RFC 9351: Border Gateway Protocol - Link State (BGP-LS) Extensions for Flexible Algorithm Advertisement
- K. Talaulikar, Ed.,
- P. Psenak,
- S. Zandi,
- G. Dawra
Abstract
Flexible Algorithm is a solution that allows some routing protocols (e.g., OSPF and IS-IS) to compute paths over a network based on user-defined (and hence, flexible) constraints and metrics. The computation is performed by routers participating in the specific network in a distributed manner using a Flexible Algorithm Definition (FAD). This definition is provisioned on one or more routers and propagated through the network by OSPF and IS-IS flooding.¶
Border Gateway Protocol - Link State (BGP-LS) enables the collection of various topology information from the network. This document defines extensions to the BGP-LS address family to advertise the FAD as a part of the topology information from the network.¶
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 7841.¶
Information about the current status of this document, any
errata, and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
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Copyright Notice
Copyright (c) 2023 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
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1. Introduction
The classical IGP (e.g., OSPF and IS-IS) computation of best paths
over the network is based on the IGP metric assigned to the links in the
network. Many network deployments use solutions based on RSVP-TE [RFC3209] or Segment Routing (SR) Policy [RFC8402] to enforce traffic over a path that is
computed using different metrics or constraints than the shortest IGP
path. [RFC9350] defines the Flexible
Algorithm solution that allows IGPs themselves to compute constraint
Flexible Algorithm is called so because it allows a user the flexibility to define:¶
The operations of the IGP Flexible Algorithm solution are described in detail in [RFC9350].¶
The BGP-LS extensions for SR are defined in [RFC9085]
and [IDR
This document defines extensions to BGP-LS for the advertisement of
the Flexible Algorithm Definition (FAD) information to enable learning
of the mapping of the Flexible Algorithm number to its definition in
each area/domain of the underlying IGP. This definition indicates the
type of computation used and the constraints for a given Flexible
Algorithm. This information can then be used for setting up SR Policy
paths end to end across domains by using the appropriate Flexible
1.1. Requirements Language
The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "NOT RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in BCP 14 [RFC2119] [RFC8174] when, and only when, they appear in all capitals, as shown here.¶
2. Overview of BGP-LS Extensions for Flexible Algorithm
BGP-LS [RFC7752] specifies the Node Network Layer Reachability Information (NLRI) for the advertisement of nodes, along with their attributes using the BGP-LS Attribute; the Link NLRI for the advertisement of links, along with their attributes using the BGP-LS Attribute; and the Prefix NLRI for the advertisement of prefixes, along with their attributes using the BGP-LS Attribute.¶
The FADs advertised by a node are considered as a node-level attribute and advertised as specified in Section 3.¶
Various link attributes, like affinities and Shared Risk Link Group
(SRLG), that are used during the Flexible Algorithm route calculations in
IS-IS and OSPF are advertised in those protocols using the Application
The Flexible Algorithm Prefix Metric (FAPM) is considered as a prefix attribute and advertised as specified in Section 4.¶
3. Flexible Algorithm Definition TLV
This document defines a new optional BGP-LS Attribute TLV associated with the Node NLRI called the "Flexible Algorithm Definition TLV" ("FAD TLV" for short), and its format is as follows:¶
- where:
-
- Type:
- 1039¶
- Length:
- The total length of the value field (including any sub-TLVs) in octets. The length value MUST be 4 or larger.¶
- Flexible Algorithm (Flex Algo):
- Single octet value carrying the Flexible Algorithm number between 128 and 255 inclusive, as defined in [RFC9350].¶
- Metric-Type:
- Single octet value carrying the metric type, as defined in [RFC9350].¶
- Calc-Type:
- Single octet value carrying the calculation type, as defined in [RFC9350].¶
- Priority:
- Single octet value carrying the priority of the FAD advertisement, as defined in [RFC9350].¶
- sub-TLVs:
- Zero or more sub-TLVs may be included, as described further in this section.¶
The FAD TLV that is advertised in the BGP-LS Attribute along with the
Node NLRI of a node is derived from the following IGP protocol
The BGP-LS Attribute associated with a Node NLRI may include one or more FAD TLVs corresponding to the FAD for each algorithm that the particular node is advertising.¶
The following subsections define sub-TLVs of the FAD TLV.¶
3.1. Flexible Algorithm Exclude-Any Affinity Sub-TLV
The Flexible Algorithm Exclude-Any Affinity sub-TLV is an optional sub-TLV that is used to carry the affinity constraints associated with the FAD and enable the exclusion of links carrying any of the specified affinities from the computation of the specific algorithm, as described in [RFC9350]. The affinity is expressed in terms of the Extended Admin Group (EAG), as defined in [RFC7308].¶
The sub-TLV has the following format:¶
- where:
The information in the Flexible Algorithm Exclude-Any Affinity
sub-TLV is derived from the IS-IS and OSPF protocol
3.2. Flexible Algorithm Include-Any Affinity Sub-TLV
The Flexible Algorithm Include-Any Affinity sub-TLV is an optional sub-TLV that is used to carry the affinity constraints associated with the FAD and enable the inclusion of links carrying any of the specified affinities in the computation of the specific algorithm, as described in [RFC9350]. The affinity is expressed in terms of the EAG, as defined in [RFC7308].¶
The sub-TLV has the following format:¶
- where:
The information in the Flexible Algorithm Include-Any Affinity
sub-TLV is derived from the IS-IS and OSPF protocol
3.3. Flexible Algorithm Include-All Affinity Sub-TLV
The Flexible Algorithm Include-All Affinity sub-TLV is an optional sub-TLV that is used to carry the affinity constraints associated with the FAD and enable the inclusion of links carrying all of the specified affinities in the computation of the specific algorithm, as described in [RFC9350]. The affinity is expressed in terms of the EAG, as defined in [RFC7308].¶
The sub-TLV has the following format:¶
- where:
The information in the Flexible Algorithm Include-All Affinity
sub-TLV is derived from the IS-IS and OSPF protocol
3.4. Flexible Algorithm Definition Flags Sub-TLV
The Flexible Algorithm Definition Flags sub-TLV is an optional sub-TLV that is used to carry the flags associated with the FAD that are used in the computation of the specific algorithm, as described in [RFC9350].¶
The sub-TLV has the following format:¶
- where:
The information in the Flexible Algorithm Definition Flags sub-TLV
is derived from the IS-IS and OSPF protocol
3.5. Flexible Algorithm Exclude SRLG Sub-TLV
The Flexible Algorithm Exclude SRLG sub-TLV is an optional sub-TLV that is used to carry the Shared Risk Link Group (SRLG) information associated with the FAD and enable the exclusion of links that are associated with any of the specified SRLG in the computation of the specific algorithm, as described in [RFC9350]. The SRLGs associated with a link are carried in the BGP-LS Shared Risk Link Group (TLV 1096) [RFC7752].¶
The sub-TLV has the following format:¶
- where:
The information in the Flexible Algorithm Exclude SRLG sub-TLV is
derived from the IS-IS and OSPF protocol
3.6. Flexible Algorithm Unsupported Sub-TLV
The OSPF and IS-IS signaling for FAD allows for extensions via new sub-TLVs under the respective IGP's Flexible Algorithm Definition TLV. As specified in Section 5.3 of [RFC9350], it is important that the entire FAD be understood by anyone using it for computation purposes. Therefore, the FAD is different from most other protocol extensions, where the skipping or ignoring of unsupported sub-TLV information does not affect the base behavior.¶
The Flexible Algorithm Unsupported sub-TLV is an optional sub-TLV that is used to indicate the presence of unsupported FAD sub-TLVs. The need for this sub-TLV arises when the BGP-LS implementation on the advertising node does not support one or more of the FAD sub-TLVs present in the IGP advertisement.¶
The sub-TLV has the following format:¶
- where:
-
- Type:
- 1046¶
- Length:
- The total length of the value field in octets (including any included sub-TLV types).¶
- Protocol-ID:
- Indicates the BGP-LS Protocol-ID of the protocol
from which the FAD is being advertised via BGP-LS. The values are
from the IANA "BGP-LS Protocol-IDs" subregistry
under the "Border Gateway Protocol - Link State (BGP-LS) Parameters"
registry <https://
www >.¶.iana .org /assignments /bgp -ls -parameters / - sub-TLV types:
- Zero or more sub-TLV types that are not supported by the node originating the BGP-LS advertisement. The size of each sub-TLV type depends on the protocol indicated by the Protocol-ID field. For example, for IS-IS, each sub-TLV type would be 1 octet in size, while for OSPF, each sub-TLV type would be 2 octets in size.¶
The node originating the advertisement MUST include the Flexible
Algorithm Unsupported sub-TLV when it comes across an unsupported
sub-TLV in the corresponding FAD in the IS-IS and OSPF advertisement.
When advertising the Flexible Algorithm Unsupported sub-TLV, the
protocol
The discussion on the use of the FAD information by the consumers of the BGP-LS information is beyond the scope of this document. However, it is RECOMMENDED that the choice of the node used for originating the IGP topology information into BGP-LS be made such that the advertising node supports all the FAD extensions in use in its part of the network. This avoids the scenario where an incomplete FAD gets advertised via BGP-LS.¶
4. Flexible Algorithm Prefix Metric TLV
This document defines a new optional BGP-LS Attribute TLV associated with the Prefix NLRI called the "Flexible Algorithm Prefix Metric TLV ("FAPM TLV" for short), and its format is as follows:¶
- where:
-
- Type:
- 1044¶
- Length:
- 8 octets¶
- Flexible Algorithm (Flex Algo):
- Single octet value carrying the Flexible Algorithm number between 128 and 255 inclusive, as defined in [RFC9350].¶
- Flags:
- Single octet value and only applicable for OSPF, as defined in [RFC9350]. The value MUST be set to 0 for IS-IS.¶
- Reserved:
- 2-octet value that MUST be set to 0 by the originator and MUST be ignored by the receiver.¶
- Metric:
- 4-octet field to carry the metric information.¶
The FAPM TLV that is advertised in the BGP-LS Attribute along with
the Prefix NLRI from a node is derived from the following IGP
protocol
The BGP-LS Attribute associated with a Prefix NLRI may include one or more FAPM TLVs corresponding to the Flexible Algorithm Prefix Metric for each algorithm associated with that particular prefix.¶
5. IANA Considerations
IANA has allocated code points in the "BGP-LS Node
Descriptor, Link Descriptor, Prefix Descriptor, and Attribute TLVs" registry
<https://
6. Manageability Considerations
The new protocol extensions introduced in this document augment the existing IGP topology information that can be distributed via [RFC7752]. Procedures and protocol extensions defined in this document do not affect the BGP protocol operations and management other than what is discussed in the "Manageability Considerations" section of [RFC7752]. Specifically, the malformed NLRIs attribute tests in the "Fault Management" section of [RFC7752] now encompass the new TLVs for the BGP-LS NLRI in this document.¶
The extensions specified in this document do not specify any new configuration or monitoring aspects in BGP or BGP-LS. The specification of BGP models is an ongoing work based on [IDR-BGP-MODEL].¶
7. Security Considerations
Security considerations for acquiring and distributing BGP-LS information are discussed in [RFC7752].¶
The TLVs introduced in this document are used to propagate the IGP Flexible Algorithm extensions defined in [RFC9350]. It is assumed that the IGP instances originating these TLVs will support all the required security (as described in [RFC9350]) for Flexible Algorithm deployment.¶
This document specifies extensions for the advertisement of node and
prefix-related Flexible Algorithm information. Tampering with this
Flexible
8. References
8.1. Normative References
- [RFC2119]
-
Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, DOI 10
.17487 , , <https:///RFC2119 www >..rfc -editor .org /info /rfc2119 - [RFC7308]
-
Osborne, E., "Extended Administrative Groups in MPLS Traffic Engineering (MPLS-TE)", RFC 7308, DOI 10
.17487 , , <https:///RFC7308 www >..rfc -editor .org /info /rfc7308 - [RFC7752]
-
Gredler, H., Ed., Medved, J., Previdi, S., Farrel, A., and S. Ray, "North-Bound Distribution of Link-State and Traffic Engineering (TE) Information Using BGP", RFC 7752, DOI 10
.17487 , , <https:///RFC7752 www >..rfc -editor .org /info /rfc7752 - [RFC8174]
-
Leiba, B., "Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in RFC 2119 Key Words", BCP 14, RFC 8174, DOI 10
.17487 , , <https:///RFC8174 www >..rfc -editor .org /info /rfc8174 - [RFC9350]
-
Psenak, P., Ed., Hegde, S., Filsfils, C., Talaulikar, K., and A. Gulko, "IGP Flexible Algorithm", RFC 9350, DOI 10
.17487 , , <https:///RFC9350 www >..rfc -editor .org /info /rfc9350
8.2. Informative References
- [IDR-BGP-MODEL]
-
Jethanandani, M., Patel, K., Hares, S., and J. Haas, "BGP YANG Model for Service Provider Networks", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft
-ietf , , <https://-idr -bgp -model -15 datatracker >..ietf .org /doc /html /draft -ietf -idr -bgp -model -15 - [IDR
-BGPLS -SRV6 -EXT] -
Dawra, G., Filsfils, C., Talaulikar, K., Ed., Chen, M., Bernier, D., and B. Decraene, "BGP Link State Extensions for SRv6", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft
-ietf , , <https://-idr -bgpls -srv6 -ext -13 datatracker >..ietf .org /doc /html /draft -ietf -idr -bgpls -srv6 -ext -13 - [RFC3209]
-
Awduche, D., Berger, L., Gan, D., Li, T., Srinivasan, V., and G. Swallow, "RSVP-TE: Extensions to RSVP for LSP Tunnels", RFC 3209, DOI 10
.17487 , , <https:///RFC3209 www >..rfc -editor .org /info /rfc3209 - [RFC8402]
-
Filsfils, C., Ed., Previdi, S., Ed., Ginsberg, L., Decraene, B., Litkowski, S., and R. Shakir, "Segment Routing Architecture", RFC 8402, DOI 10
.17487 , , <https:///RFC8402 www >..rfc -editor .org /info /rfc8402 - [RFC8919]
-
Ginsberg, L., Psenak, P., Previdi, S., Henderickx, W., and J. Drake, "IS-IS Application
-Specific Link Attributes" , RFC 8919, DOI 10.17487 , , <https:///RFC8919 www >..rfc -editor .org /info /rfc8919 - [RFC8920]
-
Psenak, P., Ed., Ginsberg, L., Henderickx, W., Tantsura, J., and J. Drake, "OSPF Application
-Specific Link Attributes" , RFC 8920, DOI 10.17487 , , <https:///RFC8920 www >..rfc -editor .org /info /rfc8920 - [RFC9085]
-
Previdi, S., Talaulikar, K., Ed., Filsfils, C., Gredler, H., and M. Chen, "Border Gateway Protocol - Link State (BGP-LS) Extensions for Segment Routing", RFC 9085, DOI 10
.17487 , , <https:///RFC9085 www >..rfc -editor .org /info /rfc9085 - [RFC9256]
-
Filsfils, C., Talaulikar, K., Ed., Voyer, D., Bogdanov, A., and P. Mattes, "Segment Routing Policy Architecture", RFC 9256, DOI 10
.17487 , , <https:///RFC9256 www >..rfc -editor .org /info /rfc9256 - [RFC9294]
-
Talaulikar, K., Ed., Psenak, P., and J. Tantsura, "Application
-Specific Link Attributes Advertisement Using the Border Gateway Protocol - Link State (BGP-LS)" , RFC 9294, DOI 10.17487 , , <https:///RFC9294 www >..rfc -editor .org /info /rfc9294
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Les Ginsberg, Amalesh Maity, Y. F. Siu, Vijay Gurbani, and Donald Eastlake 3rd for their reviews and contributions to this work. The authors would like to thank Jie Dong for his shepherd review. The authors would like to thank Alvaro Retana for his detailed AD review and suggestions for improving this document.¶