RFC 2749 PROPOSED STANDARD POLICY · RSVP · ADMISSION CONTROL

COPS for RSVP: COPS usage for RSVP

How a router asks a policy server for permission to reserve network resources, and how the answer is used.

On rfc-editor.org ↗
PUBLISHED
January 2000
AUTHORS
S. Herzog, J. Boyle, R. Cohen, D. Durham, R. Rajan, A. Sastry
STREAM
IETF
COPS CLIENT TYPE FOR RSVP
1
REQUEST CONTEXTS
3 (incoming, allocation, outgoing)
SUPPORTED RSVP MESSAGE TYPES
4 (Path, Resv, PathErr, ResvErr)
DECISION COMMANDS FOR RSVP
2 (Install and Remove)
OBJECTS REPLACEABLE BY DEFAULT
3 (POLICY_DATA, ERROR_SPEC, FLOWSPEC)
COMBINED CONTEXT FLAG CASES
2
DOI
10.17487/RFC2749

RFC text

Contents
Original text · RFC Editor View on rfc-editor.org ↗
Network Working Group                                    S . Herzog, Ed.
Request for Comments: 2749                                     IPHighway
Category: Standards Track                                       J. Boyle
                                                                  Level3
                                                                R. Cohen
                                                                   Cisco
                                                               D. Durham
                                                                   Intel
                                                                R. Rajan
                                                                    AT&T
                                                               A. Sastry
                                                                   Cisco
                                                            January 2000


                          COPS usage for RSVP


Status of this Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2000).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

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

Table of Contents

   1 Introduction....................................................2
   2 RSVP values for COPS objects....................................2
   2.1  Common Header, client-type...................................2
   2.2  Context Object (Context).....................................3
   2.3  Client Specific Information (ClientSI).......................4
   2.4  Decision Object (Decision)...................................4
   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......................9
   5.1  Unicast Flow Example.........................................9
   5.2  Shared Multicast Flows......................................11
   6 References.....................................................14
   7 Author Information and Acknowledgments.........................15
   8 Full Copyright Statement.......................................17

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 with 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 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 <Error> 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
   <Decision>.

   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).

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 LPDP. 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
   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 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.

   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 LPDP (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 in its
   LPDPDecision 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).

   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]).

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 := <Handle A> <Context: in & out, Path>
                            <In-Interface if2> <Out-Interface if1>
                            <ClientSI: all objects in Path message>

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := <Handle A> <Context: in & out, Path>
                            <Decision: Command, Install>

   A Resv message arrives from R1:

       PEP --> PDP   REQ := <Handle B>
                            <Context: in & allocation & out, Resv>
                            <In-Interface if1> <Out-Interface if2>
                            <ClientSI: all objects in Resv message>

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := <Handle B>
                            <Context: in, Resv>
                            <Decision: command, Install>
                            <Context: allocation, Resv>
                            <Decision: command, Install>
                            <Decision: Stateless, Priority=7>
                            <Context: out, Resv>
                            <Decision: command, Install>
                            <Decision: replacement, POLICY-DATA1>

       PEP --> PDP   RPT := <Handle B>
                            <Report type: commit>

   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:

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := <Handle B>
                            <Context: allocation, Resv>
                            <Decision: command, Install>
                            <Decision: Stateless, Priority=3>

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

       PEP --> PDP   DRQ := <Handle B>
                            <Reason Code: Preempted>

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

       PEP --> PDP   DRQ := <Handle A>
                            <Reason: Timeout>

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 := <Handle A> <Context: in, Path>
                            <In-interface if3>
                            <ClientSI: all objects in incoming Path>

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := <Handle A> <Context: in, Path>
                            <Decision: command, Install>


   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 := <Handle B1> <Context: out, Path>
                            <Out-interface if1>
                            <clientSI: all objects in outgoing Path>

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := <Handle B1>
                            <Context: out, Path>
                            <Decision: command, Install>
                            <Decision: Replacement, POLICY-DATA1>

   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 := <Handle C> <Context: in & allocation, Resv>
                            <In-interface if2>
                            <ClientSI: all objects in Resv message
                             including RSpec1 >

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := <Handle C>
                            <Context: in, Resv>
                            <Decision: command, Install>
                            <Context: allocation, Resv>
                            <Decision: command, Install>
                            <Decision: Stateless, priority=5>

       PEP --> PDP   RPT := <handle C> <Commit>

   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 := <Handle E> <Context: out, Resv>
                            <out-interface if3>
                            <Client info: all objects in outgoing Resv>

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := <Handle E>
                            <Context: out, Resv>
                            <Decision: command, Install>
                            <Decision: replacement, POLICY-DATA2>

   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.

   The PEP re-issues an updated handle C REQ with a new context object
   <Context: in , Resv>, and receives a DEC for handle C.

       PEP --> PDP   REQ := <Handle F> <Context: in , Resv>
                            <In-interface if2>
                            <ClientSI: all objects in Resv message
                             including RSpec2 >

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := <Handle F> <Context: in , Resv>
                            <Decision: command, Install>

       PEP --> PDP   REQ := <Handle G> <Context: allocation, Resv>
                            <In-interface if2>
                            <ClientSI: all objects in merged Resv
                             including RSpec2 >

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := <Handle G>
                            <Context: allocation, Resv>
                            <Decision: command, Install>
                            <Decision: Stateless, Priority=5>

       PEP --> PDP   RPT := <handle G> <Commit>

   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 := <Handle H> <Context: in, ResvErr>
                            <In-interface if3>
                            <ClientSI: all objects in incoming ResvErr>

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := <Handle H> <Context: in, ResvErr>
                            <Decision: command, Install>

       PEP --> PDP   REQ := <Handle I> <Context: out, ResvErr>
                            <Out-interface if2>
                            <ClientSI: all objects in outgoing ResvErr>

       PDP --> PEP   DEC := <Handle I>
                            <Context: out, ResvErr>
                            <Decision: command, Install>
                            <Decision: Replacement, POLICY-DATA3>

   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.

6  References

   [RSVP-EXT] Herzog, S., "RSVP Extensions for Policy Control", RFC
              2750, January 2000.

   [RAP]      Yavatkar, R., Pendarakis, D. and R. Guerin, "A Framework
              for Policy Based Admission Control", RFC 2753, January
              2000.

   [COPS]     Boyle, J., Cohen, R., Durham, D., Herzog, S., Raja, R. and
              A. Sastry, "The COPS (Common Open Policy Service)
              Protocol", RFC 2748, January 2000.

   [RSVP]     Braden, R., Zhang, L., Berson, S., Herzog, S. and S.
              Jamin, "Resource ReSerVation Protocol (RSVP) - Functional
              Specification", RFC 2205, September 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
   Level 3 Communications
   1025 Eldorado Boulevard
   Broomfield, CO 80021

   Phone: 720.888.1192
   EMail: jboyle@Level3.net


   Ron Cohen
   CISCO Systems
   4 Maskit St.
   Herzeliya Pituach 46766 Israel

   Phone: 972.9.9700064
   EMail: ronc@cisco.com


   David Durham
   Intel
   2111 NE 25th Avenue
   Hillsboro, OR 97124

   Phone: 503.264.6232
   EMail: David.Durham@intel.com


   Raju Rajan
   AT&T Labs Research
   180 Park Ave., P.O. Box 971
   Florham Park, NJ 07932

   Phone: 973.360.7229
   EMail: raju@research.att.com
   Shai Herzog
   IPHighway, Inc.
   55 New York Avenue
   Framingham, MA 01701

   Phone: 508.620.1141
   EMail: herzog@iphighway.com


   Arun Sastry
   Cisco Systems
   4 The Square
   Stockley Park
   Uxbridge, Middlesex UB11 1BN
   UK

   Phone: +44-208-756-8693
   EMail: asastry@cisco.com

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PROBLEMA router that reserves resources for a flow has to decide whether the reservation is allowed, and that decision belongs to policy, not to the router. Without a common way to ask, each router would make its own choice.
MECHANISMThe router, a policy enforcement point, sends COPS requests to a policy decision point. Each request carries a context saying which step is involved, a message type, and the RSVP objects received. The policy server answers with a decision that can install or remove the request, add policy data, or replace objects in the message.
WHY IT MATTERSPolicy decisions for RSVP can live on a server instead of in every router, while the router keeps the local decision point for the moments when it cannot reach the server. The RFC is a usage document on top of the COPS protocol and the RSVP specification.

§1Introduction and Scope

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

This document gives usage directives for using COPS when RSVP clients outsource policy control decisions to policy servers. The client that enforces policy is the policy enforcement point (PEP), normally a router, and the server that makes the decision is the policy decision point (PDP). RSVP registers with COPS as client type 1.

Because COPS is already designed, the directives here are mainly about RSVP applicability, interoperability and usage guidelines, together with client specific examples. The document assumes prior knowledge of the RAP framework and of the basic COPS protocol.

COPS lets a router ask a policy server whether a request should be allowed and get back an answer. RFC 2749 says how to use that mechanism with RSVP, which reserves network resources for a flow. It defines the questions the router may ask, the answers a policy server may give, and the order in which the router must ask them.

§2.2The Context Object

The Context object says what the PEP is asking about. It has two parts: an R-Type, the request type flag, which names the situation the question belongs to, and an M-Type, which identifies the applicable RSVP message type.

There are three request types. The Incoming-Message request is used when the PEP has received an RSVP message. The PDP may decide to accept or reject it and may also apply other decision objects to it; if the incoming message is rejected, RSVP should treat it as if it never arrived. The Resource-Allocation request is used when the PEP is about to commit local resources to an RSVP flow, so it applies to Resv messages only, and the decision is made for the merge of all reservations associated with the flow, which may have arrived on a particular interface from several RSVP next hops. The Outgoing-Message request is used when the PEP is about to forward an outgoing RSVP message; the PDP may allow or deny that message and may provide an outgoing policy data object.

The M-Type values are identical to the values used in the msg type field of the RSVP header. Four message types are supported: Path, Resv, PathErr and ResvErr. Other message types such as PathTear, ResvTear and Resv Confirm are not supported, and the list of supported types can only be extended in later versions of RSVP or of this document.

Every question the router asks carries a context saying which step it is about: a message arriving, local resources being committed, or a message about to be forwarded. It also names the RSVP message type involved. Only Path, Resv, PathErr and ResvErr can be used.

THE THREE STEPS OF AN RSVP MESSAGE (RFC 2749 SECTION 3.6)
  • Incoming start
  • Resource allocation
  • Outgoing end
FromToEvent
IncomingResource allocationmessage received, local resources committed
Resource allocationOutgoingmessage forwarded

§2.3Client Specific Information

All the objects that were received in an RSVP message are encapsulated inside the Client Specific Information object, in the form called Signaled ClientSI, and sent from the PEP to the remote PDP. The PEP and the PDP share RSVP state, and the PDP is assumed to implement the same RSVP functional specification as the PEP.

If the PDP detects the absence of objects required by the RSVP specification, it should return an Error in the Decision message indicating that mandatory client-specific info is missing. If it detects the absence of optional RSVP objects that are needed to approve the request against current policies, it should return a negative Decision instead.

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, so the ClientSI object should specifically contain the SESSION and STYLE objects along with the merged FLOWSPEC, the FILTERSPEC list, and the SCOPE object whenever relevant.

The router copies the RSVP objects it received into a client information object and sends that to the policy server, which is assumed to understand RSVP as well as the router does. For a merged multicast reservation, the object has to carry the merged flow specification, the filter list and the scope.

§2.4The Decision Object

The Decision object is how the PDP controls the PEP. While accepting an RSVP message, a PDP may use decision commands, flags and objects to provide preemption priority, trigger warnings, replace RSVP objects and more.

Only two decision commands apply to RSVP. Install is the positive response: accept, allow or admit an RSVP message or a local resource allocation. Remove is the negative response: deny, reject or remove an RSVP message or a local resource allocation.

Only one decision flag applies to RSVP. When the Trigger Error flag is set, RSVP should schedule a PathErr in response to a Path message, or a ResvErr in response to a Resv message.

Stateless Policy Data may include one or more policy elements, as specified for the RSVP Policy Data object, which are assumed to be well understood by the client's local policy decision point. The PEP should consider these as an addition to the decision already received from the PDP, since it can add but cannot override. Stateless objects must be well understood but not necessarily supported by all PEPs, so the PDP must be prepared for them to be ignored.

Replacement Data may contain multiple RSVP objects to be replaced from the original RSVP request. Replacement is typically performed on the Forward Outgoing request, for instance replacing outgoing Policy Data, but it is not limited to that and can also be performed on other contexts such as Resource-Allocation. Replacing the RSVP FlowSpec object can be useful for controlling resources across a trusted zone of policy ignorant nodes. RSVP clients are currently only required to allow replacement of three objects, POLICY_DATA, ERROR_SPEC and FLOWSPEC, but could optionally support replacement of other objects.

Replacement works in a fixed way. 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 that C-Num in the RSVP message, and if it appears empty, with a length of 4, it removes all the instances without adding anything.

The policy server answers with a Decision object. It can install or remove the request, ask RSVP to raise an error, add policy elements, or replace objects in the original message. Replacement is all or nothing for a given object type: a new object replaces every copy of it, and an empty one deletes every copy.

WHAT A DECISION CAN CONTAIN
  • InstallPositive response: accept, allow or admit an RSVP message or a local resource allocation.
  • RemoveNegative response: deny, reject or remove an RSVP message or a local resource allocation.
  • Trigger ErrorThe only decision flag for RSVP: schedule a PathErr for a Path message, or a ResvErr for a Resv message.
  • Stateless Policy DataPolicy elements the PEP may add to the decision, but never override.
  • Replacement DataObjects that replace, or with a length of 4 remove, every instance of the same object in the RSVP message.

§3Running COPS for RSVP Flows

Policy control is performed per RSVP flow, where a flow is the atomic unit of an RSVP reservation, a TC reservation. Reservation styles also affect the definition of a flow: a set of senders that is considered a single flow for a WF reservation is considered a set of individual flows when FF style is used. Several FF flows may be packed into a single Resv message, and a packed message must be unpacked so that 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 by default are all the POLICY_DATA objects in the packed message.

When making a decision, the PDP may consider both the Resv and its matching Path state. State association is straightforward in the common unicast case, because the RSVP flow includes one Path state and one Resv state. In multicast cases the correspondence may be more complicated, as the match may be many-to-many, and the COPS protocol assumes that the PDP is RSVP knowledgeable and capable of determining these associations from the contents of the request and especially the ClientSI object.

Admission of a new reservation requires both an administrative approval, which is the policy control, and capacity admission control. After it has been 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. That report signals when billing should effectively begin and when heavier delayed operations, such as debiting a credit card, are permissible. If a reservation approved by the PDP fails admission because of a lack of resources, the PEP must issue a no-commit report, fold back and send an updated request to its previous state, and, if no state was previously installed, issue a delete (DRQ).

PathTear and ResvTear messages are not controlled by this policy architecture. That relies on two assumptions: that MD5 authentication verifies the tear was received from the same node that sent the initial reservation, and that it is functionally equivalent to that node holding off refreshes for the 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.

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, and it should update the PDP with the new request state when it detects a change in the corresponding Resv or Path message. If the connection between the PEP and the PDP is lost, the cached RSVP state may be retained for the RSVP timeout period and used for previously admitted flows, but it cannot be applied to new or updated state. If the connection cannot be reestablished with the PDP or a backup PDP after that timeout, the PEP is expected to purge all its cached decisions; without an applicable cached decision it must either reject the flow or resort to its local policy decision point. Once a connection is reestablished to a new or the original PDP, the PDP may issue a state synchronization request, and the PEP must then reissue requests that correspond to the current RSVP state, as if all the state had just been updated.

The router asks about one flow at a time, and it can reuse the last answer for later refreshes of that flow until something changes or the connection to the policy server drops. It reports a commit only once the reservation is both approved and installed, so that billing starts at the right moment.

§3.7RSVP 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 by the RSVP specification and its extensions, the PDP is in the best position to provide them, including the sub-codes.

The procedure is this. First the PEP queries the PDP before sending a PathErr or ResvErr, and then the PDP returns the constructed ERROR_SPEC in the Replacement Data decision object, so the error message carries the details the policy server chose.

When a policy error has to be reported, the router asks the policy server for the error details first, and then sends the error message to the sender.

§5Unicast and Multicast Examples

The unicast example has a PEP router with two interfaces. A sender S1 sends to a receiver R1, and a Path message arrives from S1. The PEP sends a request whose context is in and out for the Path, giving the in interface and the out interface and all the objects in the Path message, and the PDP answers with an Install decision for both contexts.

A Resv message then arrives from R1. The PEP asks with a context of in, allocation and out, and the PDP answers with three separate decisions, one per context: Install for the incoming context, Install plus a stateless priority of 7 for the allocation context, and Install plus a replacement of POLICY-DATA1 for the outgoing context. The decision was split because different decision objects applied to different context flags. The PEP then reports a commit for that handle.

Later the PDP changes its decision and answers with Install plus a stateless priority of 3 for the allocation context. Because the priority is now too low, the PEP preempts the flow and sends a delete request with the reason code Preempted. When the sender stops sending Path messages, the PEP sends a delete for the Path handle with the reason Timeout.

The multicast example has a PEP with two senders and three receivers in one session, with if2 on a shared medium. A Path message arrives on if3 from S1 and is approved. The forwarding table then gives two outgoing interfaces for that path, so two separate exchanges are needed, one for if1 and one for if2. A WF Resv message from R2 on if2 is approved with a preemption priority of 5, and the PEP reports a commit.

When a second WF Resv with a higher RSpec arrives from R3 on the same interface, the PEP can no longer combine context flags, because two reservations arrived on that interface, so it issues the requests separately: the incoming context first, then the allocation context, which again returns a priority of 5 and a commit. If a ResvErr arrives from S1, the PEP maps it to R3 alone, because R3 has the higher flow specification.

The examples show the whole exchange for one reservation and for a shared multicast session. In both cases the router sends a request, the policy server answers with an install decision, and the router reports a commit once the reservation is in place.

UNICAST FLOW EXCHANGE (RFC 2749 SECTION 5.1)
Sender S1PEP routerPDPReceiver R1
  1. Path message
  2. REQ, context in and out, PathHandle A, in interface if2, out interface if1, all objects in the Path message.
  3. DEC, Install
  4. Resv message
  5. REQ, context in, allocation and out, ResvHandle B, in interface if1, out interface if2.
  6. DEC split by contextInstall for each context, stateless priority 7 on allocation, replacement POLICY-DATA1 on outgoing.
  7. RPT, commitThe reservation was installed, so the PEP confirms the commit.

§4Security Considerations

This document relies on COPS for its signalling and for its security, and refers the reader to the security considerations section of the COPS specification.

Security for RSVP messages is provided by inter-router MD5 authentication, assuming a chain-of-trust model. A likely deployment scenario calls for PEPs to be deployed only at the network edge, on boundary nodes, while the core of the network, the backbone, consists of policy ignorant nodes. In that scenario MD5 trust between boundary PEPs that are not neighbours is established through internal signing, that is integrity, of the Policy Data object itself, which is left unmodified as it passes through the policy ignorant nodes.

The security of the exchange comes from COPS and from MD5 authentication between routers, which is why the design keeps policy servers at the edge of the network and leaves the core routers policy ignorant.

§9References