RFC 6550 - RPL: IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks
Abstract
Low-Power and Lossy Networks (LLNs) are a class of network in which both the routers and their interconnect are constrained. LLN routers typically operate with constraints on processing power, memory, and energy (battery power). Their interconnects are characterized by high loss rates, low data rates, and instability. LLNs are comprised of anything from a few dozen to thousands of routers. Supported traffic flows include point-to-point (between devices inside the LLN), point-to-multipoint (from a central control point to a subset of devices inside the LLN), and multipoint-to-point (from devices inside the LLN towards a central control point). This document specifies the IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL), which provides a mechanism whereby multipoint-to-point traffic from devices inside the LLN towards a central control point as well as point-to-multipoint traffic from the central control point to the devices inside the LLN are supported. Support for point-to-point traffic is also available.
Status of This Memo
This is an Internet Standards Track document.
This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). It represents the consensus of the IETF community. It has received public review and has been approved for publication by the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG). Further information on Internet Standards is available in Section 2 of RFC 5741.
Information about the current status of this document, any errata, and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6550.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (c) 2012 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the document authors. All rights reserved.
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Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Terminology
- 3. Protocol Overview
- 4. Traffic Flows Supported by RPL
- 5. RPL Instance
- 6. ICMPv6 RPL Control Message
- 7. Sequence Counters
- 8. Upward Routes
- 9. Downward Routes
- 10. Security Mechanisms
- 11. Packet Forwarding and Loop Avoidance/Detection
- 12. Multicast Operation
- 13. Maintenance of Routing Adjacency
- 14. Guidelines for Objective Functions
- 15. Suggestions for Interoperation with Neighbor Discovery
- 16. Summary of Requirements for Interoperable Implementations
- 17. RPL Constants and Variables
- 18. Manageability Considerations
- 19. Security Considerations
- 20. IANA Considerations
- 21. Acknowledgements
- 22. Contributors
- 23. References
- Appendix A. Example Operation