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Network Working Group Eric C. Rosen
Internet Draft Yakov Rekhter
Expiration Date: December 1997 Daniel Tappan
Dino Farinacci
Guy Fedorkow
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Tony Li
Juniper Networks, Inc.
June 1997
Label Switching: Label Stack Encodings
draft-rosen-tag-stack-02.txt
Status of this Memo
This document is an Internet-Draft. Internet-Drafts are working
documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), its areas,
and its working groups. Note that other groups may also distribute
working documents as Internet-Drafts.
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."
To learn the current status of any Internet-Draft, please check the
"1id-abstracts.txt" listing contained in the Internet-Drafts Shadow
Directories on ftp.is.co.za (Africa), nic.nordu.net (Europe),
munnari.oz.au (Pacific Rim), ds.internic.net (US East Coast), or
ftp.isi.edu (US West Coast).
Abstract
"Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)" [1,2] requires a set of
procedures for augmenting network layer packets with "label stacks"
(sometimes called "tag stacks"), thereby turning them into "labeled
packets". Routers which support MPLS are known as "Label Switching
Routers", or "LSRs". In order to transmit a labeled packet on a
particular data link, an LSR must support an encoding technique
which, given a label stack and a network layer packet, produces a
labeled packet. This document specifies the encoding to be used by
an LSR in order to transmit labeled packets on PPP data links and on
LAN data links. This document also specifies rules and procedures
Rosen, et al. [Page 1]
Internet Draft draft-rosen-tag-stack-02.txt June 1997
for processing the various fields of the label stack encoding.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction ........................................... 2
1.1 Specification of Requirements .......................... 3
2 The Label Stack ........................................ 4
2.1 Encoding the Label Stack ............................... 4
2.2 Determining the Network Layer Protocol ................. 6
2.3 Processing the Time to Live Field ...................... 7
2.3.1 Definitions ............................................ 7
2.3.2 Protocol-independent rules ............................. 7
2.3.3 IP-dependent rules ..................................... 8
3 Fragmentation and Path MTU Discovery ................... 8
3.1 Terminology ............................................ 9
3.2 Maximum Initially Labeled IP Datagram Size ............. 10
3.3 When are Labeled IP Datagrams Too Big? ................. 11
3.4 Processing Labeled IP Datagrams which are Too Big ...... 11
3.5 Implications with respect to Path MTU Discovery ........ 12
3.5.1 Tunneling through a Transit Routing Domain ............. 13
3.5.2 Tunneling Private Addresses through a Public Backbone .. 13
4 Transporting Labeled Packets over PPP .................. 14
4.1 Introduction ........................................... 14
4.2 A PPP Network Control Protocol for MPLS ................ 14
4.3 Sending Labeled Packets ................................ 15
4.4 Label Switching Control Protocol Configuration Options . 16
5 Transporting Labeled Packets over LAN Media ............ 16
6 Security Considerations ................................ 16
7 Authors' Addresses ..................................... 16
8 References ............................................. 17
1. Introduction
"Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)" [1,2] requires a set of
procedures for augmenting network layer packets with "label stacks"
(sometimes called "tag stacks"), thereby turning them into "labeled
packets". Routers which support MPLS are known as "Label Switching
Routers", or "LSRs". In order to transmit a labeled packet on a
particular data link, an LSR must support an encoding technique
which, given a label stack and a network layer packet, produces a
labeled packet.
Rosen, et al. [Page 2]
Internet Draft draft-rosen-tag-stack-02.txt June 1997
This document specifies the encoding to be used by an LSR in order to
transmit labeled packets on PPP data links and on LAN data links.
This document also specifies rules and procedures for processing the
various fields of the label stack encoding. Since MPLS is
independent of any particular network layer protocol, the majority of
such procedures are also protocol-independent. A few, however, do
differ for different protocols. In this document, we specify the
protocol-independent procedures, and we specify the protocol-
dependent procedures for IPv4.
LSRs that are implemented on certain switching devices (such as ATM
switches) may use different encoding techniques for encoding the top
one or two entries of the label stack. When the label stack has
additional entries, however, the encoding technique described in this
document may be used for the additional label stack entries.
1.1. Specification of Requirements
In this document, several words are used to signify the requirements
of the specification. These words are often capitalized.
MUST
This word, or the adjective "required", means that the
definition is an absolute requirement of the specification.
MUST NOT
This phrase means that the definition is an absolute prohibition
of the specification.
SHOULD
This word, or the adjective "recommended", means that there may
exist valid reasons in particular circumstances to ignore this
item, but the full implications must be understood and carefully
weighed before choosing a different course.
MAY
This word, or the adjective "optional", means that this item is
one of an allowed set of alternatives. An implementation which
does not include this option MUST be prepared to interoperate
with another implementation which does include the option.
Rosen, et al. [Page 3]
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2. The Label Stack
2.1. Encoding the Label Stack
On both PPP and LAN data links, the label stack is represented as a
sequence of "label stack entries". Each label stack entry is
represented by 4 octets. This is shown in Figure 1.
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
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Label
| Label | CoS |S| TTL | Stack
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Entry
Label: Label Value, 20 bits
CoS: Class of Service, 3 bits
S: Bottom of Stack, 1 bit
TTL: Time to Live, 8 bits
Figure 1
The label stack entries appear AFTER the data link layer headers, but
BEFORE any network layer headers. The top of the label stack appears
earliest in the packet, and the bottom appears latest. The network
layer packet immediately follows the label stack entry which has the
S bit set.
Each label stack entry is broken down into the following fields:
1. Bottom of Stack (S)
This bit is set to one for the last entry in the label stack
(i.e., for the bottom of the stack), and zero for all other
label stack entries.
2. Time to Live (TTL)
This eight-bit field is used to encode a time-to-live value.
The processing of this field is described in section 2.3.
3. Class of Service (CoS)
This three-bit field is used to identify a "Class of Service".
The setting of this field is intended to affect the scheduling
and/or discard algorithms which are applied to the packet as it
is transmitted through the network.
Rosen, et al. [Page 4]
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When an unlabeled packet is initially labeled, the value
assigned to the CoS field in the label stack entry is
determined by policy. Some possible policies are:
- the CoS value is a function of the IP ToS value
- the CoS value is a function of the packet's input interface
- the CoS value is a function of the "flow type"
Of course, many other policies are also possible.
When an additional label is pushed onto the stack of a packet
that is already labeled:
- in general, the value of the CoS field in the new top stack
entry should be equal to the value of the CoS field of the
old top stack entry;
- however, in some cases, most likely at boundaries between
network service providers, the value of the CoS field in
the new top stack entry may be determined by policy.
4. Label Value
This 20-bit field carries the actual value of the Label.
When a labeled packet is received, the label value at the top
of the stack is looked up. As a result of this lookup one
learns:
(a) information needed to forward the packet, such as the
next hop and the outgoing data link encapsulation;
however, the precise queue to put the packet on, or
information as to how to schedule the packet, may be a
function of both the label value AND the CoS field
value;
(b) the operation to be performed on the label stack before
forwarding; this operation may be to replace the top
label stack entry with another, or to pop an entry off
the label stack, or to replace the top label stack entry
and then to push one or more additional entries on the
label stack.
There are several reserved label values:
Rosen, et al. [Page 5]
Internet Draft draft-rosen-tag-stack-02.txt June 1997
i. A value of 0 represents the "IPv4 Explicit NULL Label".
This label value is only legal when it is the sole
label stack entry. It indicates that the label stack
must be popped, and the forwarding of the packet must
then be based on the IPv4 header.
ii. A value of 1 represents the "Router Alert Label". This
label value is legal anywhere in the label stack except
at the bottom. When a received packet contains this
label value at the top of the label stack, it is
delivered to a local software module for processing.
The actual forwarding of the packet is determined by
the label beneath it in the stack. However, if the
packet is forwarded further, the Router Alert Label
should be pushed back onto the label stack before
forwarding. The use of this label is analogous to the
use of the "Router Alert Option" in IP packets [6].
Since this label cannot occur at the bottom of the
stack, it is not associated with a particular network
layer protocol.
iii. A value of 2 represents the "IPv6 Explicit NULL Label".
This label value is only legal when it is the sole
label stack entry. It indicates that the label stack
must be popped, and the forwarding of the packet must
then be based on the IPv6 header.
iv. Values 3-16 are reserved.
We must also discuss the "Implicit NULL Label". This is a
label that an LSR may assign and distribute, but which never
actually appears in the encapsulation. When an LSR would
otherwise replace the label at the top of the stack with a new
label, but the new label is "Implicit NULL", the LSR will pop
the stack instead of doing the replacement.
2.2. Determining the Network Layer Protocol
When the last label is popped from the label stack, it is necessary
to determine the particular network layer protocol which is being
carried. Note that the label stack entries carry no explicit field
to identify the network layer header. Rather, this must be inferable
from the value of the label which is popped from the bottom of the
stack. This means that when the first label is pushed onto a network
layer packet, the label must be one which is used ONLY for packets of
a particular network layer. Furthermore, whenever that label is
replaced by another label value during a packet's transit, the new
Rosen, et al. [Page 6]
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value must also be one which is used only for packets of that network
layer.
2.3. Processing the Time to Live Field
2.3.1. Definitions
The "incoming TTL" of a labeled packet is defined to be the value of
the TTL field of the top label stack entry when the packet is
received.
The "outgoing TTL" of a labeled packet is defined to be the larger
of:
(a) one less than the incoming TTL,
(b) zero.
2.3.2. Protocol-independent rules
If the outgoing TTL of a labeled packet is 0, then the labeled packet
MUST NOT be further forwarded; the packet's lifetime in the network
is considered to have expired.
Depending on the label value in the label stack entry, the packet MAY
be silently discarded, or the packet MAY have its label stack
stripped off, and passed as an unlabeled packet to the ordinary
processing for network layer packets which have exceeded their
maximum lifetime in the network. However, even if the label stack is
stripped, the packet MUST NOT be further forwarded.
When a labeled packet is forwarded, the TTL field of the label stack
entry at the top of the label stack must be set to the outgoing TTL
value.
Note that the outgoing TTL value is a function solely of the incoming
TTL value, and is independent of whether any labels are pushed or
popped before forwarding. There is no significance to the value of
the TTL field in any label stack entry which is not at the top of the
stack.
Rosen, et al. [Page 7]
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2.3.3. IP-dependent rules
When an IP packet is first labeled, the TTL field of the label stack
entry MUST BE set to the value of the IP TTL field. (If the IP TTL
field needs to be decremented, as part of the IP processing, it is
assumed that this has already been done.)
When a label is popped, and the resulting label stack is empty, then
the value of the IP TTL field MUST BE replaced with the outgoing TTL
value, as defined above. Note that, in IPv4, this will also require
modification of the IP header checksum.
3. Fragmentation and Path MTU Discovery
Just as it is possible to receive an unlabeled IP datagram which is
too large to be transmitted on its output link, it is possible to
receive a labeled packet which is too large to be transmitted on its
output link.
It is also possible that a received packet (labeled or unlabeled)
which was originally small enough to be transmitted on that link
becomes too large by virtue of having one or more additional labels
pushed onto its label stack. In label switching, a packet may grow
in size if additional labels get pushed on. Thus if one receives a
labeled packet with a 1500-byte frame payload, and pushes on an
additional label, one needs to forward it as frame with a 1504-byte
payload.
This section specifies the rules for processing labeled packets which
are "too large". In particular, it provides rules which ensure that
hosts implementing RFC 1191 Path MTU Discovery will be able to
generate IP datagrams that do not need fragmentation, even if they
get labeled as the traverse the network.
In general, hosts which do not implement RFC 1191 Path MTU Discovery
send IP datagrams which contain no more than 576 bytes. Since the
MTUs in use on most data links today are 1500 bytes or more, the
probability that such datagrams will need to get fragmented, even if
they get labeled, is very small.
Some hosts that do not implement RFC 1191 Path MTU Discovery will
generate IP datagrams containing 1500 bytes, as long as the IP Source
and Destination addresses are on the same subnet. These datagrams
will not pass through routers, and hence will not get fragmented.
Unfortunately, some hosts will generate IP datagrams containing 1500
bytes, as long the IP Source and Destination addresses do not have
Rosen, et al. [Page 8]
Internet Draft draft-rosen-tag-stack-02.txt June 1997
the same classful network number. This is the one case in which
there is significant risk of fragmentation when such datagrams get
labeled.
This document specifies procedures which allow one to configure the
network so that large datagrams from hosts which do not implement
Path MTU Discovery get fragmented just once, when they are first
labeled. These procedures make it possible (assuming suitable
configuration) to avoid any need to fragment packets which have
already been labeled.
3.1. Terminology
With respect to a particular data link, we can use the following
terms:
- Frame Payload:
The contents of a data link frame, excluding any data link layer
headers or trailers (e.g., MAC headers, LLC headers, 802.1Q or
802.1p headers, PPP header, frame check sequences, etc.).
When a frame is carrying an an unlabeled IP datagram, the Frame
Payload is just the IP datagram itself. When a frame is carrying
a labeled IP datagram, the Frame Payload consists of the label
stack entries and the IP datagram.
- Conventional Maximum Frame Payload Size:
The maximum Frame Payload size allowed by data link standards.
For example, the Conventional Maximum Frame Payload Size for
ethernet is 1500 bytes.
- True Maximum Frame Payload Size:
The maximum size frame payload which can be sent and received
properly by the interface hardware attached to the data link.
On ethernet and 802.3 networks, it is believed that the True
Maximum Frame Payload Size is 4-8 bytes larger than the
Conventional Maximum Frame Payload Size (as long neither an
802.1Q header nor an 802.1p header is present, and as long as
neither can be added by a switch or bridge while a packet is in
transit to its next hop). For example, it is believed that most
ethernet equipment could correctly send and receive packets
carrying a payload of 1504 or perhaps even 1508 bytes, at least,
as long as the ethernet header does not have an 802.1Q or 802.1p
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Internet Draft draft-rosen-tag-stack-02.txt June 1997
field.
On PPP links, the True Maximum Frame Payload Size may be
virtually unbounded.
- Effective Maximum Frame Payload Size for Labeled Packets:
This is either be the Conventional Maximum Frame Payload Size or
the True Maximum Frame Payload Size, depending on the
capabilities of the equipment on the data link and the size of
the ethernet header being used.
- Initially Labeled IP Datagram
Suppose that an unlabeled IP datagram is received at a particular
LSR, and that the the LSR pushes on a label before forwarding the
datagram. Such a datagram will be called an Initially Labeled IP
Datagram at that LSR.
- Previously Labeled IP Datagram
An IP datagram which had already been labeled before it was
received by a particular LSR.
3.2. Maximum Initially Labeled IP Datagram Size
Every LSR which is capable of
(a) receiving an unlabeled IP datagram,
(b) adding a label stack to the datagram, and
(c) forwarding the resulting labeled packet,
MUST support a configuration parameter known as the "Maximum IP
Datagram Size for Labeling", which can be set to a non-negative
value.
If this configuration parameter is set to zero, it has no effect.
If it is set to a positive value, it is used in the following way.
If:
(a) an unlabeled IP datagram is received, and
(b) that datagram does not have the DF bit set in its IP header,
and
(c) that datagram needs to be labeled before being forwarded, and
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Internet Draft draft-rosen-tag-stack-02.txt June 1997
(d) the size of the datagram (before labeling) exceeds the value
of the parameter,
then
(a) the datagram must be broken into fragments, each of whose size
is no greater than the value of the parameter, and
(b) each fragment must be labeled and then forwarded.
If this configuration parameter is set to a value of 1488, for
example, then any unlabeled IP datagram containing more than 1488
bytes will be fragmented before being labeled. Each fragment will be
capable of being carried on a 1500-byte data link, without further
fragmentation, even if as many as three labels are pushed onto its
label stack.
In other words, setting this parameter to a non-zero value allows one
to eliminate all fragmentation of Previously Labeled IP Datagrams,
but it may cause some unnecessary fragmentation of Initially Labeled
IP Datagrams.
Note that the parameter has no effect on IP Datagrams that have the
DF bit set, which means that it has no effect on Path MTU Discovery.
3.3. When are Labeled IP Datagrams Too Big?
A labeled IP datagram whose size exceeds the Conventional Maximum
Frame Payload Size of the data link over which it is to be forwarded
MAY be considered to be "too big".
A labeled IP datagram whose size exceeds the True Maximum Frame
Payload Size of the data link over which it is to be forwarded MUST
be considered to be "too big".
A labeled IP datagram which is not "too big" MUST be transmitted
without fragmentation.
3.4. Processing Labeled IP Datagrams which are Too Big
If a labeled IP datagram is "too big", and the DF bit is not set in
its IP header, then the LSR MAY discard the datagram.
Note that discarding such datagrams is a sensible procedure only if
the "Maximum Initially Labeled IP Datagram Size" is set to a non-zero
value in every LSR in the network which is capable of adding a label
stack to an unlabeled IP datagram.
If the LSR chooses not to discard a labeled IP datagram which is too
Rosen, et al. [Page 11]
Internet Draft draft-rosen-tag-stack-02.txt June 1997
big, or if the DF bit is set in that datagram, then it MUST execute
the following algorithm:
1. Strip off the label stack entries to obtain the IP datagram.
2. Let N be the number of bytes in the label stack (i.e, 4 times
the number of label stack entries).
3. If the IP datagram does NOT have the "Don't Fragment" bit set
in its IP header:
a. convert it into fragments, each of which MUST be at least
N bytes less than the Effective Maximum Frame Payload
Size.
b. Prepend each fragment with the same label header that
would have been on the original datagram had
fragmentation not been necessary.
c. Forward the fragments
4. If the IP datagram has the "Don't Fragment" bit set in its IP
header:
a. the datagram MUST NOT be forwarded
b. Create an ICMP Destination Unreachable Message:
i. set its Code field (RFC 792) to "Fragmentation
Required and DF Set",
ii. set its Next-Hop MTU field (RFC 1191) to the
difference between the Effective Maximum Frame
Payload Size and the value of N
c. If possible, transmit the ICMP Destination Unreachable
Message to the source of the of the discarded datagram.
3.5. Implications with respect to Path MTU Discovery
The procedures described above for handling datagrams which have the
DF bit set, but which are "too large", have an impact on the Path MTU
Discovery procedures of RFC 1191. Hosts which implement these
procedures will discover an MTU which is small enough to allow n
labels to be pushed on the datagrams, without need for fragmentation,
where n is the number of labels that actually get pushed on along the
path currently in use.
Rosen, et al. [Page 12]
Internet Draft draft-rosen-tag-stack-02.txt June 1997
In other words, datagrams from hosts that use Path MTU Discovery will
never need to be fragmented due to the need to put on a label header,
or to add new labels to an existing label header. (Also, datagrams
from hosts that use Path MTU Discovery generally have the DF bit set,
and so will never get fragmented anyway.)
However, note that Path MTU Discovery will only work properly if, at
the point where a labeled IP Datagram's fragmentation needs to occur,
it is possible to route to the packet's source address. If this is
not possible, then the ICMP Destination Unreachable message cannot be
sent to the source.
3.5.1. Tunneling through a Transit Routing Domain
Suppose one is using MPLS to "tunnel" through a transit routing
domain, where the external routes are not leaked into the domain's
interior routers. If a packet needs fragmentation at some router
within the domain, and the packet's DF bit is set, it is necessary to
be able to originate an ICMP message at that router and have it
routed correctly to the source of the fragmented packet. If the
packet's source address is an external address, this poses a problem.
Therefore, in order for Path MTU Discovery to work, any routing
domain in which external routes are not leaked into the interior
routers MUST have a default route which causes all packets carrying
external destination addresses to be sent to a border router. For
example, one of the border routers may inject "default" into the IGP.
3.5.2. Tunneling Private Addresses through a Public Backbone
In other cases where MPLS is used to tunnel through a routing domain,
it may not be possible to route to the source address of a fragmented
packet at all. This would be the case, for example, if the IP
addresses carried in the packet were private addresses, and MPLS were
being used to tunnel those packets through a public backbone.
In such cases, the LSR at the transmitting end of the tunnel MUST be
able to determine the MTU of the tunnel as a whole. It SHOULD do
this by sending packets through the tunnel to the tunnel's receiving
endpoint, and performing Path MTU Discovery with those packets. Then
any time the transmitting endpoint of the tunnel needs to send a
packet into the tunnel, and that packet has the DF bit set, and it
exceeds the tunnel MTU, the transmitting endpoint of the tunnel MUST
send the ICMP Destination Unreachable message to the source, with
code "Fragmentation Required and DF Set", and the Next-Hop MTU Field
set as described above.
Rosen, et al. [Page 13]
Internet Draft draft-rosen-tag-stack-02.txt June 1997
4. Transporting Labeled Packets over PPP
The Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) [PPP] provides a standard method
for transporting multi-protocol datagrams over point-to-point links.
PPP defines an extensible Link Control Protocol, and proposes a
family of Network Control Protocols for establishing and configuring
different network-layer protocols.
This section defines the Network Control Protocol for establishing
and configuring label Switching over PPP.
4.1. Introduction
PPP has three main components:
1. A method for encapsulating multi-protocol datagrams.
2. A Link Control Protocol (LCP) for establishing, configuring,
and testing the data-link connection.
3. A family of Network Control Protocols for establishing and
configuring different network-layer protocols.
In order to establish communications over a point-to-point link, each
end of the PPP link must first send LCP packets to configure and test
the data link. After the link has been established and optional
facilities have been negotiated as needed by the LCP, PPP must send
"MPLS Control Protocol" packets to enable the transmission of labeled
packets. Once the "MPLS Control Protocol" has reached the Opened
state, labeled packets can be sent over the link.
The link will remain configured for communications until explicit LCP
or MPLS Control Protocol packets close the link down, or until some
external event occurs (an inactivity timer expires or network
administrator intervention).
4.2. A PPP Network Control Protocol for MPLS
The MPLS Control Protocol (MPLSCP) is responsible for enabling and
disabling the use of label switching on a PPP link. It uses the same
packet exchange mechanism as the Link Control Protocol (LCP). MPLSCP
packets may not be exchanged until PPP has reached the Network-Layer
Protocol phase. MPLSCP packets received before this phase is reached
should be silently discarded.
The MPLS Control Protocol is exactly the same as the Link Control
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Internet Draft draft-rosen-tag-stack-02.txt June 1997
Protocol [7] with the following exceptions:
1. Frame Modifications
The packet may utilize any modifications to the basic frame
format which have been negotiated during the Link Establishment
phase.
2. Data Link Layer Protocol Field
Exactly one MPLSCP packet is encapsulated in the PPP
Information field, where the PPP Protocol field indicates type
hex 8081 (MPLS).
3. Code field
Only Codes 1 through 7 (Configure-Request, Configure-Ack,
Configure-Nak, Configure-Reject, Terminate-Request, Terminate-
Ack and Code-Reject) are used. Other Codes should be treated
as unrecognized and should result in Code-Rejects.
4. Timeouts
MPLSCP packets may not be exchanged until PPP has reached the
Network-Layer Protocol phase. An implementation should be
prepared to wait for Authentication and Link Quality
Determination to finish before timing out waiting for a
Configure-Ack or other response. It is suggested that an
implementation give up only after user intervention or a
configurable amount of time.
5. Configuration Option Types
None.
4.3. Sending Labeled Packets
Before any labeled packets may be communicated, PPP must reach the
Network-Layer Protocol phase, and the MPLS Control Protocol must
reach the Opened state.
Exactly one labeled packet is encapsulated in the PPP Information
field, where the PPP Protocol field indicates either type hex 0081
(MPLS Unicast) or type hex 0083 (MPLS Multicast). The maximum length
of a labeled packet transmitted over a PPP link is the same as the
maximum length of the Information field of a PPP encapsulated packet.
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The format of the Information field itself is as defined in section
2.
Note that two codepoints are defined for labeled packets; one for
multicast and one for unicast. Once the MPLSCP has reached the
Opened state, both label Switched multicasts and label Switched
unicasts can be sent over the PPP link.
4.4. Label Switching Control Protocol Configuration Options
There are no configuration options.
5. Transporting Labeled Packets over LAN Media
Exactly one labeled packet is carried in each frame.
The label stack entries immediately precede the network layer header,
and follow any data link layer headers, including any VLAN headers,
802.1p headers, and/or 802.1Q headers that may exist.
The ethertype value 8847 hex is used to indicate that a frame is
carrying an MPLS unicast packet.
The ethertype value 8848 hex is used to indicate that a frame is
carrying an MPLS multicast packet.
These ethertype values can be used with either the ethernet
encapsulation or the 802.3 SNAP/SAP encapsulation to carry labeled
packets.
6. Security Considerations
Security considerations are not discussed in this document.
7. Authors' Addresses
Eric C. Rosen
Cisco Systems, Inc.
250 Apollo Drive
Chelmsford, MA, 01824
E-mail: erosen@cisco.com
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Dan Tappan
Cisco Systems, Inc.
250 Apollo Drive
Chelmsford, MA, 01824
E-mail: tappan@cisco.com
Dino Farinacci
Cisco Systems, Inc.
170 Tasman Drive
San Jose, CA, 95134
E-mail: dino@cisco.com
Yakov Rekhter
Cisco Systems, Inc.
170 Tasman Drive
San Jose, CA, 95134
E-mail: yakov@cisco.com
Guy Fedorkow
Cisco Systems, Inc.
250 Apollo Drive
Chelmsford, MA, 01824
E-mail: fedorkow@cisco.com
Tony Li
Juniper Networks
3260 Jay Street
Santa Clara, CA 95051
E-mail: tli@jnx.com
8. References
[1] "Tag Switching Architecture - Overview", 1/9/97, draft-rekhter-
tagswitch-arch-00.txt, Rekhter, Davie, Katz, Rosen, Swallow
[2] "A Framework for Multiprotocol Label Switching", 5/12/97, draft-
ietf-mpls-framework-00.txt, Callon, Doolan, Feldman, Fredette,
Swallow, Visanathawan
[3] "Internet Protocol", RFC 791, 9/81, Postel
[4] "Internet Control Message Protocol", RFC 792, 9/81, Postel
Rosen, et al. [Page 17]
Internet Draft draft-rosen-tag-stack-02.txt June 1997
[5] "Path MTU Discovery", RFC 1191, 11/90, Mogul & Deering
[6] "IP Router Alert Option", RFC 2113, 2/97, Katz
[7] "The Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)", RFC 1661, 7/94, Simpson
Rosen, et al. [Page 18]