RFC 2545 (rfc2545) - Page 1 of 5
Use of BGP-4 Multiprotocol Extensions for IPv6 Inter-Domain Routing
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group P. Marques
Request for Comments: 2545 cisco Systems, Inc.
Category: Standards Track F. Dupont
Inria
March 1999
Use of BGP-4 Multiprotocol Extensions for IPv6 Inter-Domain Routing
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 (1999). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
BGP-4 Multiprotocol Extensions [BGP-MP] defines the format of two BGP
attributes (MP_REACH_NLRI and MP_UNREACH_NLRI) that can be used to
announce and withdraw the announcement of reachability information.
This document defines how compliant systems should make use of those
attributes for the purpose of conveying IPv6 routing information.
1. Introduction
The BGP-4 protocol [BGP-4] in particular, and path vector routing
protocols in general, are mostly independent of the particular
Address Family for which the protocol is being used.
IPv6 falls under the generic category of protocols for which BGP-4 is
suitable and, unless stated otherwise in this document, the BGP-4
procedures to apply when using BGP-4 to carry IPv6 reachability
information are those defined in [BGP-4] and in subsequent documents
that extend or update the BGP-4 specification.
In terms of routing information, the most significant difference
between IPv6 and IPv4 (for which BGP was originally designed) is the
fact that IPv6 introduces scoped unicast addresses and defines
particular situations when a particular address scope must be used.
This document concerns itself essentially with the necessary rules to
accommodate IPv6 address scope requirements.
Marques & Dupont Standards Track