Re: [IPsec] NUDGE: WG Last Call for draft-ietf-ipsecme-dh-checks

Paul Hoffman <paul.hoffman@vpnc.org> Tue, 16 April 2013 16:12 UTC

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Subject: Re: [IPsec] NUDGE: WG Last Call for draft-ietf-ipsecme-dh-checks
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On Apr 9, 2013, at 1:13 PM, Dan Harkins <dharkins@lounge.org> wrote:

>  I think it looks fine and I have a nit that the authors can ignore
> if they like.
> 
>  I don't like the fact that RFC 5903 does not list a specific value for
> "a" in the parameter set definition and instead just says -3 in the
> equation for the curve. This draft does the same sort of thing in
> Section 2.3 by saying, "for groups 19, 20, 21,  a=-3, and all other
> values of a, b and p for the group are listed in the RFC." Which to
> me sounds like it's the same value: minus three.
> 
>  Note that RFC 5114 also defines these groups but lists the proper
> (to me) value for "a". It's probably not right to just refer to RFC 5114,
> especially since RFC 5903 is listed in the repository for those curves,
> so my nit would be to change it to "for groups 19, 20, and 21,
> a = -3 mod p, and for all other values...." just to let the reader who
> might not be so familiar with the topic know that "a" is not the same
> for each curve.

This sounds like a good clarification. Authors: please revise the draft with this (and whatever text you can to clear up Michael Richardson's earlier confusion).

--Paul Hoffman