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10. IANA Considerations

This chapter defines various parameters that require assignment and management by IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) for the L2TP protocol.

10.1 AVP Attributes

IANA is responsible for maintaining the L2TP AVP attribute type registry. The AVP attribute type is a 16-bit field.

Registration Requirements:

  • Value Range 0-1023: Assigned by IETF Consensus (requires publication of an RFC).
  • Value Range 1024-65535: Assigned using "First Come First Served" policy.

Assigned Standard AVP Attribute Types:

Attribute TypeAVP NameReference
0Message TypeRFC 2661 Section 4.4.1
1Result CodeRFC 2661 Section 4.4.2
2Protocol VersionRFC 2661 Section 4.4.3
3Framing CapabilitiesRFC 2661 Section 4.4.3
4Bearer CapabilitiesRFC 2661 Section 4.4.3
5Tie BreakerRFC 2661 Section 4.4.3
6Firmware RevisionRFC 2661 Section 4.4.3
7Host NameRFC 2661 Section 4.4.3
8Vendor NameRFC 2661 Section 4.4.3
9Assigned Tunnel IDRFC 2661 Section 4.4.3
10Receive Window SizeRFC 2661 Section 4.4.3
11ChallengeRFC 2661 Section 4.4.3
12Q.931 Cause CodeRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
13Challenge ResponseRFC 2661 Section 4.4.3
14Assigned Session IDRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
15Call Serial NumberRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
16Minimum BPSRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
17Maximum BPSRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
18Bearer TypeRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
19Framing TypeRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
20Packet Processing DelayRFC 2661 Section 4.4.6
21Called NumberRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
22Calling NumberRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
23Sub-AddressRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
24(Tx) Connect SpeedRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
25Physical Channel IDRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
26Initial Received LCP CONFREQRFC 2661 Section 4.4.5
27Last Sent LCP CONFREQRFC 2661 Section 4.4.5
28Last Received LCP CONFREQRFC 2661 Section 4.4.5
29Proxy Authen TypeRFC 2661 Section 4.4.5
30Proxy Authen NameRFC 2661 Section 4.4.5
31Proxy Authen ChallengeRFC 2661 Section 4.4.5
32Proxy Authen IDRFC 2661 Section 4.4.5
33Proxy Authen ResponseRFC 2661 Section 4.4.5
34Call ErrorsRFC 2661 Section 4.4.6
35ACCMRFC 2661 Section 4.4.6
36Random VectorRFC 2661 Section 4.3
37Private Group IDRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
38(Rx) Connect SpeedRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4
39Sequencing RequiredRFC 2661 Section 4.4.4

Vendor-Specific AVPs:

Vendor-specific AVPs use the Vendor ID field (based on SMI Network Management Private Enterprise Codes) to distinguish extensions from different vendors.

10.2 Message Type AVP Values

The Message Type AVP (attribute type 0) value is used to identify the type of L2TP control message.

Assigned Message Type Values:

ValueMessage TypeAbbreviationReference
0(Reserved)
1Start-Control-Connection-RequestSCCRQRFC 2661 Section 6.1
2Start-Control-Connection-ReplySCCRPRFC 2661 Section 6.2
3Start-Control-Connection-ConnectedSCCCNRFC 2661 Section 6.3
4Stop-Control-Connection-NotificationStopCCNRFC 2661 Section 6.4
5(Reserved)
6HelloHELLORFC 2661 Section 6.5
7Outgoing-Call-RequestOCRQRFC 2661 Section 6.9
8Outgoing-Call-ReplyOCRPRFC 2661 Section 6.10
9Outgoing-Call-ConnectedOCCNRFC 2661 Section 6.11
10Incoming-Call-RequestICRQRFC 2661 Section 6.6
11Incoming-Call-ReplyICRPRFC 2661 Section 6.7
12Incoming-Call-ConnectedICCNRFC 2661 Section 6.8
13(Reserved)
14Call-Disconnect-NotifyCDNRFC 2661 Section 6.12
15WAN-Error-NotifyWENRFC 2661 Section 6.13
16Set-Link-InfoSLIRFC 2661 Section 6.14

Registration Policy:

Assignment of new message type values requires publication of an IETF standards track RFC or an informational RFC approved by the IESG.

10.3 Result Code AVP Values

The Result Code AVP (attribute type 1) is used to indicate the reason for control connection or session termination.

10.3.1 Result Code Field Values

General Result Codes:

ValueMeaningScope
0Reserved
1General request to clear control connectionStopCCN
2General errorStopCCN, CDN
3Control channel already existsStopCCN
4Requester is not authorizedStopCCN
5Protocol version not supportedStopCCN
6Requester is being shut downStopCCN
7Finite State Machine errorStopCCN

Call Disconnect Result Codes:

ValueMeaningScope
1Lost carrierCDN
2General errorCDN
3Administrative reasonCDN
4Temporary lack of appropriate facilitiesCDN
5Permanent lack of appropriate facilitiesCDN
6Invalid destinationCDN
7No carrier detectedCDN
8Busy signalCDN
9No dial toneCDN
10Timeout waiting for carrierCDN
11No framing detectedCDN

10.3.2 Error Code Field Values

The error code field provides additional details about the error.

ValueError Message
0No general error
1No control connection exists yet for this pair
2Length is wrong
3One of the field values was out of range
4Insufficient resources to handle this operation now
5Invalid Session ID
6A generic vendor-specific error occurred
7Try another (LNS/LAC)
8Session or tunnel was shutdown due to receipt of an unknown AVP with M-bit set

Registration Policy:

Assignment of new result code and error code values requires IETF Consensus (requires publication of an RFC).

10.4 Framing Capabilities & Bearer Capabilities

Framing Capabilities AVP (attribute type 3) and Bearer Capabilities AVP (attribute type 4) use bitmasks to indicate supported capabilities.

Framing Capabilities Bit Definitions:

BitMeaning
0Asynchronous Framing supported
1Synchronous Framing supported
2-31Reserved

Bearer Capabilities Bit Definitions:

BitMeaning
0Analog access supported
1Digital access supported
2-31Reserved

Registration Policy:

Assignment of new capability bits requires IETF Consensus (requires publication of an RFC).

10.5 Proxy Authen Type AVP Values

Proxy Authen Type AVP (attribute type 29) is used to indicate the authentication type used by the LAC.

Assigned Authentication Type Values:

ValueAuthentication TypeReference
0Reserved
1Textual username/password exchangeRFC 1334 (PAP)
2PPP CHAPRFC 1994
3PPP PAPRFC 1334
4No Authentication
5Microsoft CHAP Version 1RFC 2433
6Reserved
7Microsoft CHAP Version 2RFC 2759

Registration Policy:

Assignment of new authentication type values uses "First Come First Served" policy.

10.6 AVP Header Bits

The first 6 bits of the AVP header are used as a bitmask to control AVP behavior.

Defined AVP Header Bits:

BitNameMeaningReference
0M (Mandatory)This AVP must be understoodRFC 2661 Section 4.1
1H (Hidden)AVP value is hiddenRFC 2661 Section 4.3
2-5ReservedReserved, must be set to 0RFC 2661 Section 4.1

Registration Policy:

Assignment of reserved bits requires Standards Action - i.e., publication of an IETF standards track RFC.

10.7 L2TP UDP Port

Assigned Port:

  • Port Number: 1701
  • Protocol: UDP
  • Purpose: L2TP
  • Reference: RFC 2661

IANA has assigned UDP port 1701 for L2TP for both control connections and data sessions.

10.8 L2TP Protocol Number

Although the current specification defines L2TP operating over UDP, L2TP can also operate directly over other packet transport protocols.

IP Protocol Number:

  • L2TP Protocol Number: 115
  • Name: L2TP
  • Reference: RFC 3931 (L2TPv3, directly over IP)

IANA Registry Maintenance:

IANA maintains the following L2TP-related registries:

  1. L2TP AVP Attributes Registry

  2. L2TP Message Types Registry

    • Contains all control message types
  3. L2TP Result Codes Registry

    • Contains result codes and error codes
  4. L2TP Proxy Authen Types Registry

    • Contains authentication type values
  5. L2TP Ports and Protocol Numbers

    • UDP port and IP protocol number assignments

Updates and Extensions:

Subsequent RFCs may define new AVPs, message types, or other parameters. All new assignments must follow the registration policies defined in this section.

Important extensions include:

  • RFC 3931: Layer Two Tunneling Protocol - Version 3 (L2TPv3)
  • RFC 4591: Frame Relay over L2TP
  • RFC 5515: Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) Access Concentrator Configuration