RFC 8469

Recommendation to Use the Ethernet Control Word, November 2018

File formats:
icon for text file icon for PDF icon for HTML
Status:
PROPOSED STANDARD
Updates:
RFC 4448
Authors:
S. Bryant
A. Malis
I. Bagdonas
Stream:
IETF
Source:
pals (rtg)

Cite this RFC: TXT  |  XML  |   BibTeX

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.17487/RFC8469

Discuss this RFC: Send questions or comments to the mailing list pals@ietf.org

Other actions: View Errata  |  Submit Errata  |  Find IPR Disclosures from the IETF  |  View History of RFC 8469


Abstract

The pseudowire (PW) encapsulation of Ethernet, as defined in RFC 4448, specifies that the use of the control word (CW) is optional. In the absence of the CW, an Ethernet PW packet can be misidentified as an IP packet by a label switching router (LSR). This may lead to the selection of the wrong equal-cost multipath (ECMP) path for the packet, leading in turn to the misordering of packets. This problem has become more serious due to the deployment of equipment with Ethernet Media Access Control (MAC) addresses that start with 0x4 or 0x6. The use of the Ethernet PW CW addresses this problem. This document RECOMMENDS the use of the Ethernet PW CW in all but exceptional circumstances.

This document updates RFC 4448.


For the definition of Status, see RFC 2026.

For the definition of Stream, see RFC 8729.




Advanced Search