RFC 2269 (rfc2269) - Page 1 of 6
Using the MARS Model in non-ATM NBMA Networks
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group G. Armitage
Request for Comments: 2269 Lucent Technologies
Category: Informational January 1998
Using the MARS Model in non-ATM NBMA Networks
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this
memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1998). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
Initially developed for IP over ATM, the RFC 2022 (MARS) model is
also applicable to other NBMA networks that provide the equivalent of
switched, point to multipoint connections. This short document is
intended to state the obvious equivalences, and explain the less
obvious implications. No changes to the MARS model per se are
suggested or required. RFC 2022 is not required over NBMA networks
that offer Ethernet-like group addressing functionality.
1. Introduction
Most network layer models, like the one described in STD 5, RFC 1112
[1] for IP multicasting, assume sources may send their packets to an
abstract 'multicast group addresses'. Link layer support for such an
abstraction is assumed to exist, and is provided by technologies such
as Ethernet.
Some NBMA networks (e.g. ATM using UNI3.0 or UNI3.1 signaling [4,5])
do not support a multicast (or group) address abstraction. In these
environments multicasting is typically supported through point to
multipoint calls (or emulated with multiple point to point calls).
The MARS model (RFC 2022) [2] was originally developed by the IP over
ATM working group, and so uses ATM-centric descriptive language. For
completeness this memo explains how RFC 2022 can be applied to other
NBMA technologies.
Armitage Informational