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RFC 3791: Survey of IPv4 Addresses in Currently Deployed IETF Routing Area Standards Track and Experimental Documents

  • C. Olvera,  
  • P. Nesser, II
Informational
Network Working Group                                          C. Olvera
Request for Comments: 3791                                   Consulintel
Category: Informational                                    P. Nesser, II
                                              Nesser & Nesser Consulting
                                                               June 2004


             Survey of IPv4 Addresses in Currently Deployed
      IETF Routing Area Standards Track and Experimental Documents

Status of this Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  It does
   not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2004).

Abstract

   This investigation work seeks to document all usage of IPv4 addresses
   in currently deployed IETF Routing Area documented standards.  In
   order to successfully transition from an all IPv4 Internet to an all
   IPv6 Internet, many interim steps will be taken.  One of these steps
   is the evolution of current protocols that have IPv4 dependencies.
   It is hoped that these protocols (and their implementations) will be
   redesigned to be network address independent, but failing that will
   at least dually support IPv4 and IPv6.  To this end, all Standards
   (Full, Draft, and Proposed) as well as Experimental RFCs will be
   surveyed and any dependencies will be documented.

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
   2.  Document Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
   3.  Full Standards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   4.  Draft Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   5.  Proposed Standards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   6.  Experimental RFCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   7.  Summary of Results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
   8.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
   9.  Acknowledgements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
   10. References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
       10.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
       10.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13




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   11. Authors' Addresses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
   12. Full Copyright Statement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15

1.  Introduction

   This work aims to document all usage of IPv4 addresses in currently
   deployed IETF Routing Area documented standards.  Also, throughout
   this document there are discussions on how routing protocols might be
   updated to support IPv6 addresses.

   This material was originally presented within a single document, but
   in an effort to have the information in a manageable form, it has
   subsequently been split into 7 documents conforming to the current
   IETF main areas (Application [2], Internet [3], Operations &
   Management [4], Routing [this document], Security [5], Sub-IP [6] and
   Transport [7]).

   The general overview, methodology used during documentation and scope
   of the investigation for the whole 7 documents can be found in the
   introduction of this set of documents [1].

   It is important to mention that to perform this study the following
   classes of IETF standards are investigated: Full, Draft, and
   Proposed, as well as Experimental.  Informational, BCP and Historic
   RFCs are not addressed.  RFCs that have been obsoleted by either
   newer versions or as they have transitioned through the standards
   process are also not covered.

2.  Document Organization

   The main Sections of this document are described below.

   Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 each describe the raw analysis of Full,
   Draft, Proposed Standards and Experimental RFCs.  Each RFC is
   discussed in its turn starting with  and ending (around) 
   .  The comments for each RFC are "raw" in nature.  That is, each
   RFC is discussed in a vacuum and problems or issues discussed do not
   "look ahead" to see if the problems have already been fixed.

   Section 7 is an analysis of the data presented in Sections 3, 4, 5,
   and 6.  It is here that all of the results are considered as a whole
   and the problems that have been resolved in later RFCs are
   correlated.








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3.  Full Standards

   Full Internet Standards (most commonly simply referred to as
   "Standards") are fully mature protocol specification that are widely
   implemented and used throughout the Internet.

3.1.   (STD 57) RIP Version 2 Protocol Applicability Statement

   RIPv2 is only intended for IPv4 networks.

3.2.   (STD 54) OSPF Version 2

   This RFC defines a protocol for IPv4 routing.  It is highly
   assumptive about address formats being IPv4 in nature.

3.3.   (STD 56) RIP Version 2

   RIPv2 is only intended for IPv4 networks.

4.  Draft Standards

   Draft Standards represent the penultimate standard level in the IETF.
   A protocol can only achieve draft standard when there are multiple,
   independent, interoperable implementations.  Draft Standards are
   usually quite mature and widely used.

4.1.   A Border Gateway Protocol 4 (BGP-4)

   This RFC defines a protocol used for exchange of IPv4 routing
   information and does not support IPv6 as is defined.

4.2.   Application of the Border Gateway Protocol in the
   Internet

   This RFC is a discussion of the use of BGP-4 on the Internet.

4.3.   Capabilities Advertisement with BGP-4

   Although the protocol enhancements have no IPv4 dependencies, the
   base protocol, BGP-4, is IPv4 only.

5.  Proposed Standards

   Proposed Standards are introductory level documents.  There are no
   requirements for even a single implementation.  In many cases
   Proposed are never implemented or advanced in the IETF standards
   process.  They therefore are often just proposed ideas that are
   presented to the Internet community.  Sometimes flaws are exposed or



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   they are one of many competing solutions to problems.  In these later
   cases, no discussion is presented as it would not serve the purpose
   of this discussion.

5.1.   Use of OSI IS-IS for routing in TCP/IP and dual
      environments

   This document specifies a protocol for the exchange of IPv4 routing
   information.

5.2.   Applicability Statement for OSPF

   This document discusses a version of OSPF that is limited to IPv4.

5.3.   Default Route Advertisement In BGP2 and BGP3 Version of
      The Border Gateway Protocol

   BGP2 and BGP3 are both deprecated and therefore are not discussed in
   this document.

5.4.   An Architecture for Inter-Domain Policy Routing

   The architecture described in this document has no IPv4 dependencies.

5.5.   Inter-Domain Policy Routing Protocol Specification:
      Version 1 (IDPR)

   There are no IPv4 dependencies in this protocol.

5.6.   Applicability Statement for the Implementation of
      Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR)

   This document deals exclusively with IPv4 addressing issue.

5.7.   An Architecture for IP Address Allocation with CIDR

   This document deals exclusively with IPv4 addressing issue.

5.8.   Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR): an Address
      Assignment and Aggregation Strategy

   This document deals exclusively with IPv4 addressing issue.

5.9.   Extensions to RIP to Support Demand Circuits

   This protocol is an extension to a protocol for exchanging IPv4
   routing information.




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5.10.   Multicast Extensions to OSPF

   This document defines the use of IPv4 multicast to an IPv4 only
   routing protocol.

5.11.   Extending OSPF to Support Demand Circuits

   There are no IPv4 dependencies in this protocol other than the fact
   that it is a new functionality for a routing protocol that only
   supports IPv4 networks.

5.12.   BGP Communities Attribute

   Although the protocol enhancements have no IPv4 dependencies, the
   base protocol, BGP-4, is IPv4 only.

5.13.   RIPng for IPv6

   This RFC documents a protocol for exchanging IPv6 routing information
   and is not discussed in this document.

5.14.   Triggered Extensions to RIP to Support Demand Circuits

   This RFC defines an enhancement for an IPv4 routing protocol and
   while it has no IPv4 dependencies it is inherently limited to IPv4.

5.15.   Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP)

   This protocol is IPv4 specific, there are numerous references to 32-
   bit IP addresses.

5.16.   The OSPF Opaque LSA Option

   There are no IPv4 dependencies in this protocol other than the fact
   that it is a new functionality for a routing protocol that only
   supports IPv4 networks.

5.17.   BGP Route Flap Damping

   The protocol enhancements have no IPv4 dependencies, even though the
   base protocol, BGP-4, is IPv4 only routing protocol.

5.18.   Use of BGP-4 Multiprotocol Extensions for IPv6 Inter-
       Domain Routing

   This RFC documents IPv6 routing methods and is not discussed in this
   document.




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5.19.   OSPF for IPv6

   This document defines an IPv6 specific protocol and is not discussed
   in this document.

5.20.   Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE)

   This protocol is only defined for IPv4.  The document states in the
   Appendix:

      o  IPv6 as Delivery and/or Payload Protocol

   This specification describes the intersection of GRE currently
   deployed by multiple vendors. IPv6 as delivery and/or payload
   protocol is not included.

5.21.   BGP Route Reflection - An Alternative to Full Mesh IBGP

   Although the protocol enhancements have no IPv4 dependencies, the
   base protocol, BGP-4, is IPv4 only routing protocol.  This
   specification updates but does not obsolete .

5.22.   Multiprotocol Extensions for BGP-4

   In the Abstract:

   Currently BGP-4 is capable of carrying routing information only for
   IPv4.  This document defines extensions to BGP-4 to enable it to
   carry routing information for multiple Network Layer protocols (e.g.,
   IPv6, IPX, etc...).  The extensions are backward compatible - a
   router that supports the extensions can interoperate with a router
   that doesn't support the extensions.

   The document is therefore not examined further in this document.

5.23.   Key and Sequence Number Extensions to GRE

   There are no IPv4 dependencies in this protocol.

5.24.   Router Renumbering for IPv6

   The RFC defines an IPv6 only document and is not concerned in this
   survey.

5.25.   Route Refresh Capability for BGP-4

   Although the protocol enhancements have no IPv4 dependencies, the
   base protocol, BGP-4, is IPv4 only routing protocol.



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5.26.   Autonomous System Confederations for BGP

   Although the protocol enhancements have no IPv4 dependencies, the
   base protocol, BGP-4, is IPv4 only routing protocol.

5.27.   The OSPF Not-So-Stubby Area (NSSA) Option

   This document defines an extension to an IPv4 routing protocol.

5.28.   Carrying Label Information in BGP-4

   There are no IPv4 dependencies in this protocol.

5.29.   Extensions to IPv6 Neighbor Discovery for Inverse
      Discovery Specification

   This is an IPv6 related document and is not discussed in this
   document.

6.  Experimental RFCs

   Experimental RFCs typically define protocols that do not have wide
   scale implementation or usage on the Internet.  They are often
   propriety in nature or used in limited arenas.  They are documented
   to the Internet community in order to allow potential
   interoperability or some other potential useful scenario.  In a few
   cases they are presented as alternatives to the mainstream solution
   to an acknowledged problem.

6.1.   Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol (DVMRP)

   This document defines a protocol for IPv4 multicast routing.

6.2.   An Experiment in DNS Based IP Routing

   This proposal is IPv4 limited:

   This record is designed for easy general purpose extensions in the
   DNS, and its content is a text string.  The RX record will contain
   three fields: A record identifier, A cost indicator, and An IP
   address.










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   The three strings will be separated by a single comma.  An example of
   record would thus be:

   ___________________________________________________________________
   |         domain          |   type |   record |   value           |
   |            -            |        |          |                   |
   |*.27.32.192.in-addr.arpa |   IP   |    TXT   |   RX, 10, 10.0.0.7|
   |_________________________|________|__________|___________________|

   which means that for all hosts whose IP address starts by the three
   octets "192.32.27" the IP host "10.0.0.7" can be used as a gateway,
   and that the preference value is 10.

6.3.   RAP: Internet Route Access Protocol

   This document defines an IPv7 routing protocol and has been abandoned
   by the IETF as a feasible design.  It is not considered in this
   document.

6.4.   OSPF Database Overflow

   There are no IPv4 dependencies in this protocol other than the fact
   that it is a new functionality for a routing protocol that only
   supports IPv4 networks.

6.5.   A BGP/IDRP Route Server alternative to a full mesh
      routing

   This protocol is both IPv4 and IPv6 aware and needs no changes.

6.6.   BGP Route Reflection An alternative to full mesh IBGP

   Although the protocol enhancements have no IPv4 dependencies, the
   base protocol, BGP-4, is IPv4 only routing protocol.  This
   specification has been updated by .

6.7.   Core Based Trees (CBT version 2) Multicast Routing

   The document specifies a protocol that depends on IPv4 multicast.
   There are many packet formats defined that show IPv4 usage.

6.8.   Core Based Trees (CBT) Multicast Routing Architecture

   See previous Section for the IPv4 limitation in this protocol.







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6.9.   Intra-LIS IP multicast among routers over ATM using
      Sparse Mode PIM

   This protocol is designed for IPv4 multicast.

6.10.    Protocol Independent Multicast-Sparse Mode (PIM-SM):
      Protocol Specification

   This protocol is both IPv4 and IPv6 aware and needs no changes.

6.11.   QoS Routing Mechanisms and OSPF Extensions

   There are IPv4 dependencies in this protocol.  It requires the use of
   the IPv4 TOS header field.

7.  Summary of Results

   In the initial survey of RFCs, 23 positives were identified out of a
   total of 46, broken down as follows:

         Standards:                         3 out of  3 or 100.00%
         Draft Standards:                   1 out of  3 or  33.33%
         Proposed Standards:               13 out of 29 or  44.83%
         Experimental RFCs:                 6 out of 11 or  54.54%

   Of those identified many require no action because they document
   outdated and unused protocols, while others are document protocols
   that are actively being updated by the appropriate working groups.
   Additionally there are many instances of standards that should be
   updated but do not cause any operational impact if they are not
   updated.  The remaining instances are documented below.  The authors
   have attempted to organize the results in a format that allows easy
   reference to other protocol designers.  The assignment of statements
   has been based entirely on the authors perceived needs for updates
   and should not be taken as an official statement.

7.1.  Standards

7.1.1.  STD 57 RIP Version 2 Protocol Applicability Statement ()

   This problem has been fixed by , RIPng Protocol Applicability
   Statement.









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7.1.2.  STD 54 OSPF Version 2 ()

   This problem has been fixed by , OSPF for IPv6.

7.1.3.  STD 56 RIP Version 2 ()

   This problem has been fixed by , RIPng for IPv6.

7.2.  Draft Standards

7.2.1.  Border Gateway Protocol 4 ()

   This problem has been fixed in  Multiprotocol Extensions for
   BGP-4,  Use of BGP-4 Multiprotocol Extensions for IPv6
   Inter-Domain Routing, and in [8].

    extends BGP to support multi-protocol extensions that allows
   routing information for other address families to be exchanged.  
    further extends  for full support of exchanging IPv6
   routing information and additionally clarifies support of the
   extended BGP-4 protocol using TCP+IPv6 as a transport mechanism.  
   , 2858 & 2545 must be supported in order to provide full IPv6
   support.

   Note also that all the BGP extensions analyzed previously in this
   memo function without changes with the updated version of BGP-4.

7.3.  Proposed Standards

7.3.1.  Use of OSI IS-IS for routing in TCP/IP and dual environments
        ()

   This problem is being addressed by the IS-IS WG [9].

7.3.2.  Applicability Statement for OSPFv2 ()

   This problem has been resolved in , OSPF for IPv6.

7.3.3.  Applicability of CIDR ()

   The contents of this specification has been treated in various IPv6
   addressing architecture RFCs, see  & 3587.

7.3.4.  CIDR Architecture ()

   The contents of this specification has been treated in various IPv6
   addressing architecture RFCs, see  & 3587.




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7.3.5.  Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR): an Address Assignment
        and Aggregation Strategy ()

   The contents of this specification has been treated in various IPv6
   addressing architecture RFCs, see  & 3587.

7.3.6.  RIP Extensions for Demand Circuits ()

   This problem has been addressed in , RIPng for IPv6.

7.3.7.  OSPF Multicast Extensions ()

   This functionality has been covered in , OSPF for IPv6.

7.3.8.  OSPF For Demand Circuits ()

   This functionality has been covered in , OSPF for IPv6.

7.3.9.  RIP Triggered Extensions for Demand Circuits ()

   This functionality is provided in , RIPng for IPv6.

7.3.10.  Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP)()

   The problems identified are being addressed by the VRRP WG [10].

7.3.11.  OSPF Opaque LSA Option ()

   This problem has been fixed by , OSPF for IPv6.  Opaque
   options support is an inbuilt functionality in OSPFv3.

7.3.12.  Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE)()

   Even though GRE tunneling over IPv6 has been implemented and used,
   its use has not been formally specified.  Clarifications are
   required.

7.3.13.  OSPF NSSA Option ()

   This functionality has been covered in , OSPF for IPv6.

7.4.   Experimental RFCs

7.4.1.  Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol ()

   This protocol is a routing protocol for IPv4 multicast routing.  It
   is no longer in use and need not be redefined.




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7.4.2.  An Experiment in DNS Based IP Routing ()

   This protocol relies on IPv4 DNS RR, but is no longer relevant has
   never seen much use; no action is necessary.

7.4.3.  Core Based Trees (CBT version 2) Multicast Routing ()

   This protocol relies on IPv4 IGMP Multicast and a new protocol
   standard may be produced.  However, the multicast routing protocol
   has never been in much use and is no longer relevant; no action is
   necessary.

7.4.4.  Core Based Trees (CBT) Multicast Routing Architecture ()

   See previous Section for the limitation in this protocol.

7.4.5.  Intra-LIS IP multicast among routers over ATM using Sparse
        Mode PIM ()

   This protocol is designed for IPv4 multicast.  However, Intra-LIS IP
   multicast among routers over ATM is not believed to be relevant
   anymore.  A new mechanism may be defined for IPv6 multicast.

7.4.6.  QoS Routing Mechanisms and OSPF Extensions ()

   QoS extensions for OSPF were never used for OSPFv2, and there seems
   to be little need for them in OSPFv3.

   However, if necessary, an update to this document could simply define
   the use of the IPv6 Traffic Class field since it is defined to be
   exactly the same as the IPv4 TOS field.

8.  Security Considerations

   This document examines the IPv6-readiness of routing specification;
   this does not have security considerations in itself.

9.  Acknowledgements

   The original author, Philip J. Nesser II, would like to acknowledge
   the support of the Internet Society in the research and production of
   this document.

   He also would like to thanks his partner in all ways, Wendy M.
   Nesser.






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   Cesar Olvera would like to thanks Pekka Savola for an extended
   guidance and comments for the edition of this document, and Jordi
   Palet for his support and reviews.

   Additionally, he would further like to thank Andreas Bergstrom, Brian
   Carpenter, Jeff Haas, Vishwas Manral, Gabriela Medina, Venkata Naidu,
   Jeff Parker and Curtis Villamizar for valuable feedback.

10.  References

10.1.  Normative References

   [1]   Nesser, II, P. and A. Bergstrom, Editor, "Introduction to the
         Survey of IPv4 Addresses in Currently Deployed IETF Standards",
         , June 2004.

   [2]   Sofia, R. and P. Nesser, II, "Survey of IPv4 Addresses in
         Currently Deployed IETF Application Area Standards", ,
         June 2004.

   [3]   Mickles, C. and P. Nesser, II, "Internet Area: Survey of IPv4
         Addresses Currently Deployed IETF Standards", , June
         2004.

   [4]   Nesser, II, P. and A. Bergstrom, "Survey of IPv4 addresses in
         Currently Deployed IETF Operations & Management Area
         Standards", , June 2004.

   [5]   Nesser, II, P. and A. Bergstrom. "Survey of IPv4 Addresses in
         Currently Deployed IETF Security Area Standards", ,
         June 2004.

   [6]   Nesser, II, P. and A. Bergstrom. "Survey of IPv4 Addresses in
         Currently Deployed IETF Sub-IP Area Standards", , June
         2004.

   [7]   Nesser, II, P. and A. Bergstrom "Survey of IPv4 Addresses in
         Currently Deployed IETF Transport Area Standards", ,
         June 2004.

10.2. Informative References

   [8]   Chen, E. and J. Yuan, "AS-wide Unique BGP Identifier for BGP-
         4", Work in Progress, December 2003.

   [9]   Hopps, C., "Routing IPv6 with IS-IS", Work in Progress, January
         2003.




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   [10]  Hinden, R., "Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol for IPv6", Work
         in Progress, February 2004.

11.  Authors' Addresses

   Please contact the authors with any questions, comments or
   suggestions at:

   Cesar Olvera Morales
   Researcher
   Consulintel
   San Jose Artesano, 1
   28108 - Alcobendas
   Madrid, Spain

   Phone: +34 91 151 81 99
   Fax:   +34 91 151 81 98
   EMail: cesar.olvera@consulintel.es


   Philip J. Nesser II
   Principal
   Nesser & Nesser Consulting
   13501 100th Ave NE, #5202
   Kirkland, WA 98034

   Phone: +1 425 481 4303
   EMail: phil@nesser.com























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12.  Full Copyright Statement

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2004).  This document is subject
   to the rights, licenses and restrictions contained in BCP 78, and
   except as set forth therein, the authors retain all their rights.

   This document and the information contained herein are provided on an
   "AS IS" basis and THE CONTRIBUTOR, THE ORGANIZATION HE/SHE
   REPRESENTS OR IS SPONSORED BY (IF ANY), THE INTERNET SOCIETY AND THE
   INTERNET ENGINEERING TASK FORCE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
   IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF
   THE INFORMATION HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED
   WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Intellectual Property

   The IETF takes no position regarding the validity or scope of any
   Intellectual Property Rights or other rights that might be claimed
   to pertain to the implementation or use of the technology
   described in this document or the extent to which any license
   under such rights might or might not be available; nor does it
   represent that it has made any independent effort to identify any
   such rights.  Information on the procedures with respect to
   rights in RFC documents can be found in BCP 78 and BCP 79.

   Copies of IPR disclosures made to the IETF Secretariat and any
   assurances of licenses to be made available, or the result of an
   attempt made to obtain a general license or permission for the use
   of such proprietary rights by implementers or users of this
   specification can be obtained from the IETF on-line IPR repository
   at http://www.ietf.org/ipr.

   The IETF invites any interested party to bring to its attention
   any copyrights, patents or patent applications, or other
   proprietary rights that may cover technology that may be required
   to implement this standard.  Please address the information to the
   IETF at ietf-ipr@ietf.org.

Acknowledgement

   Funding for the RFC Editor function is currently provided by the
   Internet Society.









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RFC 3791: Survey of IPv4 Addresses in Currently Deployed IETF Routing Area Standards Track and Experimental Documents

Informational