Internet DRAFT - draft-bocci-bryant-pwe3-ms-pw-arch

draft-bocci-bryant-pwe3-ms-pw-arch



Network Working Group                                           M Bocci 
Internet Draft                                                  Alcatel 
                                                                        
                                                               S.Bryant 
                                                          Cisco Systems 
 
Expires: April 2006                                    October 14, 2005 
                                    
 
   An Architecture for Multi-Segment Pseudo Wire Emulation Edge-to-Edge  


                 draft-bocci-bryant-pwe3-ms-pw-arch-01.txt 


 

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Copyright Notice 

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2005).  All Rights Reserved. 

Abstract 

   This document describes an architecture for extending pseudo wire 
   emulation across multiple packet switched network segments. Scenarios 
   are discussed where each segment of a given edge-to-edge emulated 
   service spans a different provider's PSN, and where the emulated 
   service originates and terminates on the same providers PSN, but may 
   pass through several PSN tunnel segments in that PSN. It presents an 
   architectural framework for such multi-segment pseudo wires, defines 
   terminology, and specifies the various protocol elements and their 
   functions.  

Conventions used in this document 

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", 
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this 
   document are to be interpreted as described in RFC-2119 [1]. 

Table of Contents 

    
   1. Introduction...................................................3 
      1.1. Motivation................................................3 
      1.2. Non-Goals of this Document................................6 
      1.3. Terminology...............................................6 
   2. Applicability..................................................7 
   3. Protocol Layering model........................................7 
      3.1. Domain of Multi-Segment PWE3..............................8 
      3.2. Payload Types.............................................8 
   4. Multi-Segment PWE3 Reference Model.............................8 
      4.1. Intra-Provider Architecture..............................10 
         4.1.1. Intra-Provider Switching Using ACs..................10 
         4.1.2. Intra-Provider Switching Using PWs..................10 
      4.2. Inter-Provider Architecture..............................10 
         4.2.1. Inter-Provider Switching Using ACs..................11 
         4.2.2. Inter-Provider Switching Using PWs..................11 
   5. PE Reference Model............................................12 
      5.1. PWE3 Pre-processing......................................12 
         5.1.1. Forwarding..........................................12 
         5.1.2. Native Service Processing...........................12 
   6. Protocol Stack reference Model................................12 
   7. Maintenance Reference Model...................................13 
   8. PW Demultiplexer Layer and PSN Requirements...................14 
 
 
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      8.1. Multiplexing.............................................14 
      8.2. Fragmentation............................................15 
   9. Control Plane.................................................15 
      9.1. Setup or Teardown of Pseudo Wires........................15 
      9.2. Pseudo-Wire Up/Down Notification.........................15 
      9.3. Misconnection and Payload Type Mismatch..................16 
   10. Management and Monitoring....................................16 
   11. IANA Considerations..........................................16 
   12. Security Considerations......................................16 
   13. Acknowledgments..............................................17 
   14. References...................................................18 
      14.1. Normative References....................................18 
   Author's Addresses...............................................18 
   Intellectual Property Statement..................................18 
   Disclaimer of Validity...........................................19 
   Copyright Statement..............................................19 
   Acknowledgment...................................................19 
    
1. Introduction 

   RFC 3985 [2] defines the architecture for pseudo wires, where a 
   pseudo wire (PW) both originates and terminates on the edge of the 
   same packet switched network (PSN). The PW passes through a maximum 
   of one PSN tunnel between the originating and terminating PEs. 

   This document extends the architecture in RFC 3985 to enable pseudo 
   wires to be extended through multiple PSN tunnels. Use cases for 
   multi-segment pseudo wires, and the consequent requirements, are 
   defined in [3].  

1.1. Motivation 

   PWE3 aims to provide point-to-point connectivity between two edges of 
   a provider network. Requirements for Multi-Segment Pseudo-Wires for 
   this are specified in [3]. These requirements address three main 
   problems: 

   o  How to scale PWE3 when the number of PEs grows to many hundreds or 
      thousands, while minimizing the complexity of the PEs and P 
      routers. 

   o  How to provide PWE3 across multiple PSN routing domains or areas 
      in the same provider. 

   o  How to provide PWE3 across multiple provider domains, and 
      different PSN types. 

 
 
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  Consider a single PWE3 domain, such as that shown in Figure 1. There 
  are 4 PEs, and PWE3 must be provided from any PE to any other PE.  
  Traditionally, this would be achieved by establishing a full mesh of 
  PSN tunnels between the PEs. This would also require a full mesh of 
  LDP signaling adjacencies between the PEs. Pseudo wires could then be 
  established between any PE and any other PE via a single, direct 
  tunnel. PEs must terminate all pseudo wires that are carried on PSN 
  tunnels that terminate on that PE according to the architecture of 
  RFC 3985. This solution is adequate for small numbers of PEs, but the 
  number of PEs and signaling adjacencies will grow in proportion to 
  the square of the number of PEs.  

  A more efficient solution for large numbers of PEs would be to 
  support a partial mesh of PSN tunnels between the PEs, as shown in 
  Figure 1. For example, consider a PWE3 service whose endpoints are 
  PE1 and PE4. Pseudo wires for this can take the path PE1->PE2->PE3, 
  and rather than terminating at PE2, be switched between ingress and 
  egress PSN tunnels on that PE. This requires a capability in PE2 that 
  can concatenate PW segments PE1-PE2 to PW segments PE2-PE3. The end-
  to-end PW is known as a multi-segment PW. 

                                ,,..--..,,_ 
                            .-``           `'., 
                    +-----+`                   '+-----+ 
                    | PE1 |---------------------| PE2 | 
                    |     |---------------------|     | 
                    +-----+      PSN Tunnel     +-----+ 
                    / ||                          || \ 
                   /  ||                          ||  \ 
                  |   ||                          ||   | 
                  |   ||         PSN              ||   | 
                  |   ||                          ||   | 
                   \  ||                          ||  / 
                    \ ||                          || / 
                     \||                          ||/ 
                    +-----+                     +-----+ 
                    | PE3 |---------------------| PE4 | 
                    |     |---------------------|     | 
                    +-----+`'.,_           ,.'` +-----+ 
                                `'''---''`` 
                     Figure 1 Single PSN PWE3 Scaling 

  Figure 1 shows a simple flat PSN topology. However, large provider 
  networks are typically not flat, consisting of many domains that are 
  connected together to provide edge-to-edge services. The elements in 
  each domain are specialized for a particular role.  

 
 
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  An example application is shown in Figure 2. Here, the providers 
  network is divided into three domains: Two access domains and the 
  core domain. The access domains represent the edge of the provider's 
  network at which services are delivered. In the access domain, 
  simplicity is required in order to minimize the cost of the network. 
  The core domain must support all of the aggregated services from the 
  access domains, and the design requirements here are for scalability, 
  performance, and information hiding (i.e. minimal state). The core 
  must not be exposed to the state associated with large numbers of 
  individual edge-to-edge flows. That is, the core must be simple and 
  fast.  

  In a traditional layer 2 network, the interconnection points between 
  the domains are where services in the access domains are aggregated 
  for transport across the core to other access domains. In an IP 
  network, the interconnection points would also represent interworking 
  points between different types of IP networks e.g. those with MPLS 
  and those without, and also points where network policies can be 
  applied. 

         <-------- Edge to Edge Emulated Services -------> 
    
             ,'    .      ,-`       `',       ,'    . 
            /       \   .`             `,    /       \ 
           /        \  /                 ,  /        \ 
    AC  +----+     +----+               +----+       +----+    AC 
     ---| PE |-----| PE |---------------| PE |-------| PE |--- 
        |  1 |     |  2 |               | 3  |       | 4  | 
        +----+     +----+               +----+       +----+ 
           \        /  \                 /  \        / 
            \       /  \      Core       `   \       / 
             `,    `     .             ,`     `,    ` 
               '-'`       `.,       _.`         '-'` 
            Access 1         `''-''`         Access 2 
    
                    Figure 2 Multi-Domain Network Model 

  This model can also be applied to inter-provider services, where they 
  also rely on a number of separate provider networks to be connected 
  together. 

   Consider the application of this model to PWE3. PWE3 uses tunneling 
   mechanisms such as MPLS to enable the underlying IP PSN to emulate 
   characteristics of the native service. One solution to the multi-
   domain network model above is to extend PSN tunnels edge-to-edge 
   between all of the PEs in access domain 1 and all of the PEs in 
   access domain 2, but this runs into the scaling issues described 
 
 
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   above, and also exposes access and the core of the network to 
   undesirable complexity. An alternative is to constrain the complexity 
   to the network domain interconnection points (PE2 and PE3 in the 
   example above). Pseudo-wires between PE1 and PE4 would then be 
   switched between PSN tunnels at the interconnection points, enabling 
   PWs from many PEs in the access domains to be aggregated across only 
   a few PSN tunnels in the core of the network. PEs in the access 
   domains would only need to maintain direct signaling sessions, and 
   PSN tunnels, with other PEs in their own domain, thus minimizing 
   complexity of the access domains. 

1.2. Non-Goals of this Document 

   The following are non-goals for this document: 

   o  The on-the-wire specification of PW encapsulations 

   o  Requirements on multi-segment pseudo-wires. 

   o  The detailed specification of mechanisms for establishing and 
      maintaining multi-segment pseudo-wires. 

1.3. Terminology 

   The terminology specified in RFC 3985 applies. In addition, we define 
   the following terms: 

   o  PW Terminating Provider Edge (T-PE).  A PE where the customer-
      facing attachment circuits (ACs) are bound to a PW forwarder. A 
      Terminating PE is present in the first and last segments of a MS-
      PW. This incorporates the functionality of a PE as defined in RFC 
      3985. 

   o  Single-Segment Pseudo Wire (SS-PW). A PW setup directly between 
      two T-PE devices. Each PW in one direction of a SS-PW traverses 
      one PSN tunnel that connects the two T-PEs. 

   o  Multi-Segment Pseudo Wire (MS-PW).  A static or dynamically 
      configured set of two or more contiguous PW segments that behave 
      and function as a single point-to-point PW. Each end of a MS-PW by 
      definition MUST terminate on a T-PE. 

   o  PW Segment. A part of a single-segment or multi-segment PW, which 
      is set up between two PE devices, T-PEs and/or S-PEs. 



 
 
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   o  PW Switching Provider Edge (S-PE).  A PE capable of switching the 
      control and data planes of the preceding and succeeding PW 
      segments in a MS-PW. The S-PE terminates the PSN tunnels of the 
      preceding and succeeding segments of the MS-PW.It is therefore a 
      PW switching point for a MS-PW. A PW Switching Point is never the 
      S-PE and the T-PE for the same MS-PW. A PW switching point runs 
      necessary protocols to setup and manage PW segments with other PW 
      switching points and terminating PEs. 

2. Applicability 

   A MS-PW is a single PW that for technical or administrative reasons    
   is segmented into a number of concatenated hops. From the   
   perspective of a T-PE, a MS-PW is indistinguishable from a SS-PW.    
   Thus, the following are equivalent from the perspective of the T-PE 

       +----+                                                  +----+ 
       |TPE1+--------------------------------------------------+TPE2| 
       +----+                                                  +----+ 
    
       |<---------------------------PW----------------------------->| 
    
       +----+              +---+           +---+               +----+ 
       |TPE1+--------------+SPE+-----------+SPE+---------------+TPE2| 
       +----+              +---+           +---+               +----+ 
    

                      Figure 3     MS-PW Equivalence 

   Although a MS-PW may require services such as node discovery and path 
   signaling to construct the PW, it should not be confused with a L2VPN 
   system, which also requires these services. A VPWS connects its 
   endpoints via a set of PWs. MS-PW is a mechanism that abstracts the 
   construction of complex PWs from the construction of a L2VPN. Thus a 
   T-PE might be an edge device optimized for simplicity and an S-PE 
   might be an aggregation device designed to absorb the complexity of 
   continuing the PW across the core of one or more service provider 
   networks to another T-PE located at the edge of the network. 

3. Protocol Layering model 

   The protocol-layering model specified in RFC 3985 applies to multi-
   segment PWE3 with the following clarification: the pseudo-wires may 
   be considered to be a separate layer to the PSN tunnel. That is, they 
   are independent of the PSN tunnel routing, operations, signaling and 
   maintenance. The design of PW routing domains should not imply that 
   the underlying PSN routing domains are the same. However, MS-PW will 
 
 
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   reuse the protocols of the PSN and may use information that is 
   extracted from the PSN e.g. reachability. 

3.1. Domain of Multi-Segment PWE3 

   PWE3 defines the Encapsulation Layer, i.e. the method of carrying 
   various payload types, and the interface to the PW Demultiplexer 
   Layer. It is expected that other layers will provide the following: 

     . PSN tunnel setup, maintenance and routing 

     . T-PE discovery 

   It is assumed that any node that is reachable via a PSN tunnel from 
   an S-PE or T-PE is a PE, a subset of which may be capable of behaving 
   as an S-PE. The selection of which S-PEs to use to reach a T-PE is 
   considered to be in the domain of PWE3.  

3.2. Payload Types 

   Multi-segment PWE3 is applicable to all PWE3 payload types. 
   Encapsulations defined for SS-PWs are also used for MH-PW without 
   change. If different segments run over different PSN types, the 
   encapsulation may change but the PW types must be the same. 
   Translations between segments must not require processing of the 
   underlying payload. 

4. Multi-Segment PWE3 Reference Model 

   The PWE3 reference architecture for the single segment case is shown 
   in [2]. This architecture applies to the case where a PSN tunnel 
   extends between two edges of a single PSN domain to transport a PW 
   with endpoints at these edges. 














 
 
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       Native   |<-----------Pseudo Wire----------->|  Native 
       Service  |                                   |  Service 
        (AC)    |    |<-PSN1-->|     |<-PSN2-->|    |   (AC) 
          |     V    V         V     V         V    V     | 
          |     +----+         +-----+         +----+      
   +----+ |     |TPE1|=========|SPE1 |=========|TPE2|     |    +----+ 
   |    |-------|.....PW.Seg't1.......PW.Seg't3.....|----------|    | 
   | CE1| |     |    |         |     |         |    |     |    |CE2 | 
   |    |-------|.....PW.Seg't2.......PW.Seg't4.....|----------|    | 
   +----+ |     |    |=========|     |=========|    |     |    +----+ 
     ^          +----+         +-----+         +----+          ^ 
     |      Provider Edge 1       ^        Provider Edge 2     | 
     |                            |                            | 
     |                            |                            | 
     |                    PW switching point                   | 
     |                                                         | 
     |<------------------- Emulated Service ------------------>| 
    
                   Figure 4 PW switching Reference Model 

   Figure 4 extends this architecture to show a multi-segment case. The 
   PEs that provide PWE3 to CE1 and CE2 are Terminating-PE1 (T-PE1) and 
   Terminating-PE2 (T-PE2) respectively. A PSN tunnel extends from T-PE1 
   to switching-PE1 (S-PE1) across PSN1, and a second PSN tunnel extends 
   from S-PE1 to S-PE2 across PSN2. PWs are used to connect the 
   attachment circuits (ACs) attached to PE1 to the corresponding ACs 
   attached to PE3. Each PW segment on the tunnel across PSN1 is 
   switched to a PW segment in the tunnel across PSN2 at S-PE1 to 
   complete the multi-segment PW (MS-PW) between T-PE1 and T-PE2. S-PE1 
   is therefore the PW switching point. PW segment 1 and PW segment 3 
   are segments of the same MS-PW while PW segment 2 and PW segment 4 
   are segments of another MS-PW. PW segments of the same MS-PW (e.g., 
   PW1 and PW3) MAY be of the same PW type or different type, and PSN 
   tunnels (e.g., PSN1 and PSN2) can be the same or different 
   technology. This document requires support for MS-PWs with segments 
   of the same type. An S-PE switches an MS-PW from one segment to 
   another based on the PW identifiers (e.g., PW label in case of MPLS 
   PWs). 

   Note that although Figure 4 only shows a single S-PE, a PW may 
   transit more one S-PE along its path. This architecture is applicable 
   when the S-PEs are statically chosen, or when they are chosen using a 
   dynamic path selection mechanism. 


 
 
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4.1. Intra-Provider Architecture 

   There is a requirement to deploy PWs edge to edge in large service 
   provider networks [3]. Such networks typically encompass hundreds or 
   thousands of aggregation devices at the edge, each of which would be 
   a PE. These networks may be partitioned into separate metro and core 
   PWE3 domains, where the PEs are interconnected by a sparse mesh of 
   tunnels.  

   Whether or not the network is partitioned into separate PWE3 domains, 
   there is a also a requirement to support a partial mesh of traffic 
   engineered PSN tunnels. 

   The architecture shown in Figure 4 can be used to support such cases. 
   PSN1 and PSN2 may be in different administrative domains or access, 
   core or metro regions within the same providers network. 
   Alternatively, T-PE1, SPE1 and T-PE2 may reside at the edges of the 
   same PSN. 

4.1.1. Intra-Provider Switching Using ACs 

   In this model, the PW reverts to the native service AC at the PE. 
   This AC is then connected to a separate PW on the same PE. In this 
   case, the reference models of RFC 3985 apply to each segment and to 
   the PEs. The remaining PE architectural considerations in this 
   document do not apply to this case. 

    

4.1.2. Intra-Provider Switching Using PWs 

   In this model, PW segments are switched between PSN tunnels that span 
   portions of a provider's network, without reverting to the native 
   service at the boundary. For example, in Figure 4, PSN 1 and PSN 2 
   would be portions of the same provider's network. 

4.2. Inter-Provider Architecture 

   Intra-provider PWs may need to be switched between PSN tunnels at the 
   provider boundary in order to minimize the number of tunnels required 
   to provide PWE3 services to CEs attached to each providers network. 
   In addition, AAA and security and mechanisms may need to be 
   implemented on a per-PW basis at the provider boundary.  




 
 
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4.2.1. Inter-Provider Switching Using ACs. 

   In this model, the PW reverts to the native service at the provider 
   boundary PE. This AC is then connected to a separate PW at the peer 
   provider boundary PE. In this case, the reference models of RFC 3985 
   apply to each segment and to the PEs. The remaining PE architectural 
   considerations in this document do not apply to this case. 

4.2.2. Inter-Provider Switching Using PWs. 

   In this model, PW segments are switched between PSN tunnels in each 
   provider's network, without reverting to the native service at the 
   boundary. For example, in Figure 4, PSN 1 and PSN 2 would be 
   different provider's networks. However, this would require that S-PE1 
   be a member of both provider networks.  

   An alternative network architecture is shown in Figure 5. Here, S-PE1 
   and S-PE2 are provider border routers. PW segment 1 is switched to PW 
   segment 2 at S-PE1. PW segment 2 is then carried across an inter-
   provider PSN tunnel to S-PE2, where it is switched to PW segment 3 in 
   PSN 2.  

                |<---------- MS-Pseudo Wire ---------->| 
                |       Provider         Provider      | 
           AC   |    |<----1---->|     |<----2--->|    |  AC 
            |   V    V           V     V          V    V  | 
            |   +----+     +-----+     +----+     +----+  | 
   +----+   |   |    |=====|     |=====|    |=====|    |  |    +----+ 
   |    |-------|......PW..........PW.........PW.......|-------|    | 
   | CE1|   |   |    |Seg 1|     |Seg 2|    |Seg 3|    |  |    |CE2 | 
   +----+   |   |    |=====|     |=====|    |=====|    |  |    +----+ 
        ^       +----+     +-----+     +----+     +----+       ^ 
        |       T-PE1       S-PE1       S-PE2     T-PE2        | 
        |                     ^          ^                     | 
        |                     |          |                     | 
        |                  PW switching points                 | 
        |                                                      | 
        |                                                      | 
        |<------------------- Emulated Service --------------->| 

                  Figure 5 Inter-Provider Reference Model 




 
 
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5. PE Reference Model 

5.1. PWE3 Pre-processing 

   PWE3 preprocessing is applied in the T-PEs as specified in RFC 3985. 
   Processing at the S-PEs is specified in the following sections. 

5.1.1. Forwarding 

   Each forwarder in the S-PE forwards packets from one PW segment on 
   the ingress PSN facing interface of the S-PE to one PW segment on the 
   egress PSN facing interface of the S-PE. 

   The forwarder selects the egress segment PW based on the ingress PW 
   label. The mapping of ingress to egress PW label may be statically or 
   dynamically configured. Figure 6 shows how a single forwarder is 
   associated with each PW segment at the S-PE.  

               +------------------------------------------+ 
               |                S-PE Device               | 
               +------------------------------------------+ 
     Ingress   |             |             |              |   Egress 
   PW instance |   Single    |             |    Single    | PW Instance 
   <==========>X PW Instance +  Forwarder  + PW Instance  X<==========> 
               |             |             |              | 
               +------------------------------------------+ 
    
                      Figure 6 Point-to-Point Service 

   Other mappings of PW to forwarder are for further study.                    
    
5.1.2. Native Service Processing 

   There is no native service processing in the S-PEs. 

6. Protocol Stack reference Model 

   Figure 7 illustrates the protocol stack reference model for multi-
   segment PWs. 








 
 
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+----------------+                                  +----------------+     
|Emulated Service|                                  |Emulated Service| 
|(e.g., TDM, ATM)|<======= Emulated Service =======>|(e.g., TDM, ATM)| 
+----------------+                                  +----------------+ 
|    Payload     |                                  |    Payload     | 
|  Encapsulation |<== Multi-segment Pseudo Wire ===>|  Encapsulation | 
+----------------+            +--------+            +----------------+ 
|PW Demultiplexer|<PW Segment>|PW Demux|<PW Segment>|PW Demultiplexer| 
+----------------+            +--------+            +----------------+ 
|   PSN Tunnel,  |<PSN Tunnel>|  PSN   |<PSN Tunnel>|  PSN Tunnel,   | 
| PSN & Physical |            |Physical|            | PSN & Physical | 
|     Layers     |            | Layers |            |    Layers      | 
+-------+--------+            +--------+            +----------------+ 
        |            ..........   |   ..........            |  
        |           /          \  |  /          \           |         
        +==========/    PSN     \===/    PSN     \==========+         
                   \  domain 1  /   \  domain 2  /                        
                    \__________/     \__________/                         
                     ``````````       `````````` 

                 Figure 7 Multi-Segment PW Protocol Stack 

   The MS-PW provides the CE with an emulated physical or virtual 
   connection to its peer at the far end. Native service PDUs from the   
   CE are passed through an Encapsulation Layer and a PW demultiplexer 
   is added at the sending T-PE. The PDU is sent over PSN domain 1. The 
   receiving S-PE removes the existing PW demultiplexer, adds a new 
   demultiplexer, and then sends the PDU over PSN2. Policies may also be 
   applied to the PW at this point. Examples of such policies include: 
   admission control, rate control, QoS mappings, and security. The 
   receiving T-PE removes the PW demultiplexer and restores the payload 
   to its native format for transmission to the destination CE. 

   Where the encapsulation format is different e.g. MPLS and L2TPv3, the 
   payload encapsulation may be transparently translated at the S-PE. 

7. Maintenance Reference Model 

   Figure 8 shows the maintenance reference model for multi-segment 
   PWE3. 

    





 
 
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         |<------------- CE (end-to-end) Signaling ------------>| 
         |                                                      | 
         |       |<-------- MS-PW/T-PE Maintenance ----->|      | 
         |       |  |<---PW Seg't-->| |<--PW Seg't--->|  |      | 
         |       |  |   Maintenance | | Maintenance   |  |      | 
         |       |  |               | |               |  |      | 
         |       |  |     PSN       | |     PSN       |  |      | 
         |       |  | |<-Tunnel1->| | | |<-Tunnel2->| |  |      | 
         |       V  V V Signaling V V V V Signaling V V  V      | 
         V       +----+           +-----+           +----+      V 
    +----+       |TPE1|===========|SPE1 |===========|TPE2|      +----+ 
    |    |-------|......PW.Seg't1.........PW Seg't3......|------|    | 
    | CE1|       |    |           |     |           |    |      |CE2 | 
    |    |-------|......PW.Seg't2.........PW Seg't4......|------|    | 
    +----+       |    |===========|     |===========|    |      +----+ 
      ^          +----+           +-----+           +----+         ^ 
      |        Terminating           ^            Terminating      | 
      |      Provider Edge 1         |          Provider Edge 2    | 
      |                              |                             | 
      |                      PW switching point                    | 
      |                                                            | 
      |<--------------------- Emulated Service ------------------->| 
    
               Figure 8 MS-PWE3 Maintenance Reference Model 

   RFC 3985 specifies the use of CE (end-to-end) and PSN tunnel 
   signaling, and PW/PE maintenance. CE and PSN tunnel signaling is as 
   specified in RFC 3985. However, in the case of MS-PWE3, signaling 
   between the PEs now has both an edge-to-edge and a hop-by-hop 
   context. That is, signaling and maintenance between T-PEs and S-PEs 
   and between adjacent S-PEs is used to set up, maintain, and tear down 
   the MS-PW segments, which including the coordination of parameters 
   related to each switching point, as well as the MS-PW end points. 

8. PW Demultiplexer Layer and PSN Requirements 

    

8.1. Multiplexing 

   The purpose of the PW demultiplexer layer at the S-PE is to 
   demultiplex PWs from ingress PSN tunnels and to multiplex them into 
   egress PSN tunnels. Although each PW may contain multiple native 
   service circuits, e.g. multiple ATM VCs, the S-PEs do not have 
   visibility of, and hence do not change, this level of multiplexing 
   because they contain no NSP.  

 
 
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8.2. Fragmentation 

   An S-PE is not required to make any attempt to reassemble a 
   fragmented PW payload. An S-PE may fragment a PW payload. 

    

9. Control Plane 

9.1. Setup or Teardown of Pseudo Wires 

   For multi-segment pseudo wires, the intermediate PW switching points 
   may be statically provisioned, or they may be dynamically signaled. 
   For the dynamic case, there are two options for selecting the path of 
   the PW: 

   o  T-PEs determine the full path of the PW through intermediate 
      switching points. This may be either static or based on a dynamic 
      PW path selection mechanism.  

   o  Each segment of the PW path is determined locally by each T-PE or 
      S-PE, either through static configuration or based on a dynamic PW 
      path selection mechanism. 

   Further details of the impact of these on the control plane 
   architecture will be provided in a future revision. 

9.2. Pseudo-Wire Up/Down Notification 

   Since a multi-segment PW consists of a number of concatenated PW 
   segments, the emulated service can only be considered as being up 
   when all of the PW segments and PSN tunnels (if used) are functional 
   along the entire path of the MS-PW. 

   If a native service requires bi-directional connectivity, the 
   corresponding emulated service can only be signaled as being up when 
   the PW segments and PSN tunnels (if used), are functional in both 
   directions. 

   RFC 3985 describes the need for failure and other status notification 
   mechanisms for PWs. These considerations also apply to multi-segment. 
   In addition, the S-PE must be able to propagate such notifications 
   between concatenated segments of the same PW. 




 
 
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9.3. Misconnection and Payload Type Mismatch 

   With PWE3, misconnection and payload type mismatch can occur. 
   Misconnection can breach the integrity of the system.  Payload 
   mismatch can disrupt the customer network.  In both instances, there 
   are security and operational concerns. 

   The services of the underlying tunneling mechanism and its associated 
   control protocol can be used to ensure that the identity of the next 
   hop is as expected. As part of the PW setup, a PW-TYPE identifier is 
   exchanged. This is then used by the forwarder and the NSP of the T-
   PEs to verify the compatibility of the ACs. This can also be used by 
   S-PEs to ensure that concatenated segments of a given MS-PW are 
   compatible, or that a MS-PW is not misconnected into a local AC. In 
   addition, it is advisable to do an end to end connection verification 
   to check the  integrity of the PW and to verify the identity of the 
   T-PE. 

10. Management and Monitoring 

   The management and monitoring as described in RFC 3985 apply here. 

   The need for an S-PE ping and PW trace route, and the mechanisms to 
   provide these, are for further study. 

11. IANA Considerations 

   This document does not contain any IANA actions. 

12. Security Considerations 

   The security considerations described in RFC-3985 apply here. 

   Additional consideration needs to be given to the security of the S-
   PEs, particularly when these are dynamically selected and/or when the 
   MH-PW transits the networks of multiple operators. 

   When the MS-PW is dynamically created by the use of a signaling 
   protocol, an SPE SHOULD determine the authenticity of the request, 
   and its compliance with policy. 

   Particular consideration needs to be given to Quality of Service 
   requests because the inappropriate use of priority may impact other 
   service guarantees. 



 
 
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   Where an S-PE provides interconnection between different providers, 
   similar considerations to those applied to ASBRs apply. In particular 
   peer entity authentication SHOULD be used.  

   Where an S-PE also supports T-PE functionality, mechanisms should be 
   provided to ensure that MS-PWs to switched correctly to the 
   appropriate outgoing PW segment, rather than a local AC. Other 
   mechanisms for PW end point verification may also be used to confirm 
   the correct PW connection prior to enabling the attachment circuits. 

13. Acknowledgments 

   The authors gratefully acknowledge the input of Mustapha Aissaoui, 
   Dimitri Papadimitrou, and Luca Martini.  

    































 
 
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14. References 

14.1. Normative References 

   [1]   Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement 
         Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997. 

   [2]   Bryant, S. and Pate, P. (Editors), "Pseudo Wire Emulation Edge-
         to-Edge (PWE3) Architecture", RFC 3985, March 2005 

   [3]   Martini, S. Bitar, N. and Bocci, M (Editors), "Requirements for 
         inter domain Pseudo-Wires", draft-ietf-pwe3-mh-pw-requirements-
         00.txt, internet Draft, July 2005  

    

Author's Addresses 

   Matthew Bocci 
   Alcatel 
   Voyager Place,  
   Shoppenhangers Rd,  
   Maidenhead, Berks, UK      Email: matthew.bocci@alcatel.co.uk 
    

   Stewart Bryant 
   Cisco Systems, 
   250, Longwater, 
   Green Park, 
   Reading, RG2 6GB, 
   United Kingdom.             Email: stbryant@cisco.com 
    

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