RFC 5889 presents one possible IPv6 addressing model for ad hoc nodes. In this model the ad hoc routers need to configure their network interface(s) with addresses valid in the ad hoc network, and may configure additional prefixes for use by attached nodes.
After completing the work on RFC 5889, the main purpose of the AUTOCONF WG is to standardize how existing IPv6 address configuration tools can be used for address configuration.
1. DHCPv6 operation over MANET, including:
- A DHCPv6-based mechanism for configuring required interface addresses for the routers in the ad hoc network. This mechanism is expected to produce addresses with properties outlined in RFC 5889. This mechanism uses the existing DHCPv6 protocol unchanged, and assumes a central node that can allocate addresses on a first-come-first-served basis. Nodes in the ad hoc network will relay messages to the central node in order to help a new node get an address for itself. This mechanism is only suitable for deployments were a central node can be set up. It should be noted that many existing deployments employ Internet gateways that can act as such a central node as well. Future extensions such as central node election may make this mechanism suitable for also for stand-alone ad hoc networks.
- A DHCPv6-based mechanism for delegating a prefix(es) to each router for use by applications running on the routers themselves, or for configuration of attached hosts/networks. This mechanism works in a similar manner to the one above, but allocates prefixes instead of addresses.
Both mechanisms should be independent from operation of any specific MANET routing protocol, although may exploit information maintained by such a routing protocol, if available.
The working group will adapt and/or reuse existing protocols whenever reasonable and possible. No new duplicate address detection mechanisms will be specified.
2. Analysis of Problem Space for distributed address configuration and service discovery. This analysis is necessary in order to understand what type of distributed solution(s) can be standardized. There is already quite a lot of material about possible solutions in the literature.
The working group plans to establish design teams for rapidly advancing towards initial submissions for these two work items. The group shall also work with the 6LOWPAN and ROLL working group to ensure that the results from AUTOCONF working group are useful for the larger community and do not overlap with work already in progress in these other working groups.
Milestones
Date
Milestone
Associated documents
Jun 2012
Submission of the 'Distributed Solution' to the IESG for publication as an Proposed Standard RFC
Jun 2012
Rechartering or Closing WG
Oct 2011
First working group draft of the 'Distributed Solution'
Sep 2011
Submission of the 'Analysis of Problem Space' the IESG for publication as Informational RFC
Sep 2011
Submission of the 'DHCPv6 operation over MANET' to the IESG for publication as BCP
Jan 2011
First working group draft of the 'DHCPv6 operation over MANET'
Jan 2011
First working group draft of the 'Analysis of Problem Space'
Done milestones
Date
Milestone
Associated documents
Done
Submit 'MANET architecture' document to IESG for publication as an informational RFC
Done
Submit an initial 'terminology and problem statement' WG document
Done
Submit an initial 'MANET architecture' WG document