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RFC 4659 - BGP-MPLS IP Virtual Private Network (VPN) Extension for IPv6 VPN

Document Information​

  • RFC Number: 4659
  • Title: BGP-MPLS IP Virtual Private Network (VPN) Extension for IPv6 VPN
  • Authors: J. De Clercq, D. Ooms, S. Prevost, F. Le Faucheur
  • Date: September 2006
  • Category: Standards Track
  • ISSN: 2070-1721

Abstract​

This document describes a method by which a Service Provider may use an IP backbone to provide IP Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for its customers. This method uses a "peer model", in which the customers' edge routers (CE routers) send their routes to the Service Provider's edge routers (PE routers); there is no "overlay" visible to the customer's routing algorithm, and CE routers at different sites do not peer with each other. Data packets are tunneled through the backbone, so that the core routers do not need to know the VPN routes. This document specifies the BGP-MPLS IP VPN extension for IPv6 VPN.

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 (C) The Internet Society (2006).

Table of Contents​

  1. Introduction
  2. Overview of Operation
  3. IPv6 VPN Routing Information Distribution
  4. Forwarding
  5. Security Considerations
  6. IANA Considerations
  7. Acknowledgements
  8. Normative References
  9. Informative References

1. Introduction​

[RFC4364] describes a method by which a Service Provider may use an IP backbone to provide IP Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for its customers. This method uses a "peer model", in which the customers' edge routers (CE routers) send their routes to the Service Provider's edge routers (PE routers); there is no "overlay" visible to the customer's routing algorithm, and CE routers at different sites do not peer with each other. Data packets are tunneled through the backbone, so that the core routers do not need to know the VPN routes.

This document defines the necessary extensions to [RFC4364] to support IPv6 VPNs.

2. Overview of Operation​

The operation of IPv6 VPNs is very similar to that of IPv4 VPNs as described in [RFC4364]. The main difference is that the routing information distributed via BGP includes IPv6 addresses instead of IPv4 addresses.

3. IPv6 VPN Routing Information Distribution​

3.1. VPN-IPv6 Address Family​

This document defines a new address family, VPN-IPv6. A VPN-IPv6 address consists of an 8-byte Route Distinguisher (RD) and a 16-byte IPv6 address.

3.2. Encoding of Routing Information​

VPN-IPv6 routes are encoded in BGP using the Multiprotocol Extensions for BGP-4 [RFC4760]. The AFI is 2 (IPv6) and the SAFI is 128 (MPLS-labeled VPN address).

4. Forwarding​

Forwarding of IPv6 VPN packets is done using MPLS label switching, similar to IPv4 VPNs.

5. Security Considerations​

The security considerations of [RFC4364] apply to this document as well.

6. IANA Considerations​

This document defines a new SAFI value (128) for the VPN-IPv6 address family.

7. Acknowledgements​

The authors would like to thank the members of the L3VPN working group for their feedback and suggestions.

8. Normative References​

  • [RFC4364] Rosen, E. and Y. Rekhter, "BGP/MPLS IP Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)", RFC 4364, February 2006.
  • [RFC4760] Bates, T., Chandra, R., Katz, D., and Y. Rekhter, "Multiprotocol Extensions for BGP-4", RFC 4760, January 2007.

9. Informative References​

  • [RFC2547] Rosen, E. and Y. Rekhter, "BGP/MPLS VPNs", RFC 2547, March 1999.

Authors' Addresses

Jeremy De Clercq Alcatel Fr. Wellesplein 1 2018 Antwerpen Belgium

EMail: [email protected]

Dirk Ooms Alcatel Fr. Wellesplein 1 2018 Antwerpen Belgium

EMail: [email protected]

Stuart Prevost BT 2001 Butterfield Road, Suite 800 Downers Grove, IL 60515 USA

EMail: [email protected]

Francois Le Faucheur Cisco Systems Village d'Entreprise Green Side - Batiment T3 400, Avenue de Roumanille 06410 Biot - Sophia Antipolis France

EMail: [email protected]

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