Internet Draft
Internet Draft                                            Jim Boyle
Expiration: December 1999                                   Level3
File: draft-ietf-rap-cops-rsvp-05.txt                     Ron Cohen
                                                            Cisco
                                                          David Durham
                                                            Intel
                                                          Shai Herzog
                                                            IPHighway
                                                          Raju Rajan
                                                            AT&T
                                                          Arun Sastry
                                                            Cisco




                          COPS usage for RSVP


                             June 14, 1999



Status of this Memo

This document is an Internet-Draft and is in full conformance with all
provisions of Section 10 of RFC2026.

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."

The list of current Internet-Drafts can be accessed at
http://www.ietf.org/ietf/1id-abstracts.txt

The list of Internet-Draft Shadow Directories can be accessed at
http://www.ietf.org/shadow.html.


Abstract

This document describes usage directives for supporting COPS policy
services in RSVP environments.









Internet Draft          Expires December 1999                 [Page 1]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99


Table of Contents


Abstract.............................................................1
Table of Contents....................................................2
1 Introduction.......................................................3
2 RSVP values for COPS objects.......................................3
2.1  Common Header, client-type......................................3
2.2  Context Object (Context)........................................3
2.3  Client Specific Information (ClientSI)..........................4
2.4  Decision Object (Decision)......................................5
3 Operation of COPS for RSVP PEPs....................................6
3.1  RSVP flows......................................................6
3.2  Expected Associations for RSVP Requests.........................6
3.3  RSVP's Capacity Admission Control: Commit and Delete............7
3.4  Policy Control Over PathTear and ResvTear.......................7
3.5  PEP Caching COPS Decisions......................................7
3.6  Using Multiple Context Flags in a single query..................8
3.7  RSVP Error Reporting............................................9
4 Security Considerations............................................9
5 Illustrative Examples, Using COPS for RSVP........................10
5.1  Unicast Flow Example...........................................10
5.2  Shared Multicast Flows.........................................12
6 References........................................................15
7 Author Information and Acknowledgments............................15





























Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                 [Page 2]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99

1  Introduction

   The Common Open Policy Service (COPS) protocol is a query response
   protocol used to exchange policy information between a network
   policy server and a set of clients [COPS]. COPS is being developed
   within the RSVP Admission Policy Working Group (RAP WG) of the IETF,
   primarily for use as a mechanism for providing policy-based
   admission control over requests for network resources [RAP].

   This document is based on and assumes prior knowledge of the RAP
   framework [RAP] and the basic COPS [COPS] protocol. It provides
   specific usage directives for using COPS in outsourcing policy
   control decisions by RSVP clients (PEPs) to policy servers (PDPs).

   Given the COPS protocol design, RSVP directives are mainly limited
   to RSVP applicability, interoperability and usage guidelines, as
   well as client specific examples.

2  RSVP values for COPS objects

   The usage of several COPS objects is affected when used the RSVP
   client type. This section describes these objects and their usage.

2.1 Common Header, client-type

   RSVP is COPS client-type 1

2.2 Context Object (Context)

   The semantics of the Context object for RSVP is as follows:

   R-Type (Request Type Flag)

   Incoming-Message request

          This context is used when the PEP receives an incoming RSVP
          message. The PDP may decide to accept or reject the incoming
          message and may also apply other decision objects to it. If
          the incoming message is rejected, RSVP should treat it as if
          it never arrived.

   Resource-Allocation request

          This context is used when the PEP is about to commit local
          resources to an RSVP flow (admission control). This context
          applies to Resv messages only. The decision whether to commit
          local resources is made for the merge of all reservations
          associated with an RSVP flow (which have arrived on a
          particular interface, potentially from several RSVP Next-
          Hops).

   Outgoing-Message request (forwarding an outgoing RSVP message)

          This context is used when the PEP is about to forward an
          outgoing RSVP message. The PDP may decide to allow or deny


Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                 [Page 3]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99

          the outgoing message, as well as provide an outgoing policy
          data object.

   M-Type (Message Type)

   The M-Type field in the Context Object identifies the applicable
   RSVP message type. M-Type values are identical to the values used in
   the "msg type" field in the RSVP header [RSVP].

   The following RSVP message types are supported in COPS:

   Path
   Resv
   PathErr
   ResvErr

   Other message types such as PathTear, ResvTear, and Resv Confirm are
   not supported. The list of supported message types can only be
   extended in later versions of RSVP and/or later version of this
   document.

2.3 Client Specific Information (ClientSI)

   All objects that were received in an RSVP message are encapsulated
   inside the Client Specific Information Object (Signaled ClientSI)
   sent from the PEP to the remote PDP (see Section 3.1. on multiple
   flows packed in a single RSVP message).

   The PEP and PDP share RSVP state, and the PDP is assumed to
   implement the same RSVP functional specification as the PEP. In the
   case where a PDP detects the absence of objects required by [RSVP]
   it should return an  in the Decision message indicating
   "Mandatory client-specific info missing". If, on the other hand, the
   PDP detects the absence of optional RSVP objects that are needed to
   approve the Request against current policies, the PDP should return
   a negative .

   Unlike the Incoming and Outgoing contexts, "Resource Allocation" is
   not always directly associated with a specific RSVP message. In a
   multicast session, it may represent the merging of multiple incoming
   reservations. Therefore, the ClientSI object should specifically
   contain the SESSION and STYLE objects along with the merged
   FLOWSPEC, FILTERSPEC list, and SCOPE object (whenever relevant).














Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                 [Page 4]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99


2.4 Decision Object (Decision)

   COPS provides the PDP with flexible controls over the PEP using
   RSVP's response to messages. While accepting an RSVP message, PDPs
   may provide preemption priority, trigger warnings, replace RSVP
   objects, and much more, using Decision Commands, Flags, and Objects.

   DECISION COMMANDS

   Only two commands apply to RSVP

   Install

     Positive Response:
     Accept/Allow/Admit an RSVP message or local resource allocation.

   Remove

     Negative Response:
     Deny/Reject/Remove an RSVP message or local resource allocation.

   DECISION FLAGS

   The only decision flag that applies to RSVP:

   Trigger Error

     If this flag is set, RSVP should schedule a PathErr, in response
     to a Path message, or a ResvErr (in response of a Resv message).

   STATELESS POLICY DATA

   This object may include one or more policy elements (as specified
   for the RSVP Policy Data object [RSVP-EXT]) which are assumed to be
   well understood by the client's LDP. The PEP should consider these
   as an addition to the decision already received from the PDP (it can
   only add, but cannot override it).

   For example, given Policy Elements that specify a flow's preemption
   priority, these elements may be included in an incoming Resv message
   or may be provided by the PDP responding to a query.

   Stateless objects must be well understood, but not necessarily
   supported by all PEPs. For example, assuming a standard policy
   element for preemption priority, it is perfectly legitimate for some
   PEPs not to support such preemption and to ignore it. The PDP must
   be careful when using such objects. In particular, it must be
   prepared for these objects to be ignored by PEPs.

   Stateless Policy Data may be returned in decisions and apply
   individually to each of the contexts flagged in REQ messages. When
   applied to Incoming, it is assumed to have been received as a
   POLICY_DATA object in the incoming message. When applied to Resource

Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                 [Page 5]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99

   Allocation it is assumed to have been received on all merged
   incoming messages. Last, when applied to outgoing messages it is
   assumed to have been received in all messages contributing to the
   outgoing message.

   REPLACEMENT DATA

   The Replacement object may contain multiple RSVP objects to be
   replaced (from the original RSVP request). Typical replacement is
   performed on the "Forward Outgoing" request (for instance, replacing
   outgoing Policy Data), but is not limited, and can also be performed
   on other contexts (such as "Resources-Allocation Request"). In other
   cases, replacement of the RSVP FlowSpec object may be useful for
   controlling resources across a trusted zone (with policy ignorant
   nodes (PINs). Currently, RSVP clients are only required to allow
   replacement of three objects: POLICY_DATA, ERROR_SPEC, and FLOWSPEC,
   but could optionally support replacement of other objects.

   RSVP object replacement is performed in the following manner:

   If no Replacement Data decision appears in a decision message, all
   signaled objects are processed as if the PDP was not there. When an
   object of a certain C-Num appears, it replaces ALL the instances of
   C-Num objects in the RSVP message. If it appears empty (with a
   length of 4) it simply removes all instances of C-Num objects
   without adding anything.

3  Operation of COPS for RSVP PEPs

3.1 RSVP flows

   Policy Control is performed per RSVP flow, which is defined by the
   atomic unit of an RSVP reservation (TC reservation). Reservation
   styles may also impact the definition of flows; a set of senders
   which are considered as a single flow for WF reservation are
   considered as a set of individual flows when FF style is used.

   Multiple FF flows may be packed into a single Resv message. A packed
   message must be unpacked where a separate request is issued for each
   of the packed flows as if they were individual RSVP messages. Each
   COPS Request should include the associated POLICY_DATA objects,
   which are, by default, all POLICY_DATA objects in the packed
   message. Sophisticated PEPs, capable of looking inside policy
   objects, may examine the POLICY_DATA or SCOPE object to narrow down
   the list of associated flows (as an optimization).

   Please note that the rules governing Packed RSVP message apply
   equally to the Incoming as well as the Outgoing REQ context.

3.2 Expected Associations for RSVP Requests

   When making a policy decision, the PDP may consider both Resv as
   well as its matching Path state (associated state). State
   association is straightforward in the common unicast case since the
   RSVP flow includes one Path state and one Resv state. In multicast


Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                 [Page 6]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99

   cases this correspondence may be more complicated, as the match may
   be many-to-many. The COPS protocol assumes that the PDP is RSVP
   knowledgeable and capable of determining these associations based on
   the contents of the Client REQ message and especially the ClientSI
   object.

   For example, the PDP should be able to recognize activation and
   deactivation of RSVP blockade state following discrete events like
   the arrival of a ResvErr message (activate the blockade state) as
   well as the change in the outgoing Resv message.

3.3 RSVP's Capacity Admission Control: Commit and Delete

   In RSVP, the admission of a new reservation requires both an
   administrative approval (policy control) and capacity admission
   control. After being approved by both, and after the reservation was
   successfully installed, the PEP notifies the remote PDP by sending a
   report message specifying the Commit type. The Commit type report
   message signals when billing should effectively begin and performing
   heavier delayed operations (e.g., debiting a credit card) is
   permissible by the PDP.

   If, instead, a PDP approved reservation fails admission due to lack
   of resources, the PEP must issue a no-commit report and fold back
   and send an updated request to its previous state (previously
   installed reservation). If no state was previously installed, the
   PEP should issue a delete (DRQ).

3.4 Policy Control Over PathTear and ResvTear

   PathTear and ResvTear messages are not controlled by this policy
   architecture. This relies on two assumptions: First, that MD-5
   authentication verifies that the Tear is received from the same node
   that sent the initial reservation, and second, that it is
   functionally equivalent to that node holding off refreshes for this
   reservation. When a ResvTear or PathTear is received at the PEP, all
   affected states installed on the PDP should either be deleted or
   updated by the PEP.

3.5 PEP Caching COPS Decisions

   Because COPS is a stateful protocol, refreshes for RSVP Path and
   Resv messages need not be constantly sent to the remote PDP. Once a
   decision has been returned for a request, the PEP can cache that
   decision and apply it to future refreshes. When the PEP detects a
   change in the corresponding Resv or Path message, it should update
   the PDP with the new request-state. PEPs may continue to use the
   cached state until receiving the PDP response. This case is very
   different from initial admission of a flow; given that valid
   credentials and authentication have already been established, the
   relatively long RSVP refresh period, and the short PEP-PDP response
   time, the tradeoff between expedient updates and attack prevention
   leans toward expediency. However, this is really a PEP choice, and
   is irrelevant to PDPs.



Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                 [Page 7]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99

   If the connection is lost between the PEP and the PDP, the cached
   RSVP state may be retained for the RSVP timeout period to be used
   for previously admitted flows (but cannot be applied to new or
   updated state). If the connection can not be reestablished with the
   PDP or a backup PDP after the timeout period, the PEP is expected to
   purge all its cached decisions. Without applicable cached decision,
   the PEP must either reject the flow or resort to its LDP (if
   available) for decisions.

   Once a connection is reestablished to a new (or the original) PDP
   the PDP may issue a SSQ request. In this case, the PEP must reissue
   requests that correspond to the current RSVP state (as if all the
   state has been updated recently). It should also include as LDP the
   current (cached) decision regarding each such state.

3.6 Using Multiple Context Flags in a single query

   RSVP is a store-and-forward control protocol where messages are
   processed in three distinctive steps (input, resource allocation,
   and output). Each step requires a separate policy decision as
   indicated by context flags (see Section 2.2). In many cases, setting
   multiple context flags for bundling two or three operations together
   in one request may significantly optimize protocol operations.

   The following rules apply for setting multiple Context flags:

   a. Multiple context flags can be set only in two generic cases,
      which represent a substantial portion of expected COPS
      transactions, and can be guaranteed not to cause ambiguity.

      Unicast FF:

              [Incoming + Allocation + Outgoing]

      Multicast with only one Resv message received on the interface

              [Incoming + Allocation]

   b. Context events are ordered by time since every message must first
      be processed as Incoming, then as Resource allocation and only
      then as Outgoing. When multiple context flags are set, all
      ClientSI objects included in the request are assumed to be
      processed according to the latest flag. This rule applies both to
      the request (REQ) context as well as to the decision (DEC)
      context.

      For example, when combining Incoming + Allocation for an incoming
      Resv message, the flowspec included in the ClientSI would be the
      one corresponding to the Resource-Allocation context (TC).




Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                 [Page 8]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99

   c. Each decision is bound to a context object, which determines
      which portion of the request context it applies to. When
      individual decisions apply to different sub-groups of the
      context, the PDP should send each group of decision objects
      encapsulated by the context flags object with the context flags
      applicable to these objects set (see the examples in Section 5).

3.7 RSVP Error Reporting

   RSVP uses the ERROR_SPEC object in PathErr and ResvErr messages to
   report policy errors. While the contents of the ERROR_SPEC object
   are defined in [RSVP,RSVP-EXT], the PDP is in the best position to
   provide its contents (sub-codes). This is performed in the following
   manner: First, the PEP (RSVP) queries the PDP before sending a
   PathErr or ResvErr, and then the PDP returns the constructed
   ERROR_SPEC in the Replacement Data Decision Object.

4  Security Considerations

  This document relies on COPS for its signaling and its security.
  Please refer to section "Security Considerations" in [COPS].

  Security for RSVP messages is provided by inter-router MD5
  authentication [MD5], assuming a chain-of-trust model.
  A likely deployment scenario calls for PEPs to be deployed only at
  the network edge (boundary nodes) while the core of the network
  (backbone) consists of PIN nodes. In this scenario MD5 trust
  (authentication) is established between boundary (non-neighboring)
  PEPs. Such trust can be achieved through internal signing
  (integrity) of the Policy Data object itself, which is left
  unmodified as it passes through PIN nodes (see [RSVP-EXT]).
























Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                 [Page 9]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99

5  Illustrative Examples, Using COPS for RSVP

  This section details both typical unicast and multicast scenarios.

5.1 Unicast Flow Example

   This section details the steps in using COPS for controlling a
   Unicast RSVP flow. It details the contents of the COPS messages
   with respect to Figure 1.

                                     PEP (router)
                                 +-----------------+
                                 |                 |
                  R1 ------------+if1           if2+------------ S1
                                 |                 |
                                 +-----------------+

                    Figure 1: Unicast Example: a single PEP view

   The PEP router has two interfaces (if1, if2). Sender S1 sends to
   receiver R1.

   A Path message arrives from S1:

       PEP --> PDP   REQ :=  
                             
                            

       PDP --> PEP   DEC :=  
                            

   A Resv message arrives from R1:

       PEP --> PDP   REQ := 
                            
                             
                            

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := 
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            

       PEP --> PDP   RPT := 
                            

   Notice that the Decision was split because of the need to specify
   different decision objects for different context flags.

   Time Passes, the PDP changes its decision:


Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                [Page 10]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99


       PDP --> PEP   DEC := 
                            
                            
                            

   Because the priority is too low, the PEP preempts the flow:

       PEP --> PDP   DRQ := 
                            

   Time Passes, the sender S1 ceases to send Path messages:

       PEP --> PDP   DRQ := 
                            











































Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                [Page 11]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99


5.2 Shared Multicast Flows

   This section details the steps in using COPS for controlling a
   multicast RSVP flow. It details the contents of the COPS messages
   with respect to Figure 2.


                                  PEP (router)
                              +-----------------+
                              |                 |
               R1-------------+ if1         if3 +--------- S1
                              |                 |
               R2----+        |                 |
                     |        |                 |
                     +--------+ if2         if4 +--------- S2
                     |        |                 |
               R3----+        +-----------------+


                Figure 2: Multicast example: a single PEP view

   Figure 2 shows an RSVP PEP (router) which has two senders (S1, S2)
   and three receivers (R1, R2, R3) for the same multicast session.
   Interface if2 is connected to a shared media.
   In this example, we assume that the multicast membership is already
   in place. No previous RSVP messages were received, and the first to
   arrive is a Path message on interface if3 from sender S1:

       PEP --> PDP   REQ :=  
                            
                            

       PDP --> PEP   DEC :=  
                            


   The PEP consults its forwarding table, and finds two outgoing
   interface for the path (if1, if2). The exchange below is for
   interface if1, another exchange would likewise be completed for if2
   using the new handle B2.

       PEP --> PDP   REQ :=  
                            
                            

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := 
                            
                            
                            







Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                [Page 12]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99

   Here, the PDP decided to allow the forwarding of the Path message
   and provided the appropriate policy-data object for interface if1.

   Next, a WF Resv message from receiver R2 arrives on interface if2.

       PEP --> PDP   REQ :=  
                            
                            

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := 
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            

       PEP --> PDP   RPT :=  

   Here, the PDP approves the reservation and assigned it preemption
   priority of 5. The PEP responded with a commit report.

   The PEP needs to forward the Resv message upstream toward S1:

       PEP --> PDP   REQ :=  
                            
                            

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := 
                            
                            
                            

   Note: The Context object is part of this DEC message even though it
   may look redundant since the REQ specified only one context flag.

   Next, a new WF Resv message from receiver R3 arrives on interface
   if2 with a higher RSpec (Rspec2). Given two reservations arrived on
   if2, it cannot perform a request with multiple context flags, and
   must issue them separately.

















Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                [Page 13]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99

   The PEP re-issues an updated handle C REQ with a new context object
   , and receives a DEC for handle C.

       PEP --> PDP   REQ :=  
                            
                            

       PDP --> PEP   DEC :=  
                            

       PEP --> PDP   REQ :=  
                            
                            

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := 
                            
                            
                            

       PEP --> PDP   RPT :=  

   Given the change in incoming reservations, the PEP needs to forward
   a new outgoing Resv message upstream toward S1. This repeats exactly
   the previous interaction of Handle E, except that the ClientSI
   objects now reflect the merging of two reservations.

   If an ResvErr arrives from S1, the PEP maps it to R3 only (because
   it has a higher flowspec: Rspec2) the following takes place:

       PEP --> PDP   REQ :=  
                            
                            

       PDP --> PEP   DEC :=  
                            

       PEP --> PDP   REQ :=  
                            
                            

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := 
                            
                            
                            

   When S2 joins the session by sending a Path message, incoming and
   outgoing Path requests are issued for the new Path. A new outgoing
   Resv request would be sent to S2.







Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                [Page 14]


Internet Draft              COPS usage for RSVP               14-Jun-99


6  References

  [RSVP-EXT] Herzog, S. "RSVP Extensions for Policy Control",
          Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-rap-rsvp-ext-02.txt, Jan. 1999.

  [RAP]   Yavatkar, R., et al., "A Framework for Policy Based
          Admission Control", IETF ,
          Jan., 1999.

  [COPS]  Boyle, J., Cohen, R., Durham, D., Herzog, S., Raja, R.,
          Sastry, A., "The COPS (Common Open Policy Service) Protocol",
          IETF , Jan. 1999.

  [RSVP]  Braden, R. ed., "Resource ReSerVation Protocol (RSVP) -
          Functional Specification.", IETF RFC 2205, Proposed Standard,
          Sep. 1997.

7  Author Information and Acknowledgments

   Special thanks to Andrew Smith and Timothy O'Malley our WG Chairs,
   Fred Baker, Laura Cunningham, Russell Fenger, Roch Guerin, Ping Pan,
   and Raj Yavatkar, for their valuable contributions.


       Jim Boyle                        Ron Cohen
       Level 3 Communications           CISCO Systems
       1450 Infinite Drive13            Hasadna St.
       Louisville, CO 80027             Ra'anana 43650 Israel
       303.926.3100                     972.9.7462020
       email: jboyle@l3.net             ronc@cisco.com

       David Durham                     Raju Rajan
       Intel                            AT&T Labs Research
       2111 NE 25th Avenue              180 Park Ave., P.O. Box 971
       Hillsboro, OR 97124              Florham Park, NJ 07932
       503.264.6232                     973.360.7229
       David_Durham@mail.intel.com      raju@research.att.com

       Shai Herzog                      Arun Sastry
       IPHighway                        Cisco Systems
       400 Kelby St., Suite 1500        506210 W Tasman Drive
       Fort-Lee, NJ 07024               San Jose, CA 95134
       201.585.0800                     408.526.7685
       herzog@iphighway.com             asastry@cisco.com












Shai Herzog             Expires December 1999                [Page 15]