MBONED Working Group M. Boucadair, Ed.
Internet-Draft France Telecom
Intended status: Standards Track J. Qin
Expires: October 20, 2013 Cisco
Y. Lee
Comcast
S. Venaas
Cisco Systems
X. Li
CERNET Center/Tsinghua University
M. Xu
Tsinghua University
April 18, 2013

IPv6 Multicast Address With Embedded IPv4 Multicast Address
draft-ietf-mboned-64-multicast-address-format-05

Abstract

This document reserves one bit (M-bit) of the unicast prefix-based multicast IPv6 address for ASM and an IPv6 multicast prefix for SSM mode to be used in the context of IPv4-IPv6 interconnection.

The document specifies an algorithmic translation of an IPv6 multicast address to a corresponding IPv4 multicast address, and vice versa. This algorithmic translation can be used in both IPv4-IPv6 translation or encapsulation schemes.

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 http://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 October 20, 2013.

Copyright Notice

Copyright (c) 2013 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 (http://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 Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as described in the Simplified BSD License.


Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Various solutions (e.g., [I-D.ietf-softwire-mesh-multicast], [I-D.ietf-softwire-dslite-multicast]) have been proposed to allow access to IPv4 multicast content from hosts attached to IPv6-enabled domains. Even if these solutions have distinct applicability scopes (translation vs. encapsulation) and target different use cases, they all make use of specific IPv6 multicast addresses to embed an IPv4 multicast address. Particularly, the IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Multicast Address is used as a destination IPv6 address of multicast flows received from an IPv4-enabled domain and injected by the IPv4-IPv6 Interconnection Function into an IPv6-enabled domain. It is also used to build an IPv6 multicast state (*, G6) or (S6, G6) corresponding to their (*, G4) or (S4, G4) IPv4 counter parts by the IPv4-IPv6 Interconnection Function. [I-D.ietf-mboned-v4v6-mcast-ps] provides more discussion about issues related to IPv4/IPv6 multicast.

This document reserves one bit of the unicast prefix-based multicast IPv6 address ([I-D.ietf-6man-multicast-addr-arch-update]) for Any-Source Multicast (ASM) mode and an IPv6 multicast prefix for Source-Specific Multicast (SSM) mode to be used in the context of IPv4-IPv6 interconnection. This document also defines how IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Multicast Addresses are constructed. Both IPv4-IPv6 translation and encapsulation schemes can make use of this specification.

This specification can be used in conjunction with other extensions such as embedding the rendezvous point [RFC3956]. Unicast prefix-based and embedded-RP techniques are important tools to simplify IPv6 multicast deployments. Indeed, unicast prefix-based IPv6 addressing is used in many current IPv6 multicast deployments, and has also been defined for IPv4, and is seen as a very useful technique. Also embedded-RP is used in existing deployments.

This document is a companion document to [RFC6052] which focuses exclusively on IPv4-embedded IPv6 unicast addresses.

2. Terminology

This document makes use of the following terms:

3. IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Multicast Prefix & Address

3.1. ASM Mode

The format specified in Figure 1 uses some bits defined in [I-D.ietf-6man-multicast-addr-arch-update]: M-bit (20th bit position) now has a meaning.

Details on design considerations are discussed in Appendix B.

|   8    |  4 |  4 |  3 |1|             76               |    32    |
+--------+----+----+----+-+------------------------------+----------+
|11111111|flgs|scop|flgs|M|         sub-group-id         |v4 address|
+--------+----+----+----+-+-----------------------------------------+


Figure 1: IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Multicast Address Format: ASM Mode

The description of the fields is as follows:

3.2. SSM Mode

For SSM mode, and given what is discussed in Appendix B, the following IPv6 prefix to embed IPv4 multicast addresses is reserved:

3.3. IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Multicast Address

For the delivery of the IPv4-IPv6 multicast interconnection services, a dedicated multicast prefix denoted as MPREFIX64 should be provisioned (e.g., using NETCONF or [I-D.ietf-softwire-multicast-prefix-option]) to any function requiring to build an IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Multicast Address based on an IPv4 multicast address. MPREFIX64 can be of ASM or SSM type. When both modes are used, two prefixes are required to be provisioned.

The length of MPREFIX64 MUST be /96. For SSM, MPREFIX64 MUST be equal to ff3x:0:8000::/96. For the ASM mode, MPREFIX64 MUST have the M-bit set to 1. Furthermore, the format of the ASM_MPREFIX64 should follow what is specified in [RFC3306] and [RFC3956] if corresponding mechanisms are used. If not, bits 21-96 can be set to any value.

Figure 2 shows how to build an IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Multicast Address using a configured MPREFIX64 and an IPv4 multicast address. The low-order 32 bits MUST include an IPv4 multicast address. The enclosed IPv4 multicast address SHOULD NOT be in 232/8 range if an ASM_PREFIX64 is configured. The enclosed IPv4 multicast address SHOULD be in 232/8 range if an SSM_PREFIX64 is configured.

Embedding an IPv4 multicast address in the last 32 bits does not conflict with the Group IDs assigned by IANA (i.e., 0x00000001 to 0x3FFFFFFF [RFC3307]).

When several MPREFIX64 are available, it is RECOMMENDED to use the MPREFIX64 which preserve the scope of the IPv4 multicast address.

|                             96                       |    32    |
+------------------------------------------------------+----------+
|                         MPREFIX64                    |v4 address|
+------------------------------------------------------+----------+

Figure 2: IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Multicast Address Format

3.4. Address Translation Algorithm

IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Multicast Addresses are composed according to the following algorithm:

  • Concatenate the MPREFIX64 and the 32 bits of the IPv4 address to obtain a 128-bit address.

The IPv4 multicast addresses are extracted from the IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Multicast Addresses according to the following algorithm:

  • If the multicast address has the 20th bit set to 1 or it matches ff3x:0:8000::/96 or a preconfigured MPREFIX64, extract the last 32 bits of the IPv6 multicast address.

3.5. Textual Representation

The embedded IPv4 address in an IPv6 multicast address is included in the last 32 bits; therefore dotted decimal notation can be used.

3.6. Source IPv4 Address in the IPv6 Realm

An IPv4 source is represented in the IPv6 realm with its IPv4-converted IPv6 address [RFC6052].

4. Examples

Figure 3 provides some examples of ASM IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Address while Figure 4 provides an example of SSM IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Address.

IPv4 multicast addresses used in the examples are derived from the IPv4 multicast block reserved for documentation in [RFC6676].

+----------------------+--------------+-----------------------------+
|     MPREFIX64        | IPv4 address | IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Address  |
+----------------------+--------------+-----------------------------+
| ff3x:z000:0:abc::/96 |  233.252.0.1 |ff3x:z000:0:abc::233.252.0.1 |
| ff7x:z000:0:abc::/96 |  233.252.0.2 |ff7x:z000:0:abc::233.252.0.2 |
+----------------------+--------------+-----------------------------+
where: 
  "x" is any valid scope 
  "z" is any 4 bits where the last bit is set (e.g., 1, 3, 7, ...)

Figure 3: Example of ASM IPv4-embedded IPv6 address

 +---------------------+--------------+----------------------------+
 |      MPREFIX64      | IPv4 address | IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Address |
 +---------------------+--------------+----------------------------+
 |   ff3x:0:8000::/96  | 233.252.0.5  |   ff3x:0:8000::233.252.0.5 |
 +---------------------+--------------+----------------------------+

Figure 4: Example of SSM IPv4-embedded IPv6 address

5. IANA Considerations

This document requests IANA to reserve:

  • ff3x:0:8000::/96 SSM range to embed an IPv4 multicast address in the last 32 bits.

6. Security Considerations

This document defines an algorithmic translation of an IPv6 multicast address into an IPv4 multicast address, and vice versa. The security considerations discussed in [RFC6052] are to be taken into consideration.

7. Acknowledgements

Many thanks to R. Bonica, B. Sarikaya, P. Savola, T. Tsou, C. Bormann, T. Chown, P. Koch, B. Haberman, and B. Hinden for their comments and review.

8. References

8.1. Normative References

[RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997.
[RFC3956] Savola, P. and B. Haberman, "Embedding the Rendezvous Point (RP) Address in an IPv6 Multicast Address", RFC 3956, November 2004.
[I-D.ietf-6man-multicast-addr-arch-update] Boucadair, M. and S. Venaas, "Updates to the IPv6 Multicast Addressing Architecture", Internet-Draft draft-ietf-6man-multicast-addr-arch-update-00, April 2013.
[RFC3306] Haberman, B. and D. Thaler, "Unicast-Prefix-based IPv6 Multicast Addresses", RFC 3306, August 2002.
[RFC3307] Haberman, B., "Allocation Guidelines for IPv6 Multicast Addresses", RFC 3307, August 2002.
[RFC6052] Bao, C., Huitema, C., Bagnulo, M., Boucadair, M. and X. Li, "IPv6 Addressing of IPv4/IPv6 Translators", RFC 6052, October 2010.
[RFC4607] Holbrook, H. and B. Cain, "Source-Specific Multicast for IP", RFC 4607, August 2006.

8.2. Informative References

[I-D.ietf-softwire-multicast-prefix-option] Boucadair, M., Qin, J., Tsou, T. and X. Deng, "DHCPv6 Option for IPv4-Embedded Multicast and Unicast IPv6 Prefixes", Internet-Draft draft-ietf-softwire-multicast-prefix-option-03, October 2012.
[RFC6676] Venaas, S., Parekh, R., Van de Velde, G., Chown, T. and M. Eubanks, "Multicast Addresses for Documentation", RFC 6676, August 2012.
[I-D.ietf-mboned-v4v6-mcast-ps] Jacquenet, C., Boucadair, M., Lee, Y., Qin, J., Tsou, T. and Q. Sun, "IPv4-IPv6 Multicast: Problem Statement and Use Cases", Internet-Draft draft-ietf-mboned-v4v6-mcast-ps-01, November 2012.
[I-D.ietf-softwire-dslite-multicast] Qin, J., Boucadair, M., Jacquenet, C., Lee, Y. and Q. Wang, "Delivery of IPv4 Multicast Services to IPv4 Clients over an IPv6 Multicast Network", Internet-Draft draft-ietf-softwire-dslite-multicast-04, October 2012.
[I-D.ietf-softwire-mesh-multicast] Xu, M., Cui, Y., Wu, J., Yang, S., Metz, C. and G. Shepherd, "Softwire Mesh Multicast", Internet-Draft draft-ietf-softwire-mesh-multicast-04, January 2013.
[I-D.ietf-behave-nat64-learn-analysis] Korhonen, J. and T. Savolainen, "Analysis of solution proposals for hosts to learn NAT64 prefix", Internet-Draft draft-ietf-behave-nat64-learn-analysis-03, March 2012.
[RFC4566] Handley, M., Jacobson, V. and C. Perkins, "SDP: Session Description Protocol", RFC 4566, July 2006.

Appendix A. Motivations

A.1. Why an Address Format is Needed for Multicast IPv4-IPv6 Interconnection?

Arguments why an IPv6 address format is needed to embed multicast IPv4 address are quite similar to those of [RFC6052]. Concretely, the definition of a multicast address format embedding a multicast IPv4 address allows:

  • Stateless IPv4-IPv6 header translation of multicast flows;
  • Stateless IPv4-IPv6 PIM interworking function;
  • Stateless IGMP-MLD interworking function (e.g., required for an IPv4 receiver to access to IPv4 multicast content via an IPv6 network);
  • Stateless (local) synthesis of IPv6 address when IPv4 multicast address are embedded in application payload (e.g., SDP [RFC4566]);
  • Except the provisioning of the same MPREFIX64, no coordination is required between IPv4-IPv6 PIM interworking function, IGMP-MLD interworking function, IPv4-IPv6 Interconnection Function and any ALG (Application Level Gateway) in the path;
  • Minimal operational constraints on the multicast address management: IPv6 multicast addresses can be constructed using what has been deployed for IPv4 delivery mode.

A.2. Why Identifying an IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Multicast Address is Required?

Reserving a dedicated multicast prefix for IPv4-IPv6 interconnection purposes is a means to guide the address selection process at the receiver side; in particular it assists the receiver to select the appropriate IP multicast address while avoiding to involve an IPv4-IPv6 interconnection function in the path.

Two use cases to illustrate this behavior are provided below:[I-D.ietf-behave-nat64-learn-analysis] in a multicast context.

  1. An ALG is required to help an IPv6 receiver to select the appropriate IP address when only the IPv4 address is advertised (e.g., using SDP); otherwise the access to the IPv4 multicast content can not be offered to the IPv6 receiver. The ALG may be located downstream the receiver. As such, the ALG does not know in advance whether the receiver is dual-stack or IPv6-only. The ALG may be tuned to insert both the original IPv4 address and corresponding IPv6 multicast address. If a dedicated prefix is not used, a dual-stack receiver may prefer to use the IPv6 address to receive the multicast content. This address selection would require multicast flows to cross an IPv4-IPv6 interconnection function.
  2. In order to avoid involving an ALG in the path, an IPv4-only source can advertise both its IPv4 address and IPv4-Embedded IPv6 Multicast Address. If a dedicated prefix is not reserved, a dual-stack receiver may prefer to use the IPv6 address to receive the multicast content. This address selection would require multicast flows to cross an IPv4-IPv6 interconnection function.

Reserving dedicated IPv6 multicast prefixes for IPv4-IPv6 interconnection purposes mitigates the issues discussed in

A.3. Location of the IPv4 Address

There is no strong argument to allow for flexible options to encode the IPv4 address inside the multicast IPv6 address. The option retained by the authors is to encode the multicast IPv4 address in the low-order 32 bits of the IPv6 address.

This choice is also motivated by the need to be compliant with [RFC3306] and [RFC3956].

Appendix B. Design Considerations

The following constraints should be met when reserving dedicated prefix(es) to be used for IPv4/IPv6 multicast interconnection:

1:
Belong to SSM prefix range (preferably ff3x::/32) and be compatible with unicast-based prefix [RFC3306] for SSM. Note that [RFC3306] suggests to set "plen" to 0 and "network-prefix" to 0. As such, any prefix in the 33-96 range can be convenient. Given [RFC4607] indicates future specifications may allow a non-zero network prefix field, a /33 would allow for future extensions but it has the drawback of reserving a large block. A /96 would be adequate for the use cases already identified in [I-D.ietf-mboned-v4v6-mcast-ps]. In the event of any concrete extension, reserving additional prefixes may be considered.
2:
Be compatible with embedded-RP [RFC3956] and unicast-based prefix [RFC3306] for ASM. This results in associating a meaning with one of the reserved bits in [I-D.ietf-6man-multicast-addr-arch-update]. Defining the 17-20 bits range to have a meaning and be used for IPv4/IPv6 transition has the advantage of allowing for future extensions but it may be seen as a waste of the multicast address space. Consequently, using one of the reserved bits (in the range 17-20) from the unicast-based IPv6 multicast address format [RFC3306] is preferred.

Meeting (1) and (2) with the same reserved bit is not feasible without modifying embedded-RP and unicast-based prefix specifications; this option is avoided.

As a consequence, this document proposes to reserve a multicast prefix for SSM and define one bit of the unicast prefix-based multicast IPv6 address for ASM when embedding IPv4 multicast address in an IPv6 multicast address.

Authors' Addresses

Mohamed Boucadair (editor) France Telecom Rennes, 35000 France EMail: mohamed.boucadair@orange.com
Jacni Qin Cisco China EMail: jacni@jacni.com
Yiu L. Lee Comcast U.S.A EMail: yiu_lee@cable.comcast.com
Stig Venaas Cisco Systems Tasman Drive San Jose, CA 95134 USA EMail: stig@cisco.com
Xing Li CERNET Center/Tsinghua University Room 225, Main Building, Tsinghua University Beijing, 100084 P.R. China Phone: +86 10-62785983 EMail: xing@cernet.edu.cn
Mingwei Xu Tsinghua University Department of Computer Science, Tsinghua University Beijing, 100084 P.R.China Phone: +86-10-6278-5822 EMail: xmw@cernet.edu.cn