[storm] WG Action: STORage Maintenance (storm)

[IESG Secretary <[e-mail]>]

A new IETF working group has been formed in the Transport Area.  For
additional information, please contact the Area Directors or the WG
Chairs.

STORage Maintenance (storm) 
----------------------------------
Last Modified: 2009-08-04

Current Status: Active Working Group

Chairs:
- David L. Black <[e-mail]>
- Tom Talpey <[e-mail]>

Transport Area Director(s):
- Magnus Westerlund <[e-mail]>
- Lars Eggert <[e-mail]>

Transport Area Advisor:
- Lars Eggert <[e-mail]>

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Description of Working Group:

The IETF IPS (IP Storage) and RDDP (Remote Direct Data Placement)
working groups have produced a significant number of storage
protocols (e.g., iSCSI, iSER and FCIP) for which there is
significant usage. The time has come to reflect feedback from
implementation and usage into updated RFCs; this work may include:

- Implementation-driven revisions and updates to existing protocols
(i.e., updated RFCs that match the "running code").

- Interoperability reports as needed for the resulting revised
protocols that are appropriate for Draft Standard RFC status.

- Minor protocol changes or additions. Backwards compatibility
is required.

Significant changes to the existing protocol standards are out of
scope, including any work on version 2 of any of these protocols.

Stability is critical to the usage of these protocols, so backwards
compatibility with existing implementations will be a requirement
imposed on for all protocol changes and additions. Note that this
is a requirement for implementation compatibility - if it is the
case that all implementations of a protocol have done something
different than what the RFC specifies, it is appropriate for
a new RFC to document what the "running code" actually does and
deprecate the unused original behavior.

Initial list of work items:

(1) iSCSI: Combine RFCs 3720 (iSCSI), 3980 (NAA names), 4850 (node
architecture key) and 5048 (corrections/clarifications) into
one draft (3720bis), removing features that are not implemented
in practice. This draft should be prepared so that it could
become a Draft Standard RFC, but it is up to the to decide
whether to advance it to Draft Standard.

(2) iSCSI: Add features to support SAM-4 (4th version of the SCSI
architecture) in a backwards-compatible fashion, as iSCSI is
currently based on SAM-2. This will be a separate draft
from the iSCSI update in the previous bullet. The Working
group may add additional minor useful iSCSI features
to this draft.

(3) FCIP: IP Protocol number 133 was allocated to a precursor of
the FCIP protocol in 2000, but this allocated number is not
used by FCIP. The working group will consider whether this
allocated number should be returned to IANA for future
reallocation.

(4) iFCP: The Address Translation mode of iFCP needs to be deprecated
(SHOULD NOT implement or use), as there are significant
technical problems with its specification, and moreover,
only the Address Transparent mode of iFCP is in use. This
will be done via a short draft that updates RFC 4172, and
not via a complete rewrite of RFC 4172. A combined draft
is expected that encompasses items (3) and (4).

(5) RDDP MPA: Good support for MPI applications requires a small
update to the startup functionality to allow either end
of the connection to initiate.

(6) iSER: Experience with Infiniband implementations suggest a few
minor updates to reflect what has been done in practice.

The working group is expected to maintain good working relationships
with INCITS Technical Committee T10 (SCSI standards) and INCITS
Technical Committee T11 (Fibre Channel standards) via overlaps in
membership as opposed to appointment of formal liaisons. The
liaison process (including IAB appointment of a liaison or
liaisons) remains available for use if needed.

Goals and Milestones:

June 2009 First version of FCIP protocol number and iFCP Address
Translation mode draft

July 2009 First version of iSCSI SAM-4 (and other) new features draft.

Aug 2009 First version of RDDP MPA startup change draft

Sep 2009 Working Group Last Call on FCIP protocol number and iFCP address
change draft

Sep 2009 First version of combined iSCSI draft (3720bis)

Oct 2009 First version of iSER update draft

Oct 2009 Working Group Last Call on RDDP MPA startup change draft.

Dec 2009 Functionally complete iSCSI SAM-4 (and other) new features
draft.

Feb 2010 Working Group Last Call on iSER update draft

March 2010 Working Group Last Call on iSCSI SAM-4 (and other) new
features draft.

April 2010 Working Group decision on whether to seek Draft Standard RFC
status for the combined iSCSI draft (3720bis). [Note: decision may be made
significantly before this date.]

Sep 2010 Working Group Last Call on combined iSCSI draft (3720bis)