN and without necessarily completely replacing it.

This document does not describe use cases in detail and does not define protocol extensions: that work is left for other documents.')
2017-12-21
(System)
Received changes through RFC Editor sync (created alias RFC 8283, changed title to 'An Architecture for Use of PCE and the PCE Communication Protocol …
Received changes through RFC Editor sync (created alias RFC 8283, changed title to 'An Architecture for Use of PCE and the PCE Communication Protocol (PCEP) in a Network with Central Control', changed abstract to 'The Path Computation Element (PCE) is a core component of Software- Defined Networking (SDN) systems. It can compute optimal paths for traffic across a network and can also update the paths to reflect changes in the network or traffic demands.', changed standardization level to Informational, changed state to RFC, added RFC published event at 2017-12-21, changed IESG state to RFC Published)
2017-12-21
(System) RFC published