Re: [spring] WGLC for https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-ietf-spring-mpls-path-segment/

Once you find yourself needing to include path identifiers in an SR packet, I begin to wonder whether the segment routing design has gone off track.

In MPLS we have the ability in both PCE and RSVP to lay out end to end paths in such a way that the forwarding label is the path identifier. If you recall the MPLS-TP approach you could deduce everything about the packet’s origin and path from the arrival label which was not PHPed.

Assuming there are technical reasons why such a classic approach is not possible, I wonder why it is necessary to encode the path identifier within label stack itself with all of the constraints that imposes on the size and semantics of the identifier.

An alternative approach is to look at the meta/ancillary data work that is going on in MPLS and carry the path identifier below the bottom of stack.

At  its most basic level this analogous to the approach to constructing a Pseudowires, with an outgoing label stack, a control word (which can be an extended control word carrying the path information) and then the payload.

Such an approach would allow the packet designer to carry either the identity of the path, or the actual set of labels use to construct the path, or the reverse path or some combination of these. The latter two approaches are more dynamic than the approach proposed in this draft and more in keeping with the fundamental design philosophy of SR.

- Stewart

> On 22 Jul 2021, at 14:02, James Guichard <james.n.guichard@futurewei.com> wrote:
> 
> Dear WG:
>  
> The WGLC for this document will be extended for a further 2 weeks ending August 4th 2021 so that feedback can be obtained from the WG. Other than the authors there has been little input so please respond on the mailing list with any comments etc. 
>  
> Thanks!
>  
> Jim, Joel & Bruno
>  
> From: James Guichard <james.n.guichard@futurewei.com> 
> Sent: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 11:49 AM
> To: spring@ietf.org
> Cc: spring-chairs@ietf.org
> Subject: WGLC for https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-ietf-spring-mpls-path-segment/
>  
> Dear WG:
>  
> This email starts a 2 week Working Group Last Call for draft-ietf-spring-mpls-path-segment [1].
>  
> Please read this document if you haven’t read the most recent version and send your comments to the SPRING WG list no later than July 21st 2021.
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> If you are raising a point which you expect will be specifically debated on the mailing list, consider using a specific email/thread for this point.
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> Lastly, if you are an author or contributor please response to indicate whether you know of any undisclosed IPR related to this document.
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> Thanks!
>  
> Jim, Joel & Bruno
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> [1] https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-ietf-spring-mpls-path-segment/ <https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdatatracker.ietf.org%2Fdoc%2Fdraft-ietf-spring-mpls-path-segment%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cjames.n.guichard%40futurewei.com%7C4336eaaa34f543cc4c9e08d9415ebd06%7C0fee8ff2a3b240189c753a1d5591fedc%7C1%7C0%7C637612697462524718%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=v18Zntmw18jYiIXCNMDa7bYNQMZ90U29GVEkuPh5CjE%3D&reserved=0>
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