RFC 3818 BEST CURRENT PRACTICE PROTOCOL · REGISTRATION

PPP IANA Considerations: IANA Considerations for the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)

A review requirement for assigning values in selected PPP registries

On rfc-editor.org ↗
PUBLISHED
June 2004
AUTHORS
V. Schryver
STREAM
IETF
NEW ASSIGNMENT POLICY
IETF Consensus
AFFECTED PPP ADDRESS SPACES
Listed in the RFC
DOI
10.17487/RFC3818

RFC text

Contents
Original text · RFC Editor View on rfc-editor.org ↗
Network Working Group                                        V. Schryver
Request for Comments: 3818                             Rhyolite Software
BCP: 88                                                        June 2004
Category: Best Current Practice


       IANA Considerations for the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)

Status of this Memo

   This document specifies an Internet Best Current Practices for the
   Internet Community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2004).

Abstract

   The charter of the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) Extensions working
   group (pppext) includes the responsibility to "actively advance PPP's
   most useful extensions to full standard, while defending against
   further enhancements of questionable value."  In support of that
   charter, the allocation of PPP protocol and other assigned numbers
   will no longer be "first come first served."

Introduction

   The Point-to-Point protocol (PPP, RFC 1661 [1]) is a mature protocol
   with a large number of subprotocols, encapsulations and other
   extensions.  The main protocol as well as its extensions involve many
   name spaces in which values must be assigned.
   http://www.iana.org/assignments/ppp-numbers contains a list of the
   address spaces and their current assignments.

   Historically, initial values in new name spaces have often been
   chosen in the RFCs creating the name spaces.  The IANA made
   subsequent assignments with a "First Come First Served" policy.  This
   memo changes that policy for some PPP address spaces.

   Most of the PPP names spaces are quiescent, but some continue to
   attract proposed extensions.  Extensions of PPP have been defined in
   RFCs that are "Informational" and so are not subject to review.
   These extensions usually require values assigned in one or more of
   the PPP name spaces.  Making these allocations require "IETF
   Consensus" will ensure that proposals are reviewed.

Terminology

   The terms "name space", "assigned value", and "registration" are used
   here with the meanings defined in BCP 26 [2].  The policies "First
   Come First Served" and "IETF Consensus" used here also have the
   meanings defined in BCP 26.

IANA Considerations for PPP

   IETF Consensus, usually through the Point-to-Point Protocol
   Extensions working group (pppext), is required for assigning new
   values in the following address spaces:

                PPP DLL PROTOCOL NUMBERS
                PPP LCP AND IPCP CODES
                PPP LCP CONFIGURATION OPTION TYPES
                PPP CCP CONFIGURATION OPTION TYPES
                PPP CHAP AUTHENTICATION ALGORITHMS
                PPP LCP FCS-ALTERNATIVES
                PPP MULTILINK ENDPOINT DISCRIMINATOR CLASS
                PPP LCP CALLBACK OPERATION FIELDS
                PPP BRIDGING CONFIGURATION OPTION TYPES
                PPP BRIDGING MAC TYPES
                PPP BRIDGING SPANNING TREE
                PPP IPCP CONFIGURATION OPTION TYPES
                PPP IPV6CP CONFIGURATION OPTIONS
                PPP IP-Compression-Protocol Types

Security Considerations

   This memo deals with matters of process, not protocol.

Normative References

   [1] Simpson, W., Ed., "The Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)", STD 51,
       RFC 1661, July 1994.

   [2] Alvestrand, H. and T. Narten, "Guidelines for Writing an IANA
       Considerations Section in RFCs", BCP 26, RFC 2434, October 1998.

Author's Address

   Vernon Schryver
   Rhyolite Software
   2482 Lee Hill Drive
   Boulder, Colorado 80302

   EMail: vjs@rhyolite.com

Full Copyright Statement

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2004).  This document is subject
   to the rights, licenses and restrictions contained in BCP 78, and
   except as set forth therein, the authors retain all their rights.

   This document and the information contained herein are provided on an
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Acknowledgement

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   Internet Society.

ISO Plain Language

On this page
PROBLEMSome PPP name spaces continued to attract proposed extensions, while first-come, first-served assignments did not ensure those proposals were reviewed.
MECHANISMThe RFC requires IETF Consensus for new values in the listed PPP address spaces, usually through the PPP Extensions working group.
WHAT THE POLICY DOESRFC 3818 establishes a Best Current Practice for assigning values in the listed PPP registries.

§1Why Review PPP Assignments

PPP and its extensions use many name spaces where values must be assigned. Historically, IANA made later assignments on a first-come, first-served basis.

The RFC notes that some PPP name spaces continue to attract proposed extensions, including extensions described in Informational RFCs that are not otherwise subject to review. Requiring IETF Consensus for the affected assignments ensures proposals are reviewed.

PPP uses many registries, and some new extensions need values from them. This policy adds a review step before assigning values in the affected registries.

§2The New Assignment Policy

New values in the address spaces listed by the RFC require IETF Consensus, usually through the Point-to-Point Protocol Extensions working group, known as pppext. The list covers protocol numbers, LCP and IPCP codes, configuration options, authentication algorithms, multilink endpoint discriminator classes, bridging values and other PPP fields.

This changes the earlier first-come, first-served policy for these spaces. The RFC does not change PPP packet behavior; it deals with how assigned values are approved.

For the registries in the list, a request for a new value must receive IETF Consensus. The policy concerns assignment review, not how PPP sends data.

§3Scope and Security

The rule applies to the PPP address spaces named in the RFC; it does not say that every PPP registry uses this policy. The RFC defines the terminology for policies by reference to BCP 26.

The document states that it deals with process, not protocol, under Security Considerations.

The policy applies to the registries named in the document. The RFC says it addresses process rather than protocol security.

§4References