RFC 2215 (rfc2215) - Page 1 of 16

General Characterization Parameters for Integrated Service Network Elements

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Network Working Group                                        S. Shenker
Request for Comments: 2215                                J. Wroclawski
Category: Standards Track                            Xerox PARC/MIT LCS
                                                         September 1997


                General Characterization Parameters for
                  Integrated Service Network Elements


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.

Abstract

   This memo defines a set of general control and characterization
   parameters for network elements supporting the IETF integrated
   services QoS control framework. General parameters are those with
   common, shared definitions across all QoS control services.

1. Introduction

   This memo defines the set of general control and characterization
   parameters used by network elements supporting the integrated
   services framework.  "General" means that the parameter has a common
   definition and shared meaning across all QoS control services.

   Control parameters are used by applications to provide information to
   the network related to QoS control requests. An example is the
   traffic specification (TSpec) generated by application senders and
   receivers.

   Characterization parameters are used to discover or characterize the
   QoS management environment along the path of a packet flow requesting
   active end-to-end QoS control.  These characterizations may
   eventually be used by the application requesting QoS control, or by
   other network elements along the path. Examples include information
   about which QoS control services are available along a network path
   and estimates of the available path bandwidth.

   Individual QoS control service specifications may refer to these
   parameter definitions as well as defining additional parameters
   specific to the needs of that service.



Shenker & Wroclawski        Standards Track
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