Internet Draft


INTERNET-DRAFT                                        Norihiro Ishikawa
Expires: January 1998                                               NTT
                                                             July, 1997



                      IP Multicast Routing over ATM 
                 <draft-ishikawa-ion-mcatm-routing-00.txt>


Status of this Memo


   This document is an Internet-Draft.  Internet-Drafts are working
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Abstract


      This memo describes the specification for IP multicast routing
      over ATM. This memo specifies the architecture and the protocol
      for scalable IP multicast routing over ATM, based on the shared
      tree architecture. Multicast shortcuts over ATM are possible in
      an efficient and scalable manner. The same messages as specified
      for IP multicasting over ATM MLIS [1] are applied for IP multicast
      routing over ATM, with some extensions.





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1. Introduction

   This memo describes the specification for IP multicast routing over
   ATM. The requirements for the specification for IP multicast
   routing over ATM are as follows:

   - To interwork with the MBONE (an experimental multicasting network on
     the Internet), the specification should be compatible with the basic
     specifications for IP multicasting such as RFC 1112 [2] and the
     multicast routing protocols such as RFC 1075 [3]. It should also
     interwork with routers and hosts in which such specifications are
     implemented.

   - To accomplish IP multicasting over ATM efficiently, the specificaiton
     should be able to effectively use the point-to-multipoint
     connection that ATM provides.

   - To be applicable to IP multicasting over ATM in different scales,
     the specification should be able to achieve hierarchical and
     scalable IP multicast routing.

   - Functions for IP multicast shortcuts should be provided in an
     efficient and scalable manner. 

   - It should be compatible with the specifications for IP over ATM
     such as RFC 1577 [4] and RFC1755 [5] and be able to use those
     protocols when necessary.

   As a mechanism to satisfy above requirements, this memo describes the
   specification for IP multicast routing over ATM, based on the
   specification for IP multicast over ATM MLIS described in [1]. 

   This memo assumes that "The ATM Forum UNI Specification, V 3.0/3.1" is
   used as the interface with ATM. 

2. Architecture

   An architecture for IP multicast routing over ATM is described below.

   The architecture for IP multicast routing over ATM specified in this
   memo is an extension of the architecture of the specification for IP
   multicast over ATM described in [1]. In this architecture, multiple ATM
   multicast routers form a relationship that has a tree structure. Each
   ATM multicast router may be connected with an ATM multicast router as
   a parent. Such an ATM multicast router is called a parent router,
   from the ATM multicast router's point of view. Each ATM multicast
   router may be connected with multiple ATM multicast routers as a child.
   Such an ATM multicast router is called a child router, from the ATM
   multicast router's point of view. An ATM multicast router is connected


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   with a parent router as well as child routers, using ATM VCCs. An ATM
   multicast router that does not have a parent router is the highest
   level router. An ATM multicast router that does not have a child is 
   the lowest level router.

   A sending host may be connected with any level ATM multicast router,
   and send multicast IP datagrams. A receiving host is usually connected
   with the lowest level ATM multicast router, and receive multicast IP
   datagrams, although a receiving host may be connected with other level
   routers. An ATM multicast router views a receiving host directly 
   connected with it as its child. An ATM multicast router is connected
   with a sending host and a receiving host, using ATM VCCs. For the
   efficient use of ATM, an ATM multicast router is usually connected
   with its child routers and/or receiving hosts, using ATM point-to-
   multipoint connections.

   For each host group that is identified by a class D IP address, a
   multicast routing tree (MRT) is defined. A specific ATM multicast
   router is designated as the root of an MRT. If the highest level
   router is designated as the root of an MRT, large scale IP
   multicasting is realized for the host group. If the lowest level
   router is designated as the root of an MRT, small scale IP
   multicasting is realized for the host group. Hence Hierarchical and
   scalable IP multicast routing can be realized by adopting the
   architecture that has a tree structure.

3. Mechanism

   The mechanism for IP multicast routing over ATM specified in this memo
   is explained below. The detailed procedures based on this mechanism
   are described in section 4.

3.1 Sending Multicast IP Datagrams

   If a sending host cat set up an ATM VCC with the root of an MRT, it
   sends multicast IP datagrams to the root, using the ATM VCC. If a
   sending host can not set up an ATM VCC with the root of an MRT, it
   sends a multicast IP datagram as a unicast IP datagram whose
   destination address is a unicast IP address of the root. In this
   case, the class D IP address is inserted into a unicast IP datagram
   using the loose source IP option. A unicast IP datagram travels
   toward the root of an MRT, using unicast routing protocols.


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3.2 Start of Receiving Multicast IP Datagrams

   A receiving host that requests to receive multicast IP datagrams sends
   a Join message to an ATM multicast router.

   If the ATM multicast router that has received a Join message from the
   receiving host is the root of the MRT that is identified by the class
   D IP address, it will send a Join Ack message to the receiving host,
   and start sending multicast IP datagrams.

   The procedure is as follows in the case where the ATM multicast router
   that has received a Join message from the receiving host is not the
   root of the MRT that is identified by the class D IP address:

   (1) If the ATM multicast router has already sent a Join message to the
       parent router and received a Join Ack message as its response, it
       will send a Join Ack message to the receiving host and start
       sending multicast IP datagrams.

   (2) If the ATM multicast router has already sent a Join message to the
       parent router but has not received a Join Ack/Join Nak message
       from the parent router, it will wait for the response of the
       parent router.

   (3) If the ATM multicast router has not sent a Join message to the
       parent router, it will send a Join message to the parent router.

   (4) If there is no parent router, the ATM multicast router will send
       a Join Nak message to the receiving host.

   If the ATM multicast router receives a Join Ack message from the
   parent router later, in the case of (2) and (3), it will send a Join
   Ack message to the receiving host and start sending of multicast IP
   datagrams. If a Join Nak message is received, the ATM multicast router
   will send a Join Nak message to the receiving host.

   The operation of an ATM multicast router that has received a Join
   message from a child router is the same as that of the ATM multicast
   router that has received a Join message from a receiving host.

3.3 Stop of Receiving Multicast IP Datagrams

   A receiving host that requests to end receiving multicast IP datagrams
   sends a Leave message to the ATM multicast router.

   The ATM multicast router that has received a Leave message from the
   receiving host ends sending multicast IP datagrams to the receiving
   host.


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   The ATM multicast router that has received a Leave message from the
   receiving host sends a Leave message to its parent router when the
   following conditions are satisfied:

   (1) The ATM multicast router is not the root of the MRT that is
       identified by the class D IP address.

   (2) There exists no receiving host that is receiving multicast IP
       datagrams for the host group that is identified by the class D
       IP address as a result.

   The operation of an ATM multicast router that has received a Leave
   message from a child router is the same as that of the ATM
   multicast router that has received a Leave message from a receiving
   host.

4. Protocol Procedures

   The protocol procedures based on the mechanism specified in Section
   3 are described below.

   The specification for IP multicast routing over ATM described in 
   this memo is an extension of the specification for IP multicast
   over ATM MLIS described in [1]. Therefore, the operation of sending
   hosts, receicing hosts and ATM multicast routers that is not
   described in this memo is the same as described in [1].

4.1 Operation of Sending Hosts

   A sending host must send multicast IP datagrams toward the root
   of an MRT which is defined for the host group identified by its
   destination address. 
   
   If a sender can set up an ATM VCC directly with the root, the
   same procedures described in [1] are applied. If a sending host
   can not set up an ATM VCC with the root, it sends a multicast IP
   datagram as a unicast IP datagram whose destination address is an
   IP address of the root. In this case, the destination address of
   a multicast IP datagram (i.e. class D address) is inserted into
   a unicast IP datagram, using the Loose Source Route option. A
   unicast IP datagram travels toward the root of an MRT, using
   unicast IP routing protocols.

4.2 Operation of ATM Multicast Routers

4.2.1 Receiving Multicast IP Datagrams

   The operation of an ATM multicast router is described below, in the
   case where it has received a multicast IP datagram.


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4.2.1.1 When Loose Source Route Option is Designated

   The operation of an ATM multicast router is described below, in the
   case where the Loose Source Route option is designated:

   An ATM multicast router executes the procedures below, if the
   following condition is satisfied:

      - The ATM multicast router is the root of the MRT designated in
        the  Loose Source option.

   (1) The ATM multicast router processes the Loose Source Route
       option of the received unicast IP datagram. In other words, the
       received unicast IP datagram is replaced with a multicast IP
       datagram with the multicast IP address of the host group as its
       destination IP address.

   (2) the ATM multicast router retrieves the conversion table of the
       destination IP address of the multicast IP datagram and the VCC
       for data transfer, in order to check whether the VCC for data
       transfer that forwards the received multicast IP datagram has
       been set up.

       NOTE: This conversion table is used when forwarding multicast
	     IP datagrams to child routers and/or receiving hosts.

   (3) If the VCC for data transfer has been set up, the multicast IP
       datagram will be sent by using the VCC. If the VCC for data
       transfer has not been set up, the multicast IP datagram will
       be discarded.

4.2.1.2 When Loose Source Route Option is not Designated

   The operation of an ATM multicast router is the same as described
   in [1], in the case where the Loose Source Option is not designated.

   NOTE: In this case, an ATM multicast router does not need to 
	 distinguish whether it has received a multicast IP datagram
	 from either a sending host or a parent router.

4.2.2 Receiving a Join Message

   The operation of an ATM multicast router is described below, in the
   case where it has received a Join message from either a receiving
   host or a child router.

   NOTE: In this case, an ATM multicast router does not need to
	 distinguish whether it has received a Join message from either
	 a receiving host or a child router.


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4.2.2.1 When an ATM multicast router is the root of an MRT

   The operation of an ATM multicast router is the same as described
   in [1].

4.2.2.2 When an ATM multicast router is not the root of an MRT

   The procedures are as follows, in the case where the ATM multicast
   router has already sent a Join message to its parent router and
   then received Join Ack message as its response:

   (1) An ATM multicast router sets up a leaf to the VCC for data
       transfer, by using the ATM address of the receiving host or 
       the child router.

   (2) If the setup of the leaf to the VCC succeeds, the ATM multicast
       router sends a Join Ack message to it.

   (3) If the setup of the leaf to the VCC fails, the ATM multicast 
       router sends a Join Nak message to it.
       
   The procedures are as follows, in the case where the ATM multicast
   has already sent a Join message to its parent router, but has not
   received a Join Ack message or a Join Nak message from it.

   (1) The ATM multicast router will wait for a Join Ack message or
       a Join Nak message from its parent router.

   The procedures are as follows, in the case where the ATM multicast
   router has not sent a Join message to its parent router.

   (1) The ATM multicast router sends a Join message to its parent
       router.

   The procedures are as follows, in the case where there exists no
   parent router for the ATM multicast router.

   (1) The ATM multicast router sends a Join Nak message to the 
       receiving host or the child router.

4.2.3 Receiving a Join Ack message

   The operation of an ATM multicast router is described below, in
   the case where it has received a Join Ack message from its parent
   router.


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   The operation of an ATM multicast router is as follows if the 
   following condition is satisfied:

      - The ATM multicast has sent a Join message to its parent router,
	regarding the received group address

   (1) The ATM multicast router sets up (a leaf of) a VCC for data
       transfer, by using the ATM address of the receiving host or
       the child router, from which it has received a Join message.

       NOTE: When the ATM multicast router has received a Join message 
             from more than one receiving hosts and/or child routers,
	     it sets up (a leaf of) the VCC to each of them. The VCC
             shall be a point-to-multipoint connection.

   (2) If the setup of (the leaf of) the VCC to the receiving host
       or the child router succeeds, the ATM multicast router sends
       a Join Ack message to it.

   (3) If the setup of (the leaf of) the VCC to the receiving host
       or the child router fails, the ATM multicast router sends
       a Join Nak message to it.

       NOTE: When the ATM multicast router has received a Join message
	     from more than one receiving hosts and/or child routers,
	     it sends a Join Ack message  or a Join Nak message to
	     each of them.

   An ATM multicast router discards the received Join Ack message if
   the following condition is satisfied:

      - The ATM multicast router has not sent a Join message to its
	parent router, regarding the received group address.

4.2.4 Receiving a Join Nak message

   The operation of an ATM multicast router is described below, in 
   the case where it has received a Join Nak message from its parent
   router.

   The operation of an ATM multicast router is as follows if the
   following condition is satisfied:

      - The ATM multicast has sent a Join message to its parent router,
        regarding the received group address.


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   (1) The ATM multicast router sends a Join Nak message to the
       receiving host or the child router, from which it has received a
       Join message.

       NOTE: When the ATM multicast router has received a Join message
	     from more than one receiving hosts and/or child routers,
	     it sends a Join Nak message to each of them.

   An ATM multicast router discards the received Join Nak message if
   the following condition is satisfied:

      - The ATM multicast router has not sent a Join message to its
	parent router, regarding the received group address.

4.2.5 Receiving a Leave Message

   The operation of an ATM multicast router is described below, in the
   case where it has received a Leave message from either a receiving
   host or a child router.

   NOTE: In this case, an ATM multicast router does not need to
	 distinguish whether it has received a Leave message from either 
         a receiving host or a child router.

   The operation of an ATM multicast router is as follows if the
   following conditions are satisfied:

      - The number of members becomes zero in the list of the IP
        addresses of receiving hosts and/or child routers that have 
	joined the host group identified by the received group address.

      - The ATM multicast router is not the root of the MRT defined for
	the host group identified by the received group address.

   (1) The ATM multicast router sends a Leave message to its parent
       router.

4.2.6 Sending a Shortcut message

   An ATM multicast router may order Shortcut to receiving hosts
   and/or child routers that have joined the host group identified by
   the group address. It is a local decision by an ATM multicast 
   router, whether it orders Shortcut or not.

   NOTE: An ATM multicast router may order Shortcut in the following
	 cases.

	 - An ATM multicast router is receiving large amount of 
	   multicast IP datagrams (e.g. file or video) toward the host
	   group identified by the group address.


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   The operation of an ATM multicast router is as follows if the
   following condition is satisfied:

      - The ATM multicast router is not the root of an MRT defined for
	the host group identified by the group address.

   (1) An ATM multicast router may send a Shortcut message to the
       receiving host or the child router that has joined the host
       group identified by the group address.

       NOTE: When more than one receiving hosts and/or child routers
	     have joined the host group, An ATM multicast router sends
	     a Shortcut message to each of them.

4.2.7 Receiving a Shortcut message

   When an ATM multicast router has received a Shortcut message, it
   may execute Shortcut. It is a local decision by an ATM multicast
   router, whether it executes Shortcut or not. 

   The operation of an ATM multicast router is as follows if the
   following condition is satisfied:

      - The ATM multicast router can set up a VCC toward the ATM
	multicast router designated by the Shortcut Address field
	of the received Shortcut message.

   (1) An ATM multicast router may send a Join message to the ATM
       multicast router designated by the Shortcut Address field of
       the received Shortcut message.

   (2) When the ATM multicast router receives a Join Ack message, it
       sends a Leave message to its parent router.

   (3) When the ATM multicast router receives a Join Nak message, it
       does nothing.

       NOTE: The ATM multicast router may send a Join message to the
	     same router again.

4.3 Operation of Receiving Hosts

4.3.1 Receiving an Shortcut message

   When a receiving host has received a Shortcut message, it may execute
   Shortcut. It is a local decision by a receiving host, whether it
   executes Shortcut or not.


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   The operation of a receiving host is as follows if the following
   condition is satisfied:

      - The receiving host can set up a VCC toward the ATM multicast
	router designated by the Shortcut Address field of the received
	Shortcut message.

   (1) A receiving host may send a Join message to the ATM multicast
       router designated by the Shortcut Address field of the received
       Shortcut message.

   (2) When the receiving host receives a Join Ack message, it sends
       a Leave message to its parent router.

   (3) When the receiving host receives a Join Nack message, it does
       nothing.

       NOTE: The receiving host may send a Join message to the same
	     router again.

5. Protocol Specification

   The same messages as specified in IGMP-ATM [1] are applied for
   IP multicast routing over ATM, with the following extension.

   NOTE: The Join message (2) is called the Host Membership Join message
	 in IGMP-ATM [1]. The Leave message (5) is called the Host
	 Membership Leave message in IGMP-ATM [1].

   The Shortcut message is added to IGMP-ATM, for IP multicast 
   routing over ATM specified in this memo.

   The format of the Shortcut message 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
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |Version| Type  |  Unused       |     Checksum                  |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                  Shortcut    Address                          |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   (1) Version

       The version of this specification shall be ?.


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   (2) Type

       The type of the Shortcut message is as follows:

       6 = Shortcut

   (3) Unused

       Unused field, zeroed when sent, ignored when received.

   (4) Checksum

       The Checksum is the 16-bit one's complement sum of the Shortcut
       message. For computing the checksum, the checksum field is
       zeroed.

   (5) Shortcut Address

       An IP address of the ATM multicast router to which a receiving
       host or a child router will set up a VCC for Shortcut. When
       an ATM multicast router sends a Shortcut message to a receiving
       host or a child router, it usually sets an IP address of its
       parent router in this field.

6. Security Considerations

   The authentication parameter is added to the Join message, so that
   unauthorized receiving hosts and child routers can not join the host
   group.

   However, the definition of the format of the authentication
   parameter for the specific authentication mechanism is for
   further study.





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References


   [1] N. Ishikawa, "IP Multicast over ATM MLIS using ATM
       Multicast Routers", Internet Draft, July 1997.

   [2] S. Deering, "Host Extensions for IP Multicasting", RFC 1112,
       Stanford University, August 1989.

   [3] D. Waitzman, C. Partridge, S. Deering, "Distance Vector
       Multicast Routing Protocol", RFC 1075, November 1988.

   [4] M. Laubach, "Classical IP and ARP over ATM", RFC 1577,
       Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, December 1993.

   [5] M. Perez, F. Liaw, D. Grossman, A. Mankin, E. Hoffman,
       A. Malis, "ATM Signalling Support for IP over ATM", RFC 1755
       February 1995.


Authors' Address:

   Norihiro Ishikawa
   NTT Information and Communication Systems Laboratory
   1-1 Hikarino-oka Yokosuka-Shi
   Kanagawa 239 Japan
   isic@isl.ntt.co.jp
   +81 468 59 2434 (tel)
   +81 468 59 3796 (fax)




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