IPv6 over Non-Broadcast Multiple Access (NBMA) networks (RFC2491)

Publishing Venue

Internet Society Requests For Comment (RFCs)

Related People

G. Armitage: AUTHOR [+3][-]

P. Schulter: AUTHOR

M. Jork: AUTHOR

G. Harter: AUTHOR

Abstract

This document describes a general architecture for IPv6 over NBMA networks. It forms the basis for subsidiary companion documents that describe details for various specific NBMA technologies (such as ATM or Frame Relay). The IPv6 over NBMA architecture allows conventional host-side operation of the IPv6 Neighbor Discovery protocol, while also supporting the establishment of 'shortcut' NBMA forwarding paths when dynamically signaled NBMA links are available. Operations over administratively configured Point to Point NBMA links are also described.

Network Working Group G. Armitage

Request for Comments: 2491 Lucent Technologies

Category: Standards Track P. Schulter

Bright Tiger Technologies

M. Jork

Digital Equipment GmbH

G. Harter

Compaq

January 1999

IPv6 over Non-Broadcast Multiple Access (NBMA) networks

Status of this Memo

This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the

Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for

improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet

Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state

and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1999). All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

This document describes a general architecture for IPv6 over NBMA

networks. It forms the basis for subsidiary companion documents that

describe details for various specific NBMA technologies (such as ATM

or Frame Relay). The IPv6 over NBMA architecture allows conventional

host-side operation of the IPv6 Neighbor Discovery protocol, while

also supporting the establishment of 'shortcut' NBMA forwarding paths

when dynamically signaled NBMA links are available. Operations over

administratively configured Point to Point NBMA links are also

described.

Dynamic NBMA shortcuts are achieved through the use of IPv6 Neighbor

Discovery protocol operation within Logical Links, and inter-router

NHRP for the discovery of off-Link NBMA destinations. Both flow-

triggered and explicitly source-triggered shortcuts are supported.

1. Introduction.

Non Broadcast Multiple Access (NBMA) networks may be utilized in a

variety of ways. At one extreme, they can be used to simply provide

administratively configurable point to point service, sufficient to

interconnect IPv6 routers (and even IPv6 hosts, in certain

situations). At the other extreme, NBMA networks that support dynamic

establishment and teardown of Virtual Circuits (or functional

equivalents) may be used to emulate the service provided to the IPv6

layer by conventional broadcast media such as Ethernet. Typically

this emulation requires complex convergence protocols, particularly

to support IPv6 multicas...