RFC 3471 (rfc3471) - Page 2 of 34
Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) Signaling Functional Description
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
RFC 3471 GMPLS Signaling Functional Description
7. Protection Information ..................................... 21
7.1 Required Information .................................... 22
8. Administrative Status Information .......................... 23
8.1 Required Information .................................... 24
9. Control Channel Separation ................................. 25
9.1 Interface Identification ................................ 25
9.2 Fault Handling .......................................... 27
10. Acknowledgments ............................................ 27
11. Security Considerations .................................... 28
12. IANA Considerations ........................................ 28
13. Intellectual Property Considerations ....................... 29
14. References ................................................. 29
14.1 Normative References ................................... 29
14.2 Informative References ................................. 30
15. Contributors ............................................... 31
16. Editor's Address ........................................... 33
17. Full Copyright Statement ................................... 34
1. Introduction
The Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) architecture [RFC 3031] has
been defined to support the forwarding of data based on a label. In
this architecture, Label Switching Routers (LSRs) were assumed to
have a forwarding plane that is capable of (a) recognizing either
packet or cell boundaries, and (b) being able to process either
packet headers (for LSRs capable of recognizing packet boundaries) or
cell headers (for LSRs capable of recognizing cell boundaries).
The original architecture has recently been extended to include LSRs
whose forwarding plane recognizes neither packet, nor cell
boundaries, and therefore, can't forward data based on the
information carried in either packet or cell headers. Specifically,
such LSRs include devices where the forwarding decision is based on
time slots, wavelengths, or physical ports.
Given the above, LSRs, or more precisely interfaces on LSRs, can be
subdivided into the following classes:
1. Interfaces that recognize packet/cell boundaries and can forward
data based on the content of the packet/cell header. Examples
include interfaces on routers that forward data based on the
content of the "shim" header, interfaces on (Asynchronous Transfer
Mode) ATM-LSRs that forward data based on the ATM VPI/VCI. Such
interfaces are referred to as Packet-Switch Capable (PSC).
Berger Standards Track