4580
PROPOSED STANDARD

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6) Relay Agent Subscriber-ID Option

Authors: B. Volz
Date: June 2006
Area: int
Working Group: dhc
Stream: IETF

Abstract

This memo defines a new Relay Agent Subscriber-ID option for the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6). The option allows a DHCPv6 relay agent to associate a stable "Subscriber-ID" with DHCPv6 client messages in a way that is independent of the client and of the underlying physical network infrastructure. [STANDARDS-TRACK]

RFC 4580: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6) Relay Agent Subscriber-ID Option [RFC Home] [TEXT|PDF|HTML] [Tracker] [IPR] [Info page]

PROPOSED STANDARD
Network Working Group                                            B. Volz
Request for Comments: 4580                           Cisco Systems, Inc.
Category: Standards Track                                      June 2006


         <span class="h1">Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6)</span>
                    <span class="h1">Relay Agent Subscriber-ID Option</span>

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 (2006).

Abstract

   This memo defines a new Relay Agent Subscriber-ID option for the
   Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6).  The option
   allows a DHCPv6 relay agent to associate a stable "Subscriber-ID"
   with DHCPv6 client messages in a way that is independent of the
   client and of the underlying physical network infrastructure.

Table of Contents

   <a href="#section-1">1</a>. Introduction ....................................................<a href="#page-2">2</a>
   <a href="#section-2">2</a>. The Relay Agent Subscriber-ID Option ............................<a href="#page-2">2</a>
   <a href="#section-3">3</a>. DHCPv6 Relay Agent Behavior .....................................<a href="#page-3">3</a>
   <a href="#section-4">4</a>. DHCPv6 Server Behavior ..........................................<a href="#page-3">3</a>
   <a href="#section-5">5</a>. Security Considerations .........................................<a href="#page-4">4</a>
   <a href="#section-6">6</a>. IANA Considerations .............................................<a href="#page-4">4</a>
   <a href="#section-7">7</a>. Acknowledgements ................................................<a href="#page-4">4</a>
   <a href="#section-8">8</a>. References ......................................................<a href="#page-4">4</a>
      <a href="#section-8.1">8.1</a>. Normative References .......................................<a href="#page-4">4</a>
      <a href="#section-8.2">8.2</a>. Informative References .....................................<a href="#page-4">4</a>











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<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-1" href="#section-1">1</a>.  Introduction</span>

   DHCPv6 [<a href="#ref-1" title=""Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6)"">1</a>] provides IP addresses and configuration information for
   IPv6 clients.  It includes a relay agent capability, in which
   processes within the network infrastructure receive multicast
   messages from clients and relay them to DHCPv6 servers.  In some
   network environments, it will be useful for the relay agent to add
   information to the DHCPv6 message before relaying it.

   The information that relay agents supply can also be used in the
   server's decision-making about the addresses, delegated prefixes [<a href="#ref-2" title=""IPv6 Prefix Options for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) version 6"">2</a>],
   and configuration parameters that the client is to receive.

   In many service-provider environments, it is believed to be desirable
   to associate some provider-specific information with clients' DHCPv6
   messages that is independent of the physical network configuration
   and that the relay agent has learned through some means that is
   outside the scope of this memo.

<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-2" href="#section-2">2</a>.  The Relay Agent Subscriber-ID Option</span>

   In complex service provider environments, there is a need to connect
   a customer's DHCPv6 configuration with the customer's administrative
   information.  The Relay Agent Subscriber-ID option carries a value
   that can be independent of the physical network configuration through
   which the subscriber is connected.  This value complements, and might
   well be used in addition to, the network-based information.  The
   "subscriber-id" assigned by the provider is intended to be stable as
   customers connect through different paths, and as network changes
   occur.

   The subscriber-id information allows the service provider to assign/
   activate subscriber-specific actions; e.g., assignment of specific IP
   addresses, prefixes, DNS configuration, trigger accounting, etc.
   This option is de-coupled from the access network's physical
   structure, so a subscriber that moves from one access-point to
   another, for example, would not require reconfiguration at the
   service provider's DHCPv6 servers.

   The subscriber-id information is only intended for use within a
   single administrative domain and is only exchanged between the relay
   agents and DHCPv6 servers within that domain.  Therefore, the format
   and encoding of the data in the option is not standardized, and this
   specification does not establish any semantic requirements on the
   data.  This specification only defines the option for conveying this
   information from relay agents to DHCPv6 servers.





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   However, as the DHCPv4 Subscriber-ID suboption [<a href="#ref-3" title=""Subscriber-ID Suboption for the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Relay Agent Option"">3</a>] specifies Network
   Virtual Terminal (NVT) American Standard Code for Information
   Interchange (ASCII) [<a href="#ref-4" title=""Telnet Protocol Specification"">4</a>] encoded data, in environments where both
   DHCPv4 [<a href="#ref-5" title=""Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol"">5</a>] and DHCPv6 are being used, it may be beneficial to use
   that encoding.

   The format of the DHCPv6 Relay Agent Subscriber-ID option is shown
   below:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |     OPTION_SUBSCRIBER_ID      |         option-len            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   .                                                               .
   .                         subscriber-id                         .
   .                                                               .
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

      option-code      OPTION_SUBSCRIBER_ID (38)

      option-len       length, in octets, of the subscriber-id field.
                       The minimum length is 1 octet.

      subscriber-id    The subscriber's identity.

<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-3" href="#section-3">3</a>.  DHCPv6 Relay Agent Behavior</span>

   DHCPv6 relay agents may be configured to include a Subscriber-ID
   option in relayed (RELAY-FORW) DHCPv6 messages.  How the subscriber-
   id is assigned and the mechanisms used to configure it are outside
   the scope of this memo.

<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-4" href="#section-4">4</a>.  DHCPv6 Server Behavior</span>

   This option provides additional information to the DHCPv6 server.
   The DHCPv6 server may use this information, if available, in addition
   to other relay agent option data, other options included in the
   DHCPv6 client messages, and physical network topology information in
   order to assign IP addresses, delegate prefixes, and/or other
   configuration parameters to the client.  There is no special
   additional processing for this option.

   There is no requirement that a server return this option and its data
   in a RELAY-REPLY message.






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<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-5" href="#section-5">5</a>.  Security Considerations</span>

   As the subscriber-id option is only exchanged between relay agents
   and DHCPv6 servers, [<a href="#ref-1" title=""Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6)"">1</a>], Section 21.1, provides details on securing
   DHCPv6 messages sent between servers and relay agents.  [<a href="#ref-1" title=""Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6)"">1</a>], <a href="#section-23">Section</a>
   <a href="#section-23">23</a>, provides general DHCPv6 security considerations.

<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-6" href="#section-6">6</a>.  IANA Considerations</span>

   IANA has assigned a DHCPv6 option code (38) for the Relay Agent
   Subscriber-ID Option.

<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-7" href="#section-7">7</a>.  Acknowledgements</span>

   Thanks to Richard Johnson, Theyn Palaniappan, and Mark Stapp as this
   document is essentially an edited version of their memo [<a href="#ref-3" title=""Subscriber-ID Suboption for the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Relay Agent Option"">3</a>].

<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-8" href="#section-8">8</a>.  References</span>

<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-8.1" href="#section-8.1">8.1</a>.  Normative References</span>

   [<a id="ref-1">1</a>]  Droms, R., Bound, J., Volz, B., Lemon, T., Perkins, C., and M.
        Carney, "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6)",
        <a href="./rfc3315">RFC 3315</a>, July 2003.

<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-8.2" href="#section-8.2">8.2</a>.  Informative References</span>

   [<a id="ref-2">2</a>]  Troan, O. and R. Droms, "IPv6 Prefix Options for Dynamic Host
        Configuration Protocol (DHCP) version 6", <a href="./rfc3633">RFC 3633</a>, December
        2003.

   [<a id="ref-3">3</a>]  Johnson, R., Palaniappan, T., and M. Stapp, "Subscriber-ID
        Suboption for the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
        Relay Agent Option", <a href="./rfc3993">RFC 3993</a>, March 2005.

   [<a id="ref-4">4</a>]  Postel, J. and J. Reynolds, "Telnet Protocol Specification", STD
        8, <a href="./rfc854">RFC 854</a>, May 1983.

   [<a id="ref-5">5</a>]  Droms, R., "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol", <a href="./rfc2131">RFC 2131</a>,
        March 1997.











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Author's Address

   Bernard Volz
   Cisco Systems, Inc.
   1414 Massachusetts Ave.
   Boxborough, MA  01719
   USA

   Phone: +1 978 936 0382
   EMail: [email protected]









































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