Re: [mpls] Last Call: <draft-ietf-mpls-in-udp-04.txt> (Encapsulating MPLS in UDP) to Proposed Standard

[Xuxiaohu <[e-mail]>]

Given the fact that zero-checksum for IPv4 UDP tunnel has been widely used, I personally prefer to take your suggested text as IPv6 specific while keeping the IPv4 UDP checksum behavior in accordance with the current practice. In other word, "in the IPv4 UDP case, this checksum field is RECOMMENDED to be set to zero". If some operators are still concerned with the rare problem caused by IPv4 UDP zero-checksum, they would disable the checksum-zero. 

Xiaohu
> -----邮件原件-----
> 发件人: [e-mail] [mailto:[e-mail]]
> 发送时间: 2014年1月24日 14:11
> 收件人: Xuxiaohu; [e-mail]
> 抄送: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail];
> [e-mail]
> 主题: RE: [mpls] Last Call: <draft-ietf-mpls-in-udp-04.txt> (Encapsulating MPLS
> in UDP) to Proposed Standard
> 
> They're not in conflict.
> 
> In IPv4, you have the IP header checksum as a check that the destination
> address is right. With a zero UDP checksum, the ports aren't checked - but if
> your tunnel destination host isn't running other UDP apps, limited problem
> 
> With IPv6 and no header checksum, address can be corrupted as well.
> The packet can be received on other hosts which can run UDP.
> 
> That is why the text you quote says:
>   "There is an  increased risk of corruption and misdelivery when using zero
> UDP
>    checksum in IPv6 compared to using IPv4"
> 
> IPv4 risk is smaller, but not nonzero. Turning off UDP checksums in v4 is again
> for convenience, and has been more common (with lovely examples giving
> performance gains that corrupt database transactions), but there is still risk
> associated with turning off IPv4 UDP checksums.
> 
> (And in both v4 and v6, a zero checksum means that a check across the MPLS
> stack is removed, and corruption in that cannot be detected)
> 
> Lloyd Wood
> http://about.me/lloydwood
> ________________________________________
> From: Xuxiaohu [[e-mail]]
> Sent: 24 January 2014 06:02
> To: Wood L  Dr (Electronic Eng); [e-mail]
> Cc: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail];
> [e-mail]
> Subject: re: [mpls] Last Call: <draft-ietf-mpls-in-udp-04.txt> (Encapsulating MPLS
> in UDP) to Proposed Standard
> 
> > -----邮件原件-----
> > 发件人: [e-mail] [mailto:[e-mail]]
> > 发送时间: 2014年1月24日 13:01
> > 收件人: Xuxiaohu; [e-mail]
> > 抄送: [e-mail]; [e-mail];
> > [e-mail]; [e-mail]
> > 主题: RE: [mpls] Last Call: <draft-ietf-mpls-in-udp-04.txt>
> > (Encapsulating MPLS in UDP) to Proposed Standard
> >
> > I would be good with:
> >
> > "Generally speaking, a UDP checksum SHOULD be used. The considerations
> > described in [RFC6935] [RFC6936] SHOULD be examined if UDP checksums
> > need to be disabled for performance or implementation reasons for
> > traffic across private networks. The use of a zero UDP checksum is NOT
> > RECOMMENDED."
> >
> > I wouldn't make this IPv6 specific - IPv4 still has problems (UDP port
> > demux), IPv6's problems are just worse.
> 
> If not IPv6 specific, it seems conflict with the following statement quoted from
> RFC6936:
> 
>    The use of UDP with a zero UDP checksum has merits for
>    some applications, such as tunnel encapsulation, and is widely used
>    in IPv4.  However, there are different dangers for IPv6.  There is an
>    increased risk of corruption and misdelivery when using zero UDP
>    checksum in IPv6 compared to using IPv4 due to the lack of an IPv6
>    header checksum.
> 
> Xiaohu
> 
> > Lloyd Wood
> > http://about.me/lloydwood
> > ________________________________________
> > From: Xuxiaohu [[e-mail]]
> > Sent: 24 January 2014 04:00
> > To: [e-mail]; Wood L  Dr (Electronic Eng)
> > Cc: [e-mail]; [e-mail];
> > [e-mail]; [e-mail]
> > Subject: re: [mpls] Last Call: <draft-ietf-mpls-in-udp-04.txt>
> > (Encapsulating MPLS in UDP) to Proposed Standard
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > Please check whether the following text is OK.
> >
> > In the IPv6 UDP encapsulation case, as for whether or not it is
> > suitable to use the zero-checksum node, the requirements defined in
> > [RFC6935] [RFC6936] SHOULD be strictly followed. Generally speaking,
> > the use of a zero UDP checksum is NOT RECOMMENDED. Note that other IP
> > encapsulations for MPLS do not have a checksum in the tunnel header.
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Xiaohu
> >
> > > -----邮件原件-----
> > > 发件人: Curtis Villamizar [mailto:[e-mail]]
> > > 发送时间: 2014年1月24日 11:53
> > > 收件人: [e-mail]
> > > 抄送: Xuxiaohu; [e-mail]; [e-mail];
> > > [e-mail]; [e-mail]
> > > 主题: Re: [mpls] Last Call: <draft-ietf-mpls-in-udp-04.txt>
> > > (Encapsulating MPLS in UDP) to Proposed Standard
> > >
> > >
> > > In message
> > >
> >
> <[e-mail].a
> > > c.uk>
> > > [e-mail] writes:
> > >
> > > > the text is not satisfactory. never recommend setting to zero, as
> > > > that poses a risk to your and to other traffic. Suggested text:
> > > > ***
> > > > The UDP checksum SHOULD be used to protect the payload and ensure
> > > > correct demultiplexing and delivery to the tunnel, and not to
> > > > other UDP destinations, by protecting the UDP pseudoheader.
> > > > Use of a zero UDP checksum is NOT RECOMMENDED, even when desired
> > > > for performance or necessitated by implementation reasons, for the
> > > > reasons outlined in [RFC6936] section 3.
> > >
> > > I agree that UDP checksums SHOULD be used (ie: SHOULD NOT be set to
> zero).
> > > There are cases where it is impossible so it can't be MUST.
> > >
> > > > UDP-Lite [RFC3828] can provide a demultiplexing check and MPLS
> > > > stack integrity check while avoiding the overhead of computing an
> > > > integrity check over a tunnelled frame that has its own integrity check.
> > >
> > > UDP-List doesn't solve the ECMP problems because most of the older
> > > LSR that are forcing the use of MPLS over UDP to get ECMP don't look
> > > at the port numbers if the protocol is not 6 or 17.  But this has
> > > only been said three or four times so maybe you missed it.
> > >
> > > > ***
> > > >
> > > > Lloyd Wood
> > > > http://about.me/lloydwood
> > > > ________________________________________
> > > > From: Xuxiaohu [[e-mail]]
> > > > Sent: 23 January 2014 12:35
> > > > To: Wood L  Dr (Electronic Eng); [e-mail];
> > > > [e-mail]
> > > > Cc: [e-mail]; [e-mail]
> > > > Subject: re: [mpls] Last Call: <draft-ietf-mpls-in-udp-04.txt>
> > > > (Encapsulating MPLS in UDP) to Proposed Standard
> > > >
> > > > > -----邮件原件-----
> > > > > 发件人: [e-mail] [mailto:[e-mail]]
> > > > > 发送时间: 2014年1月23日 12:44
> > > > > 收件人: Xuxiaohu; [e-mail];
> [e-mail]
> > > > > 抄送: [e-mail]; [e-mail]
> > > > > 主题: RE: [mpls] Last Call: <draft-ietf-mpls-in-udp-04.txt>
> > > > > (Encapsulating MPLS in UDP) to Proposed Standard
> > > > >
> > > > > Sasha
> > > > >
> > > > > > - UDP checksums (or lack thereof) is a non-issue because
> > > > > > native MPLS does not have anything like that. And yes, there
> > > > > > are cases where packets are corrupted within the routers)
> > > > >
> > > > > So you admit that packets can be corrupted within the routers -
> > > > > a check that can only be caught by an end-to-end check, a
> > > > > corruption that can lead to the problems detailed in RFC 6936
> > > > > section 3 - and then you say it's a non-issue because this
> > > > > doesn't affect native MPLS. But
> > > we're not doing native MPLS here.
> > > > > We're doing MPLS over UDP.
> > > > >
> > > > > draft-ietf-mpls-in-udp-04.txt is about tunnelling MPLS in UDP. It's an
> issue.
> > > > > Please read the other 150 messages that you refer to.
> > > >
> > > > Hi Lloyd,
> > > >
> > > > The draft doesn't require the IPv6 UDP checksum to be set to zero
> > regardless.
> > > See the following text quoted from that draft:
> > > >
> > > > UDP Checksum
> > > >
> > > > The usage of this field is in accordance with the current UDP
> > > > specification
> > > [RFC768]. To simplify the operation on the decapsulator, this field
> > > is RECOMMENDED to be set to zero in IPv4 UDP encapsulation case. In
> > > the
> > > IPv6 UDP encapsulation case, if appropriate according to the
> > > requirements defined in [RFC6935] [RFC6936], this field is also
> > RECOMMENDED to be set to zero.
> > > Specifically, if the MPLS payload is Internet Protocol (IPv4 or
> > > IPv6) packets, it is RECOMMENDED to be set to zero when the inner
> > > packet integrity checks is available. In addition, if the MPLS
> > > payload is non-IP packet which is specifically designed for
> > > transmission over a lower layer that does not provide a packet
> > > integrity guarantee, it is RECOMMENDED to be set to zero as well.
> > > Otherwise, using zero checksum is NOT RECOMMENDED. Note that other
> > > IP encapsulations for MPLS do not
> > have a checksum in the tunnel header.
> > > >
> > > > If you still believe the above text is not satisfactory, please provide your
> text.
> > > >
> > > > Best regards,
> > > > Xiaohu
> > > >
> > > > > Lloyd Wood
> > > > > http://about.me/lloydwood
> > > > > ________________________________________
> > > > > From: mpls [[e-mail]] On Behalf Of Xuxiaohu
> > > > > [[e-mail]]
> > > > > Sent: 23 January 2014 03:16
> > > > > To: Alexander Vainshtein; Eggert, Lars
> > > > > Cc: Joel Jaeggli; [e-mail]
> > > > > Subject: Re: [mpls] Last Call: <draft-ietf-mpls-in-udp-04.txt>
> > > > > (Encapsulating MPLS in UDP) to Proposed Standard
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi
> > > > >
> > > > > > -----邮件原件-----
> > > > > > 发件人: Alexander Vainshtein
> > > > > > [mailto:[e-mail]]
> > > > > > 发送时间: 2014年1月22日 19:05
> > > > > > 收件人: Eggert, Lars
> > > > > > 抄送: Joel Jaeggli; [e-mail]; Xuxiaohu
> > > > > > 主题: RE: [mpls] Last Call: <draft-ietf-mpls-in-udp-04.txt>
> > > > > > (Encapsulating MPLS in UDP) to Proposed Standard
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Lars and all,
> > > > > > Last time I've counted the IETF LC thread on this draft has
> > > > > > more than
> > > > > > 150 messages in it, and it seems that on some issues
> > > > > > (congestion control and UDP
> > > > > > checksums) we are going round the mulberry bush.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > IMHO and FWIW:
> > > > > > - UDP checksums (or lack thereof) is a non-issue because
> > > > > > native MPLS does not have anything like that. And yes, there
> > > > > > are cases where packets are corrupted within the routers), but
> > > > > > so far it did not prevent MPLS deployment. There is, e.g., RFC
> > > > > > 4720 for FCS retention in PWs, but I doubt it is widely
> > > > > > implemented and deployed (would be nice to
> > > > > know).
> > > > > > - E2E congestion control (regardless of its implications)
> > > > > > simply cannot be added to this protocol without some major
> > > > > > changes. A short applicability statement explaining that should suffice
> IMO.
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi Sasha,
> > > > >
> > > > > I fully agree with your points.
> > > > >
> > > > > Best regards,
> > > > > Xiaohu
> > > > >
> > > > > > My 2c,
> > > > > >        Sasha
> > > > > > Email: [e-mail]
> > > > > > Mobile: [phone]
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > > From: mpls [mailto:[e-mail]] On Behalf Of
> > > > > > > Eggert, Lars
> > > > > > > Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 12:23 PM
> > > > > > > To: Xuxiaohu
> > > > > > > Cc: Joel Jaeggli; [e-mail]
> > > > > > > Subject: Re: [mpls] Last Call:
> > > > > > > <draft-ietf-mpls-in-udp-04.txt> (Encapsulating MPLS in UDP)
> > > > > > > to Proposed Standard
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Hi,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On 2014-1-22, at 11:12, Xuxiaohu <[e-mail]> wrote:
> > > > > > > > I wonder whether the following text is OK to you:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Since the MPLS-in-UDP encapsulation causes MPLS packets to
> > > > > > > > be
> > > > > > > forwarded through "UDP tunnels", the congestion control
> > > > > > > guidelines for UDP tunnels as defined in Section 3.1.3 of
> > > > > > > [RFC5405] SHOULD be
> > > > > followed.
> > > > > > > Specifically, MPLS can carry a number of different protocols
> > > > > > > as
> > payloads.
> > > > > > > When an UDP tunnel is used for MPLS payload traffic that is
> > > > > > > known at configuration time to be IP-based and
> > > > > > > congestion-controlled, the UDP tunnel SHOULD NOT employ its
> > > > > > > own congestion control mechanism, because congestion losses
> > > > > > > of tunneled traffic will trigger an congestion response at
> > > > > > > the original
> > > senders of the tunneled traffic.
> > > > > > > When an UDP tunnel is used for MPLS payload traffic that is
> > > > > > > known at configuration time not to be IP-based and
> > > > > > > congestion-controlled, the UDP tunnel SHOULD employ an
> > > > > > > appropriate congestion control mechanism as described in
> > > > > > > [RFC3985]. Note that it STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to deploy such
> > > > > > > encapsulation technology only within a SP network or
> > > > > > > networks of an adjacent set of co-operating SPs, rather than
> > > > > > > over the
> > > > > Internet.
> > > > > > > Furthermore, packet filters should be added to block traffic
> > > > > > > with the UDP port number for MPLS over UDP to prevent MPLS
> > > > > > > over UDP packets to escape from the service provider
> > > > > > > networks due to misconfiguation or packet
> > > > > > errors.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I think it would be better to describe the OAM control loop
> > > > > > > in
> > > > > > > (some) more detail, rather than pointing to RFC3985, which
> > > > > > > doesn't have a whole lot of detail either. Also because the
> > > > > > > adding of firewall rules requires an OAM hook.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Since STRONGLY RECOMMENDED is not an RFC2119 term and
> > > > > > RECOMMENDED is
> > > > > > > too weak, I'd suggest to change this to MUST.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Finally, the applicability statement should be prominently
> > > > > > > made in the abstract, introduction, etc.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Lars