Internet DRAFT - draft-kaliraj-idr-multinexthop-attribute

draft-kaliraj-idr-multinexthop-attribute







Network Working Group                              K. Vairavakkalai, Ed.
Internet-Draft                                              M. Jeyananth
Intended status: Standards Track                  Juniper Networks, Inc.
Expires: 21 May 2024                                          M. Nanduri
                                                               Microsoft
                                                                 Lingala
                                                                    AT&T
                                                        18 November 2023


                       BGP MultiNexthop Attribute
              draft-kaliraj-idr-multinexthop-attribute-11

Abstract

   Today, a BGP speaker can advertise one nexthop for a set of NLRIs in
   an Update.  This nexthop can be encoded in either the top-level BGP-
   Nexthop attribute (code 3), or inside the MP_REACH_NLRI attribute
   (code 14).

   This document defines a new optional non-transitive BGP attribute
   called "MultiNexthop (MNH)" with IANA BGP attribute type code TBD,
   that can be used to carry an ordered set of one or more Nexthops in
   the same route, with forwaring information scoped on a per nexthop
   basis.

Requirements Language

   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 [RFC2119].

Status of This Memo

   This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the
   provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.

   Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering
   Task Force (IETF).  Note that other groups may also distribute
   working documents as Internet-Drafts.  The list of current Internet-
   Drafts is at https://datatracker.ietf.org/drafts/current/.

   Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months
   and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any
   time.  It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference
   material or to cite them other than as "work in progress."

   This Internet-Draft will expire on 21 May 2024.



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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 (https://trustee.ietf.org/
   license-info) in effect on the date of publication of this document.
   Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights
   and restrictions with respect to this document.  Code Components
   extracted from this document must include Revised BSD License text as
   described in Section 4.e of the Trust Legal Provisions and are
   provided without warranty as described in the Revised BSD License.

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   2.  Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     2.1.  Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
   3.  Motivation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   4.  Protocol Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     4.1.  Scope of Use, and Propagation . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     4.2.  Interaction of MNH with Nexthop (in attr codes 3, 14) . .   7
     4.3.  Interaction with Addpath  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
     4.4.  Path Selection Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
       4.4.1.  Determining IGP Cost  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     4.5.  Denoting Upstream or Downstream Semantics . . . . . . . .   8
   5.  Encoding of BGP MultiNexthop (MNH) Attribute  . . . . . . . .   9
     5.1.  MNH TLV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
       5.1.1.  Primary Forwarding Path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
       5.1.2.  Backup Forwarding Path  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
       5.1.3.  Label Descriptor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
     5.2.  Nexthop Forwarding Information TLV  . . . . . . . . . . .  15
     5.3.  Forwarding Instruction TLV  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     5.4.  Forwarding Argument TLV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
       5.4.1.  Endpoint Identifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
       5.4.2.  Path Constraints  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
       5.4.3.  Payload Encapsulation Info  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
       5.4.4.  Endpoint Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
   6.  Error Handling  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
   7.  Scaling Considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
   8.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
     8.1.  BGP Path Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
     8.2.  Capability Codes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
     8.3.  BGP MultiNextHop Attribute  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
       8.3.1.  MultiNextHop (MNH) TLV Types  . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
       8.3.2.  Forwarding Action Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
       8.3.3.  Forwarding Argument Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35



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       8.3.4.  Endpoint Types  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
       8.3.5.  Path Constrain Types  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
       8.3.6.  Encapsulation Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
       8.3.7.  Endpoint Attribute Types  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
   9.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
   Contributors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
   Acknowledgements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
   References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
     Normative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
     Informative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
   Appendix A.  Example of Usecases  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
     A.1.  Signaling WECMP to Ingress Node . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
     A.2.  Signaling Optimal Forwarding Exitpoints to Ingress
            Node . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
     A.3.  Load balancing to multiple CEs in a VRF . . . . . . . . .  44
     A.4.  Choosing a Received Label Based on it's Forwarding Semantic
            at Advertising Node  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
     A.5.  Signaling Desired Forwarding Behavior for MPLS Upstream
            labels at Receiving Node . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
     A.6.  Load Balancing over EBGP Parallel Links . . . . . . . . .  45
     A.7.  Flowspec Routes with Multiple "Redirect IP" next hops . .  46
     A.8.  Color-Only Resolution next hop  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
     A.9.  Avoid Label Advertisement Oscillation Between Multihomed
            PEs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
     A.10. Signaling Intent over PE-CE Attachment Circuit  . . . . .  47
       A.10.1.  Using DSCP in MultiNexthop Attribute . . . . . . . .  48
       A.10.2.  MPLS-enabled CE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
     A.11. 4PE - Signal MPLS Label for IPv4 Unicast routes . . . . .  50
   Authors' Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51

1.  Introduction

   Today, a BGP speaker can advertise one nexthop for a set of NLRIs in
   an Update.  This nexthop can be encoded in either the top-level BGP-
   Nexthop attribute (code 3), or inside the MP_REACH_NLRI attribute
   (code 14).

   This document defines a new optional non-transitive BGP attribute
   called "MultiNexthop (MNH)" with IANA BGP attribute type code TBD,
   that can be used to carry an ordered set of one or more Nexthops in
   the same route, with forwaring information scoped on a per nexthop
   basis.


2.  Terminology

   SN: Service Node




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   iSN: Ingress Service Node

   eSN: Egress Service Node

   NLRI: Network Layer Reachability Information

   AFI: Address Family Identifier

   SAFI: Subsequent Address Family Identifier

   PE : Provider Edge

   RT : Route-Target extended community

   RD : Route-Distinguisher

   MPLS: Multi Protocol Label Switching

   ECMP: Equal Cost Multi Path

   WECMP: Weighted Equal Cost Multi Path

   FRR: Fast Re Route

   PNH : Protocol Next hop address carried in a BGP Update message

   MNH: BGP MultiNextHop attribute

   NFI: Nexthop Forwarding Information

   FI: Forwarding Instruction

   FA: Forwarding Argument

2.1.  Definitions

   MULTI_NEXT_HOP (aka MNH): BGP MultiNexthop attribute.  The new
   attribute defined by this document.

   MNH TLV: Top level TLV contained in a MULTI_NEXT_HOP.

   NFI TLV: Nexthop Forwarding Information TLV, contained in a MNH TLV.

   FI TLV: Forwarding Instruction TLV, contained in a NFI TLV.

   FA TLV: Forwarding Argument TLV, contained as an argument to a FI in
   the FI TLV.




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   Service Family : BGP address family used for advertising routes for
   "data traffic" as opposed to tunnels (e.g.  AFI/SAFIs 1/1 or 1/128).

   Transport Family : BGP address family used for advertising tunnels,
   which are in turn used by service routes for resolution (e.g.  AFI/
   SAFIs 1/4 or 1/76).

3.  Motivation


   For cases where multiple nexthops need to be advertised, BGP Addpath
   [RFC7911] is used with some address families.  On some other address
   families like Flowspec, nexthop addresses are carried in one or more
   extended communities of specific type.

   Though Addpath allows basic ability to advertise multiple-nexthops,
   it does not allow the sender to express the desired relationship
   between the multiple nexthops being advertised e.g., relative
   ordering, type of load balancing, fast reroute.  These are local
   decisions at the receiving node based on local configuration and path
   selection between the various additional paths, which may tie-break
   on some arbitrary step like Router-Id or BGP nexthop address.  Some
   scenarios with a BGP free core may benefit from having a mechanism,
   where egress node can signal multiple nexthops along with their
   relationship to ingress nodes.

   It would be desirable to have a common way to carry one or more
   nexthops on a BGP route of any family.

   This document defines a new optional non-transitive BGP attribute
   "MultiNexthop (MNH)" that can be used for this purpose.

   The MNH attribute can be used in any BGP family that wants to carry
   one or more nexthops, with forwaring information scoped on a per
   nexthop basis.  E.g.  The MNH can be used to advertise MPLS label
   along with nexthop for labeled and unlabeled families (e.g.  Inet
   Unicast, Inet6 Unicast, Flowspec) alike.  Such that, mechanisms at
   the transport layer can work uniformly on labeled and unlabled BGP
   families to realize various usecases.

   The MNH plays different role in "downstream allocation" scenario than
   "upstream allocation" scenario.  E.g. for [RFC8277] families that
   advertise downstream allocated labels, the MNH can play the "Label
   Descriptor" role, describing the forwarding semantics of the label
   being advertised.  This can be useful in network visualization and
   controller based traffic engineering (e.g.  EPE).





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4.  Protocol Operations

4.1.  Scope of Use, and Propagation

   The MNH attribute is intended to be used in a BGP free core, between
   egress and ingress BGP speakers that understand this attribute.
   These BGP speakers may have an intra-AS or inter-AS BGP session
   between them.

   To avoid un-intentionally leaking the MNH to another AS, via a BGP
   speaker that does not understand MNH attribute, it is defined as
   "optional non-transitive".  But this also means that a RR needs to be
   upgraded to support this attribute before any PEs in the network can
   make use of it.

   Use of MNH on a BGP session is disabled by default.  An
   implementation MUST provide configuration control on a per BGP
   neighbor address family basis, to enable MNH support.  A sending BGP
   speaker MUST NOT advertise MNH on a BGP address family route update
   if MNH support is not enabled for the address family on the BGP
   session.

   If the MNH attribute is received on a BGP session where MNH support
   is not enabled, the attribute MUST be treated as Unrecognized non-
   transitive.  This rule provides additional protection against
   unintended propagation of this attribute, when both BGP speakers
   understand MNH but receiver has not enabled the support.  A RFC3392
   Capability is not used for this purpose, because it would cause
   session reset whenever 'MNH support' config is changed.

   When a BGP speaker receives the MNH attribute on a BGP route in an
   address family that is MNH enabled, it propagates the attribute
   unchanged when readvertising the route with nexthop unchanged on a
   BGP session address family that is also MNH enabled.  The BGP speaker
   excludes the MNH attribute when readvertising the route with nexthop
   unchanged on a BGP session that is not MNH enabled.

   When a BGP speaker receives the MNH attribute on a BGP route in an
   address family that is MNH enabled, it processes the attribute but
   does not propagate it further when readvertising the route with
   nexthop altered.  The BGP speaker MAY attach a new instance of MNH
   attribute when readvertising the route (with nexthop unchanged or
   altered) on a BGP session that is MNH enabled.

   A BGP speaker re-advertising a BGP route with nexthop unchanged MAY
   add the MNH attribute on the reflected BGP route, on behalf of the
   originating BGP speaker.  The "Advertising PNH field" in the MNH is
   set to the Nexthop field in BGP route being re-advertised.



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4.2.  Interaction of MNH with Nexthop (in attr codes 3, 14)

   When adding a MultiNexthop attribute to an advertised BGP route, the
   speaker MUST put the same next-hop address in the Advertising PNH
   field as it put in the Nexthop field inside MP_REACH_NLRI attribute
   if one exists, or the NEXT_HOP attribute.

   A speaker that recognizes the MNH attribute and does not change the
   PNH while readvertising the route, e.g. a Route Reflector, MUST
   propagate unchanged the MultiNexthop attribute in the
   readvertisement, satisfying the propagation scope constraints
   described in previous section.

   A speaker that recognizes MNH attribute and changes the PNH while
   readvertising the route MUST remove the MNH attribute in the
   readvertisement.  The speaker MAY however add a new MNH attribute to
   the re-dvertisement.  While doing so the speaker MUST record in the
   "Advertising PNH" field the same next-hop address as used in
   MP_REACH_NLRI attribute if one exists, or the NEXT_HOP attribute.

   A speaker receiving a MNH attribute SHOULD ignore it if the next-hop
   address contained in 'Advertising PNH' field is not the same as the
   nexthop address contained in MP_REACH_NLRI attribute if one exists,
   or the NEXT_HOP attribute.

   In case of [RFC2545], the global (non link-local) IPv6 address should
   be used for this purpose.

   As specified in [RFC7606] BGP update message can contain no more than
   one instance of MP_REACH attribute or NEXT_HOP attribute.  Similarly,
   a BGP update MUST contain only one instance of MNH attribute.  If the
   MNH attribute (whether recognized or unrecognized) appears more than
   once in an UPDATE message, then all the occurrences of the attribute
   other than the first one SHALL be discarded and the UPDATE message
   will continue to be processed.

4.3.  Interaction with Addpath

   [ADDPATH-GUIDELINES] suggests the following:

   "Diverse path: A BGP path associated with a different BGP next-hop
   and BGP router than some other set of paths.  The BGP router
   associated with a path is inferred from the ORIGINATOR_ID attribute
   or, if there is none, the BGP Identifier of the peer that advertised
   the path."






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   When selecting "diverse paths" for ADD_PATH as specified above, the
   MNH attribute should also be compared if it exists, to determine if
   two routes have "different BGP next-hop".

4.4.  Path Selection Considerations

4.4.1.  Determining IGP Cost

   While tie breaking in the path-selection as described in [RFC4271],
   9.1.2.2. step (e) viz. the "IGP cost to nexthop", consider the
   highest cost among the nexthop-legs present in this attribute.

   The IGP cost thus calculated is also used when constructing AIGP TLV
   ([RFC7311])

4.5.  Denoting Upstream or Downstream Semantics

   MultiNexthop attribute may describe to a receiving speaker what the
   forwarding semantics of an Upstream-allocated label should be.  This
   can be used with either labeled or unlabled BGP families.

   A MultiNexthop attribute may also play "Downstream signaled Label
   Descriptor" role.  A BGP speaker advertising a route carrying
   downstream allocated MPLS label MAY add this attribute to the BGP
   route, to "describe" to the receiving speaker what the label's
   forwarding semantics is at the Egress node.

   Today semantics of a downstream-allocated label is known only to the
   egress node advertising the label.  The speaker receiving the label-
   binding doesn't know what the label's forwarding semantic at the
   advertiser is.  In some environments, it may be useful to convey this
   information to the receiving speaker.  This may help in better
   debugging and manageability, or enable the receiving speaker, which
   could also be some centralized controller, make better decisions
   about which label to use, based on the label's forwarding-semantic.

   While doing upstream-label allocation, this attribute can be used to
   convey the forwarding-semantics at the receiving node should be.
   Details of the BGP protocol extensions required for signaling
   upstream-label allocation are out of scope of this document, and are
   described in [MPLS-NAMESPACES].

   In rest of this document, the use of term "Label" will mean
   downstream allocated label, unless specified otherwise as upstream-
   allocated label.






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   When using the MultiNexthop attribute for IP-routes, the Upstream
   role is used.  Since IP prefixes are by nature upstream allocated,
   global scope.

5.  Encoding of BGP MultiNexthop (MNH) Attribute

   "MultiNexthop (MNH)" is a new BGP optional non-transitive attribute
   (code TBD), that can be used to carry an ordered set of one or more
   Nexthops in the same route, with forwaring information scoped on a
   per nexthop basis.  This attribute describes forwarding instructions
   using TLVs described in this document.

   This section describes the organization and encoding of the MNH
   attribute.

             MNH Attribute: {
                   PrimaryPath {
                       [Forwarding Instruction 1],
                        ..
                       [Forwarding Instruction n]
                   }
                   BackupPath {
                       [Forwarding Instruction 1],
                        ..
                       [Forwarding Instruction n]
                   }
                   LabelDescriptor {
                       [Forwarding Instruction 1],
                        ..
                       [Forwarding Instruction n]
                   }
             }

             Forwarding Instruction: {
                 {FwdAction, Forwarding Arguments}
             }

       Figure 1: Overview of MNH Attribute Layout - Eye candy summary

   A MNH attribute consists of one of more "MNH TLVs".  A MNH TLV
   contains a Type and one unit of Nexthop Forwarding Information (NFI
   TLV).

   A NFI TLV contains one or more Forwarding Instructions (FI TLV).

   A Forwarding Instruction TLV contains a "Forwarding Action" and one
   more "Forwarding Arguments" (FA TLVs).  The Forwarding Arguments
   describe the parameters required to complete a Forwarding Action.



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        0                   1                   2                   3
        0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |  Attr. Flags  |Attr. Type Code|          Length               |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |     MNH-Flags |  Advt-PNH-Len |       Advertising PNH ..      |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |                  .. Address                                   |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |                       MNH TLV                                 ~
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       ~                       MNH TLV                                 |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+


                   Figure 2: MultiNexthop - BGP Attribute



































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- Attr. Flags (1 octet)
       BGP Path-attribute flags. indicating an Optional Non-Transitive
       attribute. i.e. Optional bit set, Transitive bit reset.

 - Attr. Type Code (1 octet)
        Type code allotted by IANA. TBD.

 - Length (1 or 2 octets)
       One or Two bytes field stating length of attribute value in bytes.

 - MNH-Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

       All bits are reserved.

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.

 - Advt-PNH-Len (1 octet)
       Length in octets (4 for IPv4, 16 for IPv6, 12 for VPN-IPv4,
       24 for VPN-IPv6) of Advertising PNH Address.

 - Advertising PNH Address (Advt-PNH-Len octets)
       BGP Protocol Nexthop address advertised in NEXT_HOP or MP_REACH_NLRI attr.
       Used to sanity-check the MNH attribute. In case of RFC-2545, this will be
       the global (non link-local) IPv6 address.

 - MNH TLVs: One or more MNH TLVs are carried in a MNH attr.
       MNH TLV is described in subsequent sections.


5.1.  MNH TLV

   The type of MNH TLV describes how the forwarding information carried
   in the MNH TLV is used.

        0                   1                   2                   3
        0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |  MNH-TLV Flags| MNH. Type Code|          Length               |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |                              Value                            |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+





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                            Figure 3: MNH TLV

 - MNH-TLV Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

       All bits are reserved.

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.

  MNH Type Code        Meaning
 --------------     -------------
       0           Reserved
       1           Primary forwarding path
       2           Backup forwarding path
       3           Label Descriptor


 - Length
    Length of Value portion in octects.

 - Value
    Value portion contains the NFI TLV.


   Type codes 1 and 2 are applicable for upstream allocated prefixes,
   example IP, MPLS, Flowspec routes.

   Type code 4 describes the forwarding behavior given to downstream
   allocated MPLS label, adveritsed in BGP route.

   Usage of Type code 1 in a BGP route containing IP prefix gives
   similar result as advertising the route with nexthop contained in BGP
   path-attributes: Nexthop (code 3) or MP_REACH_NLRI (code 14).

   Upstream allocation for MPLS routes is achieved by using mechanisms
   explained in [MPLS-NAMESPACES].

   If an invalid Type Code (like 0) is received, the TLV is ignored
   gracefully handing the error.

   If an unknown Type Code is received, it SHOULD be ignored but
   propagated further when the MNH attribute is propagated, because
   nexthop is not changed.




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   If the received Type Code is incompatible for the prefix in BGP NLRI,
   the TLV should be ignored.

5.1.1.  Primary Forwarding Path

   Type Code = 1 means the TLV describes forwarding state to be
   programmed at receiving speaker as primary path nexthop leg.  This
   TLV is used with Upstream allocated or global scope prefixes carried
   in BGP NLRI.  Value part of this TLV contains Nexthop Forwarding
   Information TLV.

   A BGP speaker uses the nexthop forwarding information received in
   this TLV as a primary path nexthop leg when programming the route for
   the NLRI prefix in its Forwarding table.

        0                   1                   2                   3
        0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |  MNH-TLV Flags|  MNH Type = 1 |          Length               |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |               Nexthop Forwarding Information TLV              |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+


                  Figure 4: Primary forwarding path TLV

5.1.2.  Backup Forwarding Path

   Type Code = 2 means the TLV describes forwarding state to be
   programmed at receiving speaker as backup-path nexthop leg.  This TLV
   is used with Upstream allocated prefixes or global scoped prefixes.
   Value part contains Nexthop Forwarding Information TLV.

   Signaling a different nexthop for use as backup path is desired in
   some labeled forwarding scenarios, where two multihomed edge devices
   use each other as backup path to protect traffic when primary path
   fails.

   This is required to avoid label advertisement oscillation between the
   multihomed PEs when they implement per-nexthop label allocation mode.











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   The label advertised by a PE1 for primary path advertisement is
   allocated/forwarded using external paths as primary leg and backup-
   path label from other multihomed PE2 as backup-path label.  Such that
   primary-path label allocation at PE1 is not a function of the
   primary-path label advertised by PE2.  Thus the primary path label
   remains stable at a PE and does not change when a new primary path
   label is received from the other multihomed PE.  This prevents the
   label oscillation problem.

        0                   1                   2                   3
        0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |  MNH-TLV Flags|  MNH Type = 2 |          Length               |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |               Nexthop Forwarding Information TLV              |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+


                   Figure 5: Backup forwarding path TLV

   The backup path label allocated and advertised by a PE is a function
   of only the primary path.  E.g. path to the CE device.  So this label
   value does not change when a new label is received from the other
   multihomed PE

5.1.3.  Label Descriptor

   Type Code = 3 means the TLV describes forwarding state associated
   with downstream allocated MPLS label at the egress node identified in
   Endpoint FA TLV.  Value part of this TLV contains Endpoint FA-TLV,
   Payload Info FA-TLV to identify the label being described, along with
   Nexthop Forwarding Information TLV that describes the forwarding
   state.

   Signaling what a label advertised in BGP route signifies is helpful
   for debugging.  The information provided by label descriptor can
   enable new usecases like network visualization and off box EPE
   decisions.













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        0                   1                   2                   3
        0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |  MNH-TLV Flags| MNH Type = 3  |          Length               |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |            Endpoint Fwd Argument  TLV                         |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |            Encap Info. Fwd Argument TLV                       |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |           Nexthop Forwarding Information TLV                  |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

        Endpoint Fwd Argument  TLV:
            Specifies the IP endpoint. Section 5.4.1.

        Encap Info. Fwd Argument TLV:
            Specifies the Label value being described. Section 5.4.3.

        Nexthop Forwarding Information TLV:
            Indicates the forwarding state. Described in Section 5.2.


                      Figure 6: Label Descriptor TLV

5.2.  Nexthop Forwarding Information TLV

   A Nexthop Forwarding Information TLV describes a MNH TLV.  It
   contains one or more Forwarding Instruction TLVs.  These Forwarding
   Instructions are the Forwarding Legs of the MNH.

        0                   1                   2                   3
        0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |  NFI  Flags   |      Num-Nexthops             |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |        Forwarding Instruction TLV (F.I. TLV)                  ~
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       ~        Forwarding Instruction TLV (F.I. YLV)                  |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

              Figure 7: Nexthop Forwarding Information TLV










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 - NFI Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

       All bits are reserved.

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.

 - Num-Nexthops
        Number of F.I. TLVs.

 - Forwarding Instruction TLV
        Each F.I. TLV describes a Nexthop Leg.
        Layout of Forwarding Instruction TLV is described in next section.

5.3.  Forwarding Instruction TLV

   Each Forwarding Instruction TLV describes a Nexthop Leg. It expresses
   a "Forwarding Action" (FwdAction) along with arguments required to
   complete the action.  The type of actions defined by this TLV are
   given below.  The arguments are denoted by "Forwarding Argument
   TLVs".  The Forwarding Argument TLVs takes appropriate values based
   on the FwdAction.

   Each FwdAction should note the Arguments needed to complete the
   action.  Any extranous arguments should be ignored.  If the minimum
   set of arguments required to complete an action is not received, the
   Forwarding Instruction TLV should be ignored.  Appropriate logging
   and diagnostic info MAY be provided by an implementation to help
   troubleshoot such scenarios.

        0                   1                   2                   3
        0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |  F.I. Flags   |          Relative Pref        |  FwdAction    |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |            Length             |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       |                   Fwd Argument TLV                            ~
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
       ~                   Fwd Argument TLV                            |
       +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+






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                  Figure 8: Forwarding Instruction TLV

  - F.I. Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

       All bits are reserved.

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.

 - Relative Pref (2 octets)

     Unsigned 2 octet integer specifying relative order or preference, among
     the many forwarding instructions, to use in FIB. All usable nexthop legs
     with lowest relative-pref are installed in FIB as primary-path. Thus if
     multiple legs exist with that lowest relative-pref, ECMP is formed.

 FwdAction         Meaning
 ---------      -------------
       0        Reserved
       1        Forward
       2        Pop-And-Forward
       3        Swap
       4        Push
       5        Pop-And-Lookup
       6        Replicate

   Forwarding Instruction TLV with unknown FwdAction should be ignored, skipped
   and rest of the attribute processed; gracefully handling the error. The event
   may be appropriately logged for diagnosis.

 - Length (2 octets)

    Length in octets, of all Forwarding Argument TLVs.


   Meaning of most of the above FwdAction semantics is well understood.
   FwdAction 1 is applicable for both IP and MPLS routes.  FwdActions
   2-5 are applicable for encapsulated payloads (like MPLS) only.
   FwdActions 1, 6 are applicable for Flowspec routes for Redirect and
   Mirror actions.  FwdAction 6 can also be used to indicate multicast
   replication like functionality.






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   The "Forward" action means forward the IP/MPLS packet with the
   destination prefix (IP-dest-addr/MPLS-label) value unchanged.  For IP
   routes, this is the forwarding-action given for next-hop addresses
   contained in BGP path-attributes: Nexthop (code 3) or MP_REACH_NLRI
   (code 14).  For MPLS routes, usage of this action is equivalent to
   SWAP with same label-value; one such usage is explained in
   [MPLS-NAMESPACES] when Upstream-label-allocation is in use.

   The "Pop-And-Forward" action means Pop the payload header (e.g.
   MPLS-label) and forward the payload towards the Nexthop IP-address
   specified in the Endpoint Id TLV, using appropriate encapsulation to
   reach the Nexthop.

   When applied to MPLS packet, the "Pop-And-Lookup" action may result
   in a MPLS-lookup or an upper-layer header (like IPv4, IPv6) lookup,
   depending on whether the label that was popped was the bottom of
   stack label.

   If an incompatible FwdAction is received for a prefix-type, or an
   unsupported FwdAction is received, it is considered a semantic-error
   and MUST be dealt with as explained in "Error handling procedures"
   section.

5.4.  Forwarding Argument TLV

   The Forwarding Argument TLV describes various parameters required to
   execute a FwdAction.


    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  F.A. Flags   |     F.A. Type Code            |  Length       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Length     |     Value                                     |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

                     Figure 9: Forwarding Argument TLV













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 - F.A. Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

       All bits are reserved.

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.


  F.A. Type Code  Meaning
  -------------  ---------
     0           Reserved
     1           Endpoint Identifier
     2           Path Constraints
     3           Payload encapsulation info signaling
     4           Endpoint attributes advertisement

 - Length (2 octets)

    Length in bytes of Value field.


5.4.1.  Endpoint Identifier

   F.A.  Type Code = 1.  This Forwarding Argument TLV identifies an
   Endpoint of different types.


    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  F.A. Flags   |     F.A. Type Code =1         |  Length       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Length     | Endpoint Type |  Endpoint Len | Endpoint Value|
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                  Endpoint Value                               |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+


                       Figure 10: Endpoint Identifier








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 - F.A. Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.

 - Length (2 octets)
    Length in bytes of Value field.


  Endpoint Type   Value                    Len (octets)
  -------------  ---------                ---------------------
     0           Reserved
     1           IPv4 Address                4
     2           IPv6 Address                16
     3           MPLS Label (Upstream        4
                            allocated or
                            Global scope)
     4           Fwd Context RD              8
     5           Fwd Context RT              8

 - Endpoint Len (1 octet)

    Length in bytes of Endpoint Value field.


5.4.2.  Path Constraints

   F.A.  Type Code = 2.  This Forwarding Argument TLV defines
   constraints for path to the Endpoint.


    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  F.A. Flags   |     F.A. Type Code = 2        |  Length       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Length     | ConstrainType | Constrain Len | ConstrainValue|
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                  ConstrainValue                               |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+


                        Figure 11: Path Constraints




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   - F.A. Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.
   - Length (2 octets)
       Length in bytes of Value field.

  ConstrainType             Value                Len (octets)
  -------------  -------------------------    ---------------------
     0           Reserved
     1           Proximity check                 2
     2           Transport Class ID (Color)      4
     3           Load balance factor             2

  - Constrain Len (1 octet)

    Length in bytes of Constrain Value field.

   - Proximity check Flags (2 octets)
        Flags describing whether the nexthop endpoint is expected to be single hop
        away, or multihop away. Format of flags is described in next section.

   - Transport Class ID (Color):

    This is a 32 bit identifier, associated with the Nexthop address.
    The Nexthop IP-address specified in "Endpoint Identifier" TLVs
    are resolved over tunnels of this color.
    Defined in [BGP-CT] [draft-kaliraj-idr-bgp-classful-transport-planes]

   - Load balance factor (2 octets)
          Balance Percentage


5.4.2.1.  Proximity Check

   Usually EBGP singlehop received routes are expected to be one hop
   away, directly connected.  And IBGP received routes are expected to
   be multihop away.  Implementations today provide configuring
   exceptions to this rule.

   The 'expected proximity' of the Nexthop can be signaled to the
   receiver using the Proximity check flags.  Such that irrespective of
   whether the route is received from IBGP/EBGP peer, it can be treated
   as a single-hop away or multihop away nexthop.



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   The format of the Proximity check Sub-TLV is as follows:

   0                   1                   2                   3
   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
  |  F.A. Flags   |     F.A. Type Code = 2        |  Length       |
  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
  |    Length     |ConstrainType=1|  Len = 2      |
  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
  |       Proximity Check Flags   |
  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

  - F.A. Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.

  - Length (2 octets)
       Length in bytes of Value field.

  - Proximity check Flags (2 octets)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |S M R R R R R R R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+


           S: Restrict to Singlehop path.
           M: Expect Multihop path.
           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.

                 Figure 12: Proximity check constrain

   This TLV would be valid with Forwarding Instructions TLV with
   FwdAction of Forward, Pop-And-Forward, Swap or Push.

   When S bit is set, receiver considers the nexthop valid only if it is
   directly connected to the receiver.

   When M bit is set, receiver assumes that the nexthop can be multiple
   hops away, and resolves the path to the nexthop via another route.





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   When both S and M bits are set, M bit behavior takes precedence.
   When both S and M bits are Clear, the current behavior of deriving
   proximity from peer type (EBGP is singlehop, IBGP is multihop) is
   followed.

5.4.2.2.  Transport Class ID (Color)

   The Nexthop can be associated with a Transport Class, so as to
   resolve a path that satisfies required Transport tunnel
   characteristics.  Transport Class is defined in [BGP-CT]

   Transport Class is a per-nexthop scoped attribute.  Without MNH, the
   Transport class is applied to the nexthop IP-address encoded in the
   BGP-Nexthop attribute (code 3), or inside the MP_REACH_NLRI attribute
   (code 14).  With MNH, the Transport Class can be specified per
   Nexthop-Leg (Forwarding Instruction TLV).  It is applied to the IP-
   address encoded in the Endpoint Identifier TLV of type "IPv4
   Address", "IPv6 Address" , "MPLS Label (Upstream allocated or Global
   scope)".

   The format of the Transport Class ID Sub-TLV is as follows:






























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 0                   1                   2                   3
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|  F.A. Flags   |     F.A. Type Code = 2        |  Length       |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|    Length     |ConstrainType=2|  Len = 4      | Transport..   |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|  .. Class ID (4 bytes)        |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

  - F.A. Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.

  - Length (2 octets)
       Length in bytes of Value field.

  - Transport Class ID (Color):
    This is a 32 bit identifier, associated with the Nexthop address.
    The Nexthop specified in Endpoint Identifier TLVs
    are resolved over tunnels of this color.
  Defined in [BGP-CT] [draft-kaliraj-idr-bgp-classful-transport-planes]

                Figure 13: Transport Class ID (Color)


   This TLV would be valid with Forwarding Instructions TLV with
   FwdAction of Forward, Swap or Push.

5.4.2.3.  Load Balance Factor
















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 0                   1                   2                   3
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|  F.A. Flags   |     F.A. Type Code = 3        |  Length       |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|    Length     |ConstrainType=3|  Len = 2      |   Balance..   |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|.. Percentage  |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

 - F.A. Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.
 - Length (2 octets)
       Length in bytes of Value field.

 - Len (1 octet)
    Length of the Constrain Value field.

 - Balance Percentage:
    This is the explicit "balance percentage" requested by the sender,
    for unequal load-balancing over these Nexthop-Descriptor-TLV legs.
    This balance percentage would override the implicit
    balance-percentage calculated using "Bandwidth" attribute
    sub-TLV.

                    Figure 14: Load Balance Factor


   This sub-TLV would be valid with Forwarding Instructions TLV with
   FwdAction of Forward, Swap or Push.

   This is the explicit "balance percentage" requested by the sender,
   for unequal load-balancing over these Nexthop-Descriptor-TLV legs.
   This balance percentage would override the implicit balance-
   percentage calculated using "Bandwidth" attribute sub-TLV

   When the sum of "balance percentage" on the nexthop legs does not
   equal 100, it is scaled up or down to match 100.  The individual
   balance percentages in each nexthop leg are also scaled up or down
   proportionally to determine the effective balance percentage per
   nexthop leg.




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5.4.3.  Payload Encapsulation Info

   F.A.  Type Code = 3.  This Forwarding Argument TLV defines payload
   encapsulation information.


    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  F.A. Flags   |     F.A. Type Code =3         |  Length       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Length     | Encap Type  |         Encap Len               |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                   Encap Value                                 |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+


                   Figure 15: Payload Encapsulation Info

 - F.A. Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.
 - Length (2 octets)
       Length in bytes of Value field.

   Endcap Type        Value
  -------------  --------------
     0           Reserved
     1           MPLS Label Info
     2           SR MPLS label Index Info
     3           SRv6 SID info
     4           DSCP code point

 - Encap Len (2 octets)

    Length in octets of Encap Value field.


5.4.3.1.  MPLS Label Info







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    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  F.A. Flags   |     F.A. Type Code =3         |  Length       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Length     | Encap Type=1 |          Encap Len             |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |       Flags (2 bytes)        |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   | MPLS Label (20 bits) |Rsrv |S~
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   ~ MPLS Label (20 bits) |Rsrv |S|
   -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+


                         Figure 16: MPLS Label Info



































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  - F.A. Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.
  - Length (2 octets)
       Length in bytes of Value field.

  - Encap Type
          = 1, to signify MPLS Label Info.

  - Encap Len (2 octets)
       Length in bytes of following Encap Value field.

  - Flags (2 octets):

       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      |E R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R|
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

       E: ELC bit. Indicates if this egress NH is Entropy Label Capable.
             1 means the Entropy Label capable.
             0 means not capable to handle Entropy Label.

       R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.

  - MPLS Label, Rsrv, S bit.
      20 bit MPLS Label stack encoded as in RFC 8277.
      S bit set on last label in label stack.



5.4.3.2.  SR MPLS Label Index Info














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    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  F.A. Flags   |     F.A. Type Code =3         |  Length       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Length     | Encap Type=2 |            Encap Len           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |   RESERVED    |       LI Flags                |    Label ..   |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                ..Index                        |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+


                    Figure 17: SR MPLS Label Index Info


  - F.A. Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.
  - Length (2 octets)
       Length in bytes of Value field.

  - Encap Type
          = 2, to signify SR MPLS SID Info.

  - Encap Len (2 octets)
       Length in bytes of following Encap Value field.

  Rest of the value portion is encoded as specified in RFC-8669 sec 3.1.

  - RESERVED:  8-bit field. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.

  - LI Flags:  16 bits of flags. None defined. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.

  - Label Index:
      32-bit value representing the index value in the SRGB space.


5.4.3.3.  SRv6 SID Info







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    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  F.A. Flags   |     F.A. Type Code =3         |  Length       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Length     | Encap Type=3 |           Encap Len            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         .. SRv6 SID Info (variable)                           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+


                          Figure 18: SRv6 SID Info


  - F.A. Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.
  - Length (2 octets)
       Length in bytes of Value field.

  - Encap Type
          = 3, to signify SR MPLS SID Info.

  - Encap Len (2 octets)
       Length in bytes of following Encap Value field.

  - SRv6 SID Info:
        SRv6 SID Information, as specified in RFC-9252 sec 3.1.


5.4.3.4.  DSCP

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  F.A. Flags   |     F.A. Type Code = 3        |  Length       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Length     | Encap Type=4 |           Encap Len            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |DSCP code point|
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+





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                              Figure 19: DSCP


  - F.A. Flags (1 octet)

           0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
          |R R R R R R R R|
          +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

           R: Reserved. MUST be set to zero, SHOULD be ignored by receiver.
  - Length (2 octets)
       Length in bytes of Value field.

  - Encap Type
          = 4, to signify DSCP code point.

  - Encap Len (2 octets)
      = 1, Length in bytes of following Encap Value field.

  - DSCP code point:
        DS Field, as specified in RFC-2474 sec 3.


5.4.4.  Endpoint Attributes

   F.A.  Type Code = 4.  This Forwarding Argument TLV defines attributes
   of an endpoint.


    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  F.A. Flags   |     F.A. Type Code = 4        |  Length       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Length     | Attrib Type  |    Attr Len    |  Attr  Value  |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                    Attr Value                                 |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+


                       Figure 20: Endpoint attributes

    EP Attrib Type      Attrib Value               Attrib Len (octets)
   ----------------  ------------------            ---------------------
      0               None
      1               Endpoint Bandwidth               8




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5.4.4.1.  Endpoint Bandwidth


    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |  F.A. Flags   |     F.A. Type Code = 4        |  Length       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Length     | Attrib Type 1|    Attr Len=8  |  Attr  Value  |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                   Bandwidth (8 octets)                        |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                   Bandwidth (contd.)                          |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   - Len (2 octets)
       Length in bytes of remaining portion of SubTLV.

   - Bandwidth
       The bandwidth to the endpoint expressed as 8 octets,
       units being bits per second.

                       Figure 21: Endpoint Bandwidth


   This sub-TLV would be valid with Forwarding Instruction TLV with
   FwdAction of Forward, Swap or Push.

6.  Error Handling


   With MNH TLV Type = 4 (Label Descriptor), this attribute is used to
   describe the label advertised by the BGP-peer.  If the value in the
   attribute is syntactically parse-able, but not semantically valid,
   the receiving speaker should deal with the error gracefully and MUST
   NOT tear down the BGP session.  In such cases the rest of the BGP-
   update can be consumed if possibe.

   With other MNH TLV Types, this attribute is used to specify the
   forwarding action at the receiving BGP-peer.  If the value in the
   attribute is syntactically parse-able, but not semantically valid,
   the receiving speaker SHOULD deal with the error gracefully by
   ignoring the MNH attribute, and continue processing the route.  It
   MUST NOT tear down the BGP session.

   If a MNH TLV Type = 4 is received for an IP-route (SAFI Unicast), the
   MNH attribute SHOULD be ignored.  Because IP route prefixes are
   upstream allocated by nature.



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   If a MNH TLV Type = 4 is received for an [MPLS-NAMESPACES] route, the
   MNH attribute SHOULD be ignored.  Because the label prefix in MPLS-
   NAMESPACE family routes is upstream allocated.

   The receiving BGP speaker MAY consider the "Num-Nexthops" value in a
   Nexthop Forwarding Information TLV not acceptable, based on it's
   forwarding capabilities.  In such cases, the MNH attribute SHOULD be
   considered Unusable, and not be used, ignored on receipt.  The
   condition SHOULD be dealt gracefully and MUST NOT tear down the BGP
   session.

   A TLV or sub-TLV of a certain Type in a MNH attribute can occur only
   once, unless specified otherwise by that type value.  If multiple
   instances of such TLV or sub-TLV is received, the instances other
   than the first occurance are ignored.

   If a TLV or sub-TLV of an unknown Type value is received, it is
   ignored and skipped.  Remaining part of the MNH attribute if
   parseable is used

   In case of length errors inside a TLV, such that the MNH attribute
   cannot be used, but the length value in MNH attribute itself is
   proper, the MNH attribute should be considered invalid and not used.
   But rest of the route update if parseable should be used.  This
   follows the 'Attribute discard' approach described in [RFC7606]
   Section 2.

7.  Scaling Considerations

   The MNH attribute allows receiving multiple nexthops on the same BGP
   session.  This flexibility also opens up the possibility that a peer
   can send large number of multipath (ECMP/UCMP/FRR) nexthops that may
   overwhelm the local system's forwarding plane.  Prefix-limit based
   checks will not avoid this situation.

   To keep the scaling limits under check, a BGP speaker MAY keep
   account of number of unique multipath nexthops that are received from
   a BGP peer, and impose a configurable max-limit on that.  This is
   especially useful for EBGP peers.

   A good scaling property of conveying multipath nexthops using the MNH
   attribute with N nexthop legs on one BGP session, as against BGP
   routes on N BGP sessions is that, it limits the amount of
   transitionary multipath combinatorial state in the latter model.
   Because the final multipath state is conveyed by one route update in
   deterministic manner, there is no transitionary multipath
   combinatorial explosion created during establishment of N sessions.




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8.  IANA Considerations

   This document makes request to IANA to allocate the following codes
   in BGP attributes registry.

8.1.  BGP Path Attributes

   A new BGP attribute code TBD for "BGP MultiNexthop Attribute
   (MULTI_NEXT_HOP)", in "BGP Path Attributes" registry.

8.2.  Capability Codes

   This document makes request to IANA to allocate a BGP capability code
   TBD for "BGP MultiNexthop Attribute (MULTI_NEXT_HOP), in "Capability
   Codes" registry.

8.3.  BGP MultiNextHop Attribute

   This document requests IANA to create a new registry group for
   MultiNextHop attribute, and the following registries in it.

8.3.1.  MultiNextHop (MNH) TLV Types

   This is a Registry for Type codes in Section 5.1 "MULTI_NEXT_HOP TLV"

   Under "Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Parameters",

     Registry Group: BGP MultiNextHop Attribute

     Registry Name: MultiNexthop (MNH) TLV Types

          MNH Type Code        Meaning
         --------------     -------------
           0                Reserved
           1                Primary forwarding path
           2                Backup forwarding path
           3                Label Descriptor
           4-254            Unassigned
           255              Reserved

     Reference: This document.

     Registration Procedure(s)
         Future assignments are to be made using either the Standards Action
         process defined in [RFC2434], or the Early IANA Allocation process
         defined in [RFC4020].





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8.3.2.  Forwarding Action Types

   This is a Registry for Type codes in Section 5.3 "Forwarding
   Instruction TLV"

    Under "Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Parameters",

      Registry Group: BGP MultiNextHop Attribute

      Registry Name: Forwarding Action Types

            FwdAction         Meaning
            ---------      -------------
             0             Reserved
             1             Forward
             2             Pop-And-Forward
             3             Swap
             4             Push
             5             Pop-And-Lookup
             6             Replicate
             7-254         Unassigned
             255           Reserved

       Reference: This document.

       Registration Procedure(s)
           Future assignments are to be made using either the Standards Action
           process defined in [RFC2434], or the Early IANA Allocation process
           defined in [RFC4020].

8.3.3.  Forwarding Argument Types

   This is a Registry for Type codes in Section 5.4 "Forwarding
   Arguments TLV"

















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    Under "Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Parameters",

      Registry Group: BGP MultiNextHop Attribute

      Registry Name: Forwarding Argument Types

         F.A. Type Code      Meaning
         ---------------   ------------------
            0              Reserved
            1              Endpoint Identifier
            2              Path Constraints
            3              Payload encapsulation info signaling
            4              Endpoint attributes advertisement
            5-65534        Unassigned
            65535          Reserved

      Reference: This document.

      Registration Procedure(s)
          Future assignments are to be made using either the Standards Action
          process defined in [RFC2434], or the Early IANA Allocation process
          defined in [RFC4020].


8.3.4.  Endpoint Types

   This is a Registry for Type codes in Section 5.4.1 "Endpoint
   Identifier" Forwarding Argument.























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    Under "Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Parameters",

      Registry Group: BGP MultiNextHop Attribute

      Registry Name: Endpoint Types

          Endpoint Type   Value
         -------------  ---------
            0           Reserved
            1           IPv4 Address
            2           IPv6 Address
            3           MPLS Label
            4           Fwd Context RD
            5           Fwd Context RT
            6-254       Unassigned
            255         Reserved

      Reference: This document.

      Registration Procedure(s)
          Future assignments are to be made using either the Standards Action
          process defined in [RFC2434], or the Early IANA Allocation process
          defined in [RFC4020].


8.3.5.  Path Constrain Types

   This is a Registry for Type codes in Section 5.4.2 "Path Constrain"
   Forwarding Argument.






















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    Under "Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Parameters",

      Registry Group: BGP MultiNextHop Attribute

      Registry Name: Path Constrain Types

         ConstrainType             Value
         -------------  -------------------------
           0             Reserved
           1             Proximity check
           2             Transport Class ID (Color)
           3             Load balance factor
           4-254         Unassigned
           255           Reserved

      Reference: This document.

      Registration Procedure(s)
           Future assignments are to be made using either the Standards Action
           process defined in [RFC2434], or the Early IANA Allocation process
           defined in [RFC4020].


8.3.6.  Encapsulation Types

   This is a Registry for Type codes in Section 5.4.3 "Payload
   Encapsulation Info" Forwarding Argument.
























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      Under "Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Parameters",

        Registry Group: BGP MultiNextHop Attribute

        Registry Name: Encapsulation Types

            Encap Type        Value
          -------------  --------------
            0           Reserved
            1           MPLS Label Info
            2           SR MPLS label Index Info
            3           SRv6 SID info
            4           DSCP code point
            5-254       Unassigned
            255         Reserved

        Reference: This document.

        Registration Procedure(s)
            Future assignments are to be made using either the Standards Action
            process defined in [RFC2434], or the Early IANA Allocation process
            defined in [RFC4020].


8.3.7.  Endpoint Attribute Types

   This is a Registry for Type codes in Section 5.4.4 "Endpoint
   attributes" Forwarding Argument.























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    Under "Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Parameters",

      Registry Group: BGP MultiNextHop Attribute

      Registry Name:  Endpoint Attribute Types

         EP Attrib Type      Attrib Value
         ----------------  ------------------
           0               Reserved
           1               Bandwidth
           2-254           Unassigned
           255             Reserved

       Reference: This document.

       Registration Procedure(s)
           Future assignments are to be made using either the Standards Action
           process defined in [RFC2434], or the Early IANA Allocation process
           defined in [RFC4020].


   Note to RFC Editor: this section may be removed on publication as an
   RFC.

9.  Security Considerations

   The MNH attribute is defined as optional non-transitive BGP
   attribute, such that it does not accidentally get propagated or
   leaked via BGP speakers that dont support this feature, especially
   does not unintentionally leak across EBGP boundaries.

   MNH may be used to advertise nexthop with MPLS label in various BGP
   families.  In scenarios where MPLS is enabled on link to a device in
   an untrusted domain, e.g. a PE-CE link or ASBR-ASBR inter-AS link,
   security can be provided against MPLS label spoofing by using MPLS
   context tables as described in MPLS enabled CE (Appendix A.10.2).
   Such that only MPLS traffic with labels advertised to the BGP speaker
   are allowed to forward.  However, the PE may not be able to perform
   any checks based on inner payload in the MPLS packet since it
   performs label swap forwarding.  Such 'inner payload' based checks
   may be offloaded to a downstream node that forwards and processes
   inner payload, e.g., an IP router having full FIB.  These security
   aspects should be considered when using MPLS enabled CE devices.

Contributors






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   Reshma Das
   Juniper Networks, Inc.
   1133 Innovation Way,
   Sunnyvale, CA 94089
   United States of America
   Email: dreshma@juniper.net


   Natrajan Venkataraman
   Juniper Networks, Inc.
   1133 Innovation Way,
   Sunnyvale, CA 94089
   United States of America
   Email: natv@juniper.net


Acknowledgements

   Thanks to Jeff Haas, Robert Raszuk, Ron Bonica for the review,
   discussions and input to the draft.

   Thanks to Blaine Williams and Satya Mohanty for the discussions on
   some usecases.

References

Normative References

   [RFC2545]  Marques, P. and F. Dupont, "Use of BGP-4 Multiprotocol
              Extensions for IPv6 Inter-Domain Routing", RFC 2545,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC2545, March 1999,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2545>.

   [RFC4271]  Rekhter, Y., Ed., Li, T., Ed., and S. Hares, Ed., "A
              Border Gateway Protocol 4 (BGP-4)", RFC 4271,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC4271, January 2006,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4271>.

   [RFC7311]  Mohapatra, P., Fernando, R., Rosen, E., and J. Uttaro,
              "The Accumulated IGP Metric Attribute for BGP", RFC 7311,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC7311, August 2014,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7311>.

   [RFC7606]  Chen, E., Ed., Scudder, J., Ed., Mohapatra, P., and K.
              Patel, "Revised Error Handling for BGP UPDATE Messages",
              RFC 7606, DOI 10.17487/RFC7606, August 2015,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7606>.




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   [RFC7911]  Walton, D., Retana, A., Chen, E., and J. Scudder,
              "Advertisement of Multiple Paths in BGP", RFC 7911,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC7911, July 2016,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7911>.

   [RFC8277]  Rosen, E., "Using BGP to Bind MPLS Labels to Address
              Prefixes", RFC 8277, DOI 10.17487/RFC8277, October 2017,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8277>.

Informative References

   [ADDPATH-GUIDELINES]
              Uttaro, Ed., "BGP Flow-Spec Redirect to IP Action", 25
              April 2016, <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-
              ietf-idr-add-paths-guidelines-08#section-2>.

   [BGP-CT]   Vairavakkalai, Ed. and Venkataraman, Ed., "BGP Classful
              Transport Planes", 10 July 2023,
              <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-idr-bgp-
              ct-12>.

   [FLWSPC-REDIR-IP]
              Simpson, Ed., "BGP Flow-Spec Redirect to IP Action", 2
              February 2015, <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/
              draft-ietf-idr-flowspec-redirect-ip#section-3>.

   [MPLS-NAMESPACES]
              Vairavakkalai, Ed., "BGP Signaled MPLS Namespaces", 10
              July 2023, <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-
              kaliraj-bess-bgp-sig-private-mpls-labels-06>.

   [RFC2119]  Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
              Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>.

   [RFC2474]  Nichols, K., Blake, S., Baker, F., and D. Black,
              "Definition of the Differentiated Services Field (DS
              Field) in the IPv4 and IPv6 Headers", RFC 2474,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC2474, December 1998,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2474>.

   [SRTE-COLOR-ONLY]
              Filsfils, Ed., "BGP Flow-Spec Redirect to IP Action", 21
              February 2018, <https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-
              filsfils-spring-segment-routing-policy-06#section-8.8.1>.





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Appendix A.  Example of Usecases

   This section describes various example usecases of the MNH attribute.

A.1.  Signaling WECMP to Ingress Node

   This section describes how MNH can be used to provide weighted equal
   cost multipath in a network fabric, while not increasing RIB scale.

                                      [RR1]
                                        .
                      . +-[P21]         |
                     .  +-[P22]         __
                    .   +-[P23]      _.(  )..
               [R1].    +-[P24] ..  (_      _) .. [R2]
                    .   +-[P25]       (._..)
                     .
                      . +-[P2n]


                       <---- Traffic Direction ----

               Figure 22: WECMP without increasing RIB scale

   Figure 22 shows a network with BGP speaker R1 connected to a number
   of routers P21 .. P2n in its region.  R1 is eSN and R2 is iSN for the
   IP traffic in consideration.  BGP service families IPv4 Unicast (AFI/
   SAFI: 1/1) and IPv6 Unicast (AFI/SAFI: 2/1) are negotiated on the BGP
   sessions between RR1 - R1 and RR1 - R2.  RR1 reflects the BGP routes
   between R1 and R2 with next hop unchanged.

   When MNH is not in use, R1 advertises "n" BGP Addpath routes for a
   service prefix Pfx1, each having a distinct next hop, P21 .. P2n, and
   desired Link Bandwidth Extended Community.  These Addpath routes will
   be received by R2, which can do WECMP based on the Link Bandwidth
   Extended Communities attached on the routes.  This model increases
   RIB scale by "n" times, so that WECMP can be achieved.

   When MNH is used in this network, R1 advertises a single BGP route
   for prefix Pfx1, which contains a MNH attribute with "n" next hops,
   each carrying the desired link bandwidth using Section 5.4.2.3 or
   Section 5.4.4.1

   This allows achieving WECMP in the network without increasing RIB
   scale.






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A.2.  Signaling Optimal Forwarding Exitpoints to Ingress Node

   In a BGP free core, one can dynamically signal to the ingress-node,
   how traffic should be load-balanced towards a set of exit nodes, in
   one BGP-route containing this attribute.

   Example, for prefix1, perform equal load balancing towards exit nodes
   A, B; where as for prefix2, perform weighted load balancing (40%,
   30%, 30%) towards exit nodes A, B, C.

   Example, for prefix1, use PE1 as primary-nexthop and use PE2 as a
   backup-nexthop.

A.3.  Load balancing to multiple CEs in a VRF

   This section describes how MNH can be used to provide load balancing
   and entropy in a provider network for traffic destined to multiple
   CEs in a VRF, without increasing RIB scale.

                                      [RR1]
                                        .
               [CE1].                   |
                     .                  __
               [CE2]  .              _.(  )..
                       .[PE1]   ..  (_      _) .. [PE2]
               [CE3]  .               (._..)
                     .
               [CE4].


                       <---- Traffic Direction ----

             Figure 23: Load balancing to multiple CEs in a VRF

   Figure 23 shows a L3VPN network with multiple CE devices connected to
   the same VRF at PE1.  The VRF is configured with a RD: RD1, and uses
   "per next hop" label allocation mode to advertise the CE routes to
   L3VPN core.  PE1 is eSN and PE2 is iSN for the IP traffic in
   consideration.  CE1..CE4 advertise route for same prefix Pfx1 in BGP
   service families IPv4 Unicast (AFI/SAFI: 1/1) negotiated on the BGP
   sessions between the CEs and PE1.  BGP L3VPN address family (AFI/
   SAFI: 1/128) is negotiated between PE1 - RR1, and RR1 - PE2.  RR1
   reflects the BGP routes between PE1 and PE2 with next hop unchanged.








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   PE1 would typically advertise to RR1 only the best path for prefix
   Pfx1 out of routes received from CE1..CE4.  Using per CE RD or
   Addpath for L3VPN family may allow PE1 to advertise all CE routes to
   the RR, with an increase in RIB scale.  This model increases RIB
   scale by "n" times, where 'n' is the number of CEs.

   When MNH is used in this network, PE1 advertises a single BGP L3VPN
   route for prefix Pfx1, which contains a MNH attribute with "n" next
   hops, each carrying the label pointing towards a particular CE, using
   Section 5.4.3 along with the Section 5.4.1

   This allows the network to direct traffic to a specific CE, and
   better loadbalance traffic in the provider network, with entropy
   provided by the per CE VPN labels, without increasing RIB scale.

A.4.  Choosing a Received Label Based on it's Forwarding Semantic at
      Advertising Node

   In Downstream label allocation case, the MNH plays role of "Label
   descriptor" and describes the forwarding treatment given to the label
   at the advertising speaker.  The receiving speaker can benefit from
   this information as in the following examples:

   - For a Prefix, a label with FRR enabled nexthop-set can be preferred
   to another label with a nexthop-set that doesn't provide FRR.

   - For a Prefix, a label pointing to 10g nexthop can be preferred to
   another label pointing to a 1g nexthop

   - Set of labels advertised can be aggregated, if they have same
   forwarding semantics (e.g.  VPN per-prefix-label case)

A.5.  Signaling Desired Forwarding Behavior for MPLS Upstream labels at
      Receiving Node

   In Upstream label allocation case, the receiving speaker's
   forwarding-state can be controlled by the advertising speaker, thus
   enabling a standardized API to program desired MPLS forwarding-state
   at the receiving node.  This is described in the [MPLS-NAMESPACES]

A.6.  Load Balancing over EBGP Parallel Links

   Consider N parallel links between two EBGP speakers.  There are
   different models possible to do load balancing over these links:







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      N single-hop EBGP sessions over the N links.  Interface addresses
      are used as next-hops.  N copies of the RIB are exchanged to form
      N-way ECMP paths.  The routes advertised on the N sessions can be
      attached with Link bandwidth comunity to perform weighted ECMP.

      1 multi-hop EBGP session between loopback addresses, reachable via
      static route over the N links.  Loopback addresses are used as
      next-hops. 1 copy of the RIB is exchanged with loopback address as
      nexthop.  And a static route can be configured to the loopback
      address to perform desired N-way ECMP path.  M loopbacks are
      configured in this model, to achieve M different load balancing
      schemes: ECMP, weighted ECMP, Fast-reroute enabled paths etc.

      1 multi-hop EBGP session between loopback addresses, reachable via
      static route over the N links.  Interface addresses are used as
      next-hops, without using additional loopbacks. 1 copy of the RIB
      is exchanged with MNH attribute to form N-way ECMP paths, weighted
      ECMP, Fast-reroute backup paths etc.  BFD may be used to these
      directly connected BGP nexthops to detect liveness.

A.7.  Flowspec Routes with Multiple "Redirect IP" next hops

   There are existing protocol machinery which can benefit from the
   ability of MNH to clearly specify fallback behavior when multiple
   nexthops are involved.  One example is the scenario described in
   [FLWSPC-REDIR-IP] where multiple Redirect-to-IP nexthop addresses
   exist for a Flowspec prefix.  In such a scenario, the receiving
   speakers may redirect the traffic to different nexthops, based on
   variables like IGP-cost.  If instead, the MNH was used to specify the
   redirect-to-IP nexthop, then the order of preference between the
   different nexthops can be clearly specified using one flowspec route
   carrying a MNH containing those different nexthop-addresses
   specifying the desired preference-order.  Such that, irrespective of
   IGP-cost, the receiving speakers will redirect the flow towards the
   same traffic collector device.

A.8.  Color-Only Resolution next hop

   Another existing protocol machinery that manufactures nexthop
   addresses from overloaded extended color community is specified in
   [SRTE-COLOR-ONLY].  In a way, the color field is overloaded to carry
   one anycast BGP next-hop with pre-specified fallback options.  This
   approach gives us only two next-hops to play with.  The 'BGP nexthop
   address' and the 'Color-only nexthop'







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   Instead, the MNH could be used to achieve the same result with more
   flexibility.  Multiple BGP nexthops can be carried, each resolving
   over a desired Transport class (Color), and with customizable
   fallback order.  And the solution will work for non-SRTE networks as-
   well.

A.9.  Avoid Label Advertisement Oscillation Between Multihomed PEs.

   In a MPLS network, a router may be multihomed to two PEs.  The PEs
   may re-advertise routes received from the router to the IBGP core
   with self as nexthop and a "per nexthop" label.  The PEs may also
   protect failure of primary path to the router by using the IBGP path
   via the other multihomed PE as a backup path.

   In this scenario, label allocation oscillation may occur when one PE
   advertises a new label to the other PE.  Reception of a new label
   results in change of nexthop, as the label is used as back nexthop
   leg, and per-nexthop label allocation is in use.  Thus a new label is
   allocated and advertised.  And when this new label is received by the
   first PE, it allocates a new label in turn.  This process repeats.

   This oscillation can be stopped only if the primary path label
   allocated by a PE does not depend on the primary path label
   advertised by other PE.  A PE needs to be able to advertise multiple
   labels, one for use as primary path and another to be used as bacakup
   path by the receiver.

   MNH attribute allows to advertise a Backup forwarding path label
   using Section 5.1.2 in addition to Primary forwarding path label
   using Section 5.1.1

A.10.  Signaling Intent over PE-CE Attachment Circuit

   BGP CT specifies procedures for Intent Driven Service Mapping in a
   service provider network, and defines 'Transport Class' construct to
   represent an Intent.

   It may be desirable to allow a CE device to indicate in the data
   packet it sends what treatment it desires (the Intent) when the
   packet is forwarded within the provider network.

   This section describes the mechanisms that enable such signaling.
   These procedures use existing AFIs 1 or 2, and service families (SAFI
   1) on the PE-CE attachment circuit, with a new BGP attribute.







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                                       ---Gold----->
                         [CE1]-----[PE1]---[P]----[PE2]-----[CE2]
                                       ---Bronze--->
                   203.0.113.11                             203.0.113.22
                             ----  Traffic direction ---->

                Figure 24: Example Topology with PE-CE Links

A.10.1.  Using DSCP in MultiNexthop Attribute

   Such an indication can be in form of DSCP code point ([RFC2474]) in
   the IP header.

   In RFC2474, a Forwarding Class Selector maps to a PHB (Per-hop
   Behavior).  The Transport Class construct is a PHB at transport
   layer.

   Let PE1 be configured to map DSCP1 to Gold Transport class, and DSCP2
   to Bronze Transport class.  Based on the DSCP code point received on
   the IP traffic from CE1, PE1 forwards the IP packet over a Gold or
   Bronze tunnel.  Thus, the forwarding is not based on just the
   destination IP address, but also the DSCP code point.  This is known
   as Class Based Forwarding (CBF).  Today CBF is configured at the PE1
   device roles and CE1 doesn't receive any indication in BGP signaling
   regarding what DSCP code points are being offered by the provider
   network.

   With a BGP MultiNexthop Attribute attached to a AFI/SAFI 1/1 service
   route, it is possible to extend the PE-CE BGP signaling (if used) to
   communicate such information to the CE1.  In the preceding example,
   the MNH contains two Next hop Legs, described by two Forwarding
   Instruction TLVs.  Each Next hop Leg contains PE1's peering self
   address in Endpoint Identifier TLV ( Section 5.4.1), the color Gold
   or Bronze encoded in the Transport class ID TLV (Section 5.4.2.2,
   Figure 13), and associated DSCP code point indicating Gold or Bronze
   transport class encoded in the Payload Encapsulation Info TLV
   (Section 5.4.3.4, Section 5.4.3).  This allows the CE to discover
   what transport classes exist in the provider network, and which DSCP
   codepoint to encode so that traffic is forwarded using the desired
   transport class in the provided network.

A.10.2.  MPLS-enabled CE

   If the PE-CE link is MPLS enabled, a distinct MPLS label can also be
   used to express Intent in data packets from CE.  Enabling MPLS
   forwarding on PE-CE links comes with some security implications.
   This section gives details on these aspects.




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   Consider the ingress PE1 receiving a VPN prefix RD:Pfx1 received with
   VPN label VL1, next hop as PE2 and a mapping community containing TC1
   as 'Transport class ID'.  PE1 can allocate a MPLS Label PVL1 for the
   tuple "VPN Label, PNH Address, Transport class ID" and advertise to
   CE1.

   Label PVL1 may identifies a service function at any node in the
   network, e.g. a Firewall device or egress node PE2.  And, for the
   same service prefix, a distinct label may be advertised to different
   CEs, such that incoming traffic from different CEs to the same
   service prefix can be diverted to a distinct devices in the network
   for further processing.  This provides Ingress Peer Engineering
   control to the network.

   PE1 installs a MPLS FIB route for PVL1 with next hop as "Swap VL1,
   Push TL1 towards PE2".  TL1 is the BGP CT label received for the
   tuple 'PE2, TC1'.  In forwarding, when MPLS packet with label PVL1 is
   received from CE1, PVL1 Swaps to label VL1 and pushes the BGP CT
   label TL1.  PE1 advertises the label "PVL1" in the MNH to CE1.  PE1
   forwards based on MPLS label without performing any IP lookup.  This
   allows for PE1 to be a low IP FIB device and still support CBF by
   using MPLS Label inferred PHB.  The number of MPLS Labels consumed at
   PE1 for this approach will be proportional to the number of Service
   functions and Intents that are exposed to CE1.

   A BGP MultiNexthop Attribute is attached to a AFI/SAFI 1/1 service
   route to convey the MPLS Label information to CE1.  In the preceding
   example, the MNH contains two Next hop Legs, described by two
   Forwarding Instruction TLVs.  Each Next hop Leg contains PE1's
   peering self address in Endpoint Identifier TLV ( Section 5.4.1), the
   color Gold or Bronze encoded in the Transport class ID TLV
   (Figure 13), and associated MPLS Label "PVL1" or "PVL2" encoded in
   the Payload Encapsulation Info TLV (Section 5.4.3.1, Section 5.4.3).
   This allows the CE to discover what transport classes exist in the
   provider network, and which MPLS Label to encode so that traffic is
   forwarded using the desired transport class.

A.10.2.1.  Secure MPLS Forwarding on Inter-AS Link

   The MPLS enabled PE-CE attachment circuit is considered connecting to
   an untrusted domain.  Such interfaces can be secured against MPLS
   label spoofing by a walled garden approach using "MPLS context
   tables".

   The PE1-CE1 interface can be confined to a specific MPLS context
   table "A" corresponding to the BGP peer.  Such that only the routes
   for labels advertised to CE1 are installed in MPLS context table "A".




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   This ensures that if CE1 sends MPLS packet with a label that was not
   advertised to the CE1, the packet will be dropped.

   Furthermore, the routes for labels PVL1, PVL2 installed in MPLS
   context table "A" can match on 'Bottom of stack' bit being 'one',
   ensuring a MPLS packet is accepted from CE1 only if it has no more
   than one label in the label stack.

   However, the PE itself may not be able to perform any checks based on
   inner payload in the MPLS packet since it performs label swap
   forwarding.  Such inner payload based checks may be offloaded to a
   downstream node that forwards and processes inner payload, e.g. a IP
   FIB router.  These security aspects should be considered when using
   MPLS enabled CE devices.

A.11.  4PE - Signal MPLS Label for IPv4 Unicast routes

   This section describes how MNH can be used to signal MPLS explicit
   null label in AFI/SAFI: 1/1 routes in a pure IPv6 core environment,
   to achieve 4PE.

                                      [RR1]
                                        .
                                        |
                                        __
                                     _.(  )..
          [CE1] - [PE1]-[P1]    ..  (_  v6  _) .. [PE2] - [CE2]
                                      (._..)


                       <---- Traffic Direction ----
                 P1: PHP node.
                 PE1: Egress PE.

                 Figure 25: 4PE Network with Pure IPv6 Core

   Figure 25 shows a 4PE network with pure IPv6 core, PE1 is the egress
   PE connected to penultimate hop node P1.  PE1 to PE2 have some IPv6
   core tunneling protocol like LDPv6.  When PE1 has advertised Implicit
   Null label in LDPv6, some implementations of P1 may not be able to
   forward the inner IPv4 payload to PE1.

   To solve this problem, PE1 needs to signal IPv4 Explicit NULL Label
   (Special Label 0) to PE2.  PE2 will push this IPv4 Explicit NULL
   Label received in the MNH on the AFI/SAFI:1/1 route.  Such that P1
   does a MPLS Label swap operation and does not need to look into inner
   payload.




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   MNH can be used by PE1 on a AFI/SAFI: 1/1 route, to advertise the
   IPv4 Explicit Null label for the IPv4 Unicast service route.  MPLS
   Label is encoded in the Payload Encapsulation Info TLV
   (Section 5.4.3.1, Section 5.4.3).

   This allows the network to provide clear separation of service and
   transport routes, and not overloading AFI/SAFI: 1/4 to carry the IPv4
   service routes.  Not mixing service and transport routes improves
   security and manageability aspects of the network.

   An egress PE may not need to advertise IPv4 Explicit Null label for
   the IPv4 service route, if it does UHP label in LDPv6.  This model
   using MNH provides a homogenous service layer (AFI/SAFI: 1/1) that
   accomodates differences in requirement of different PE and P routers.
   Only the PEs which are connected to P nodes that cannot handle the
   PHP situation need to advertise Label using MNH.  The service layer
   is kept consistent in the network, and can seamlessly extend to
   multiple domains without needing redistribution between AFI/SAFIs.

   Not mixing service and transport routes improves security and
   manageability aspects of the network.

Authors' Addresses

   Kaliraj Vairavakkalai (editor)
   Juniper Networks, Inc.
   1133 Innovation Way,
   Sunnyvale, CA 94089
   United States of America
   Email: kaliraj@juniper.net


   Minto Jeyananth
   Juniper Networks, Inc.
   1133 Innovation Way,
   Sunnyvale, CA 94089
   United States of America
   Email: minto@juniper.net


   Mohan Nanduri
   Microsoft
   1 Microsoft Way,
   Redmond, WA 98052
   United States of America
   Email: mohannanduri@microsoft.com





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   Avinash Reddy
   AT&T
   3400 W Plano Pkwy,
   Plano, TX 75075
   United States of America
   Email: ar977m@att.com













































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