Network Working Group J. Halpern
Request for Comments: 1223 NSC
May 1991
OSI CLNS and LLC1 Protocols on Network Systems HYPERchannel
Status of this Memo
The intent of this document is to provide a complete discussion of
the protocols and techniques used to transmit OSI CLNS and LLC1
datagrams (and any associated higher level protocols) on Network
Systems Corporation's HYPERchannel equipment. This document is
intended for network planners and implementers who are already
familiar with the OSI protocol suite and the techniques used to carry
OSI traffic on standard networks sUCh as 802.3.
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard. Distribution of this memo is
unlimited.
Table of Contents
Goals of this Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
HYPERchannel Network Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Message Proper Header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
TO Addresses and Open Driver Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Broadcasting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
ES-IS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
IS-IS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Author's Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Goals of this Document
In this document, we have three major technical objectives:
1. To standardize the encapsulation of LLC1 packets over
HYPERchannel. The format will be used for OSI CLNS and for
any other protocols using LLC1 over HYPERchannel. (Note
that if one desires to use the LLC1/SNAP combination for
TCP/IP, this is the format to use. This represents an
alternative to the native mode for TCP/IP over HYPERchannel,
allowing for sharing the medium at the LLC1 layer.)
2. To describe how multicast protocols such as ES-IS and IS-IS shall
operate over HYPERchannel. As a medium, HYPERchannel does not
support either broadcast or multicast. Therefore, special
techniques are needed to handle these protocols. Note that these
techniques do not allow general multicast, although any specific
problem may be solved by a generalization of these methods.
3. To make use of a standardized "message type" field in bytes
8 and 9 of the HYPERchannel network message. To permit better
interoperability, NSC maintains a "network protocol registry"
where any interested party may oBTain a unique value in byte 8
(or bytes 8 and 9) for their own public, private, commercial or
proprietary protocol. Lists of assigned protocol type numbers
and their "owners" would be periodically published by NSC and
are available to interested parties.
HYPERchannel Network Messages
Unlike most datagram delivery systems, the HYPERchannel network
message consists of two parts:
Message Proper
+--------------------+
16-64 bytes
+--------------------+
Associated Data
+----------------------------------------------------+
Unlimited length
+----------------------------------------------------+
The first part is a message header that can be up to 64 bytes in
length. The first 16 bytes contain information required for the
delivery of the entire message, and the remainder can be used by
higher level protocols. The second part of the message, the
"Associated Data," can be optionally included with the message
proper. In most cases (transmission over HYPERchannel-50 trunks) the
length of the associated data is literally unlimited. Others (such
as HYPERchannel-10 or transmission within a local HYPERchannel-50
A400 adapter) limit the size of the Associated Data to 4K bytes. If
the information sent can be contained within the Message Proper, then
the Associated Data need not be sent.
HYPERchannel lower link protocols treat messages with and without
Associated Data quite differently; "Message only" transmissions are
sent using abbreviated protocols and can be queued in the receiving
network adapter, thus minimizing the elapsed time needed to send and
receive the messages. When associated data is provided, the
HYPERchannel-50 adapters free their logical resources towards driving
the host interface and coaxial trunks at maximum speed, so that data
can flow through the transmitting channel, the coaxial cable, and the
receiving channel concurrently. Thus HYPERchannel-50 can approach
the nominal burst speed of the computer host interface when sending
large data blocks over an extended period.
Message Proper Header
The first 16 bytes of the network Message Proper are examined by the
network adapters to control delivery of the network message. The
message format is as follows:
byte Message Proper
+------------------------------------------------------------+
0 Trunks to Try Message Flags
TO trunks FROM trunks A/D
+--------------+---------------+-------------------------+---+
2 TO Domain # TO Network #
+------------------------------+-----------------------------+
4 TO Unit # Logical To
(port number)
+------------------------------+-----------------------------+
6 From Unit # Logical From
(port number)
+------------------------------+-----------------------------+
8 Message type
0x0B01
+------------------------------+-----------------------------+
10 FROM Domain # FROM Network #
+------------------------------+-----------------------------+
12 True Unit age count
+------------------------------+-----------------------------+
14 Header End Offset Next Header Offset
(16) (16)
+------------------------------+-----------------------------+
16 LLC1 destination SAP LLC1 source SAP
(0xFE for CLNP) (0xFE for CLNP)
+------------------------------+-----------------------------+
18 LLC1 function code
(0x03 for normal data) Start of upper layer protocol
+------------------------------+ +
20 from bytes 19-63 of the message proper
and continuing in the associated data
(For OSI this is CLNP, then transport etc.)
+------------------------------+-----------------------------+
Trunks to Try
Consists of two four bit masks indicating which of four possible
HYPERchannel-50 coaxial data trunks are to be used to transmit the
message and to return it. If a bit in the mask is ON, then the
adapter firmware will logically AND it with the mask of installed
trunk interfaces and use the result as a candidate list of
interfaces.
Whenever one of the internal "frames" are sent to communicate with
the destination adapter, the transmission hardware electronically
selects the first non-busy trunk out of the list of candidates. Thus
selection of a data trunk is best performed by the adapter itself
rather than by the host. Dedicating trunks to specific applications
only makes sense in very critical real time applications such as
streaming data directly from high speed overrunable peripherals.
A second Trunk mask is provided for the receiving adapter when it
sends frames back to the transmitter, as it is possible to build
asymmetric configurations of data trunks where trunk 1 on one box is
connected to the trunk 3 interface of a second. Such configurations
are strongly discouraged, but the addressing structure supports it if
needed.
The "trunks to try" field is only used by HYPERchannel-50. To assure
maximum interoperability, a value of 0xFF should be placed in this
field to assure delivery over any technology. The newer DX series
units determine the trunk mask on their own, but this field is
preserved for use with A series equipment.
Message Flags
Contains options in message delivery. There are several bits defined
by the hardware. However, only the A/D bit will be described here.
Other bits are used only for special diagnostic or management
purposes. If there is a need to set them, check the specific Network
Systems manuals on their meanings. In the absence of such need, all
bits other than A/D shall be set to zero on transmission, and not
examined upon receipt of a message.
ASSOCIATED DATA PRESENT (A/D) is ON if an Associated Data block
follows the Message Proper. 0 if only a message proper is present in
the network message. The value of this bit is enforced by the
network adapter firmware.
TO Domain Number
This is the most significant byte of the four byte hyperchannel
address. It selects an NSC addressing domain, among a set of
domains. If this and the network number both refer to the local
domain and network, they may be set to 0.
TO Network Number
This is the destination network number. It identifies the network
within the selected domain, where the destination unit resides. If
the destination is in the local domain and network, both the TO
domain and TO network numbers may be set to zero.
TO Unit
Upon arrival at the destination domain and network, this is the unit
number of the destination HYPERchannel adapter. The combination of
Domain, Network, and Unit uniquely identify a single adapter in a
HYPERchannel network. For compatibility with existing HYPERchannel
equipment, when sending a message to a destination outside the local
domain and network, set this byte to 0, and store the actual
destination unit number in the True Unit field.
Logical To
This field further identifies which process the message is intended
for. With some hardware, the bottom bits select a machine from among
several. When sending a message to an N400, the bottom two bits of
this field select which of four attached hosts the message is
destined for. Within a host, the logical to field selects a
destination process. This is used in conjunction with the Message
Type field to insure that messages are delivered to the correct
place. The Logical TO field identifies a process, which then checks
the Message Type to insure that it understands the message. This
also allows for running two processes, both of which understand the
same protocol.
From Unit
This identifies the Unit number from which this message was sent.
Logical From
This identifies the host and process who originated this message.
Message Type
The following two bytes are reserved for NSC. Users have been
encouraged to put a zero in byte 8 and anything at all in byte 9 so
as to not conflict with internal processing of messages by NSC
firmware. In the past, this field has been loosely defined as
carrying information of interest to NSC equipment carrying the
message and not as a formal protocol type field. For example, an
0xFF00 in bytes 8 and 9 of the message will cause the receiving
adapter to loop back the message without delivering it to the
attached host.
NSC now uses both bytes 8 and 9 as a formal "protocol type"
designator. Major protocols will be assigned a unique value in byte
8 that will (among good citizens) not duplicate a value generated by
a different protocol. Minor protocols will have 16 bit values
assigned to them so that we won't run out when 256 protocols turn up.
Any interested party could obtain a protocol number or numbers by
application to NSC. In this document, protocol types specific to OSI
LLC1 are assigned. Specifically, the sixteen bit value 0x0B01 in
bytes 8 and 9 shall identify LLC1 packets.
True Unit
This field is used to handle addressing outside of the local domain
and network. For compatibility with previous NSC hardware, one may
not put the destination unit number in the TO Unit field if the
destination domain or network are not the local ones. In that case,
one puts zero in the TO Unit field, and puts the destination Unit
number into the TRUE unit field. NSC Link devices will adjust the
message when it arrives at the destination domain and network so that
the destination unit number appears in the TO Unit field.
Age Count
This field serves as a "time to live" in that it prevents datagrams
from endlessly circulating about in an improperly configured network.
Each time a message with this format passes through a bridge, the Age
Count is decremented by one. When the result is zero, the message is
discarded by the bridge. Therefore, this byte should be set to 255
when a message is originated, and ignored when a message is received.
Next Header Offset and Header End Offset
These fields are used by the hardware to determine if any special
addressing is present. No special addressing forms are permitted in
conjunction with LLC1. Therefore, these fields shall always be set
to 16. Receivers may count on the LLC1 information beginning at
offset 16 in the message proper.
LLC1 Data
The LLC1 Information begins at byte 16 of the message, for 3 bytes.
The contains the LLC1 destination and source SAPs, followed by the
LLC1 type identifier (usually 03 for unnumbered information.)
Higher Layer Protocol Data
Higher layer protocol information follows immediately after the LLC1
header in the message proper, and flows into the associated data.
For purposes of this document, this is OSI CLNP, but it may be any
protocol which uses LLC1.
TO Addresses and Open Driver Architecture
Since not all 16 bits of the TO address are used for the physical
delivery of the network message, the remainder are considered
"logical" in that their meaning is physically determined by host
computer software or (in cases such as the FIPS data channel) by
hardware in the host interface.
Since HYPERchannel is and will be used to support a large variety of
general and special purpose protocols, it is desirable that several
independent protocol servers be able to independently share the
HYPERchannel network interface. The implementation of many of NSC's
device drivers as well as those of other parties (such as Cray
Research) support this service. Each protocol server that wishes to
send or receive HYPERchannel network messages logically connects to a
HYPERchannel device driver by specifying the complete 16 bit TO
address it will own in the sense that any network message with that
TO address will be delivered to that protocol server.
The logical TO field serves a function similar to the TYPE byte in
the Ethernet message header, but differs from it in that the width of
the logical TO field varies from host to host, and that no values of
the logical TO address are reserved for particular protocols. On the
other hand, it is possible to have several "identical" protocols
(such as two independent copies of OSI with different HYPERchannel
addresses) sharing the same physical HYPERchannel interface. This
makes NSC's addressing approach identical to the OSI concept that the
protocol server to reach is embedded within the address, rather than
the IP notion of addressing a "host" and identifying a server through
a message type.
Since the HYPERchannel header also has a "message type" field, there
is some ambiguity concerning the respective roles of the message type
and logical TO fields:
o The logical TO field is always used to identify the protocol server
which will receive the message. Once a server has specified the
complete TO address for the messages it wishes to receive, the
message will not be delivered to a different protocol server
regardless of the contents of the message type field.
o Although the type field cannot change the protocol server at the
final destination of the message, the type field can be used by
intermediate processes on the network to process the message
before it reaches the server destination. An obvious example
is the 0xFF00 message loopback type function, where network
processing to loop back the message results in nondelivery to
the TO address. In the future, intermediate nodes may process
in transit messages based on the message type only for purposes
such as security validation, aging of certain datagrams, and
network management.
Broadcasting
NSC message forwarding protocols use low level link protocols to
negotiate transmission of a message to its next destination on the
network. Furthermore, NSC network boxes often fan out so that
several hosts share the same network transmission equipment as in the
A400 adapter. Both these characteristics mean that providing a
genuine broadcast capability is not a trivial task, and in fact no
NSC technology supports a broadcast capability.
However, the OSI ES-IS and IS-IS protocols require a broadcast
capability to operate. Therefore, in order to support these
protocols, some form of broadcast emulation must be used.
ES-IS
The End System to Intermediate System routing protocol is used by end
systems to decide where to send packets. In the specified protocol,
multicast messages are used so that end systems learn about
intermediate systems, and intermediate systems learn about end
systems. End systems normally then transmit any packets, whose
correct mac destination is unknown, to a random intermediate system
which then forwards the packet and tells the originator where to send
future packets.
There are two situations which are distinct but related for support
of this protocol over HYPERchannel. These are distinguished by
whether or not there are any real intermediate systems on the
HYPERchannel network.
ES-IS with Intermediate Systems
If there are one or more intermediate systems on the HYPERchannel,
then the behavior is simply to emulate multicast.
END SYSTEM SUPPORT Each end system is profiled with a list of
intermediate systems on the HYPERchannel. It is desirable but not
necessary that this list be complete, as the future support for
IS-IS will forward the necessary information to all the
intermediate systems. Given the profiled list, whenever the end
system wishes to originate an ESH packet (End System Hello), it
will send individual copies to each intermediate system it knows
about.
On most systems, these individual packets should be spaced out in
time so as not to interfere with the normal transmission of OSI
and other HYPERchannel messages. For end systems, an inter-packet
time of 0.1 seconds is probably appropriate.
Note that if the End System receives ISH packets (Intermediate
System Hello) from an IS on HYPERchannel not in its static list,
it should add that to the list of systems it will send ESH packets
to. The address of the new intermediate system should be
remembered for the holding time in the ISH, just as with the
normal operation of ES-IS.
INTERMEDIATE SYSTEMS Intermediate systems on the HYPERchannel
shall also be profiled with the addresses of all the other
intermediate systems on the HYPERchannel. This list is used here
and in the IS-IS protocol. For the IS-IS protocol operation, it
is important that the list be complete.
The list of intermediate systems is used, with ES-IS, by an
intermediate system only in that it probably is also an end
system. As such, it must send ESH packets to all the other
intermediate systems. (The presumption that an IS is also an ES
is driven by the long term requirements for network management.
If you have an upper layer stack, such as is required for CMIP,
you are an end system.)
Each intermediate system will keep a list of the end systems it
knows about. These are the systems it has received ESH packets
from. Whenever the IS sends ISH packets, it sends them
individually to each ES it has heard from. In addition, it sends
the ISH to any end systems which it believes, on the basis of IS-
IS or other methods, are on the HYPERchannel.
Note that these packets must also be spread out in time to avoid
causing congestion. However, given that the number of these is
much higher than the number generated by End Systems, the time
between transmissions should be selected by the IS developer to
fit the sustainable I/O rates of the system. Make sure you can
get at the very least one, and preferably two or three, useful
packets in between each ISH copy being sent.
ES-IS without an Intermediate System
When there is no intermediate system, one or more systems must
serve as address managers. These are referred to in draft ISO OSI
documents as SNARE, for SubNetwork Address Resolution Entities.
END SYSTEM SUPPORT As in the previous case, each end system must
be profiled with a list of intermediate systems. This list must
contain all of the systems which will be serving as address
managers on this network. The reason for this is that, since the
address managers are not true intermediate systems, they are not
running IS-IS and will not be exchanging lists of end systems they
know about. There may well be several systems for redundancy and
reliability.
SNARE The systems selected as address managers must appear, to the
other end systems, as intermediate systems. This means that each
one must send out ISH packets to all the end systems which it
hears from. Each of these systems must record all the information
from the ESH packets they receive. When a packet for an End
System is received at a SNARE, it must behave as an IS.
Specifically, it must forward the packet to the correct
destination end system, and send a redirect message back to the
originator, informing the originator of the correct SNPA
(HYPERchannel address) for the end system.
Note that these systems are certainly end systems as well, and
must send ESH packets to all the intermediate systems on the IS
list, which must be complete.
ES-IS FORMAT SPECIFICATION
All ES-IS PDUS shall be formatted as specified in ISO 9542. They
are then sent using LLC1 and the encapsulation specified earlier
in this document for transmitting LLC1 over HYPERchannel.
RD PDUS When generating Redirect pdus, which contain HYPERchannel
SNPAs (addresses), the SNPA shall be represented in four bytes.
This shall be used even on a small HYPERchannel network containing
only one domain and one network number.
QC FUNCTION There is no support for the ES-IS query configuration
capability when using HYPERchannel. All systems must have at
least one configured intermediate system, which shall be either a
true IS or a SNARE.
IS-IS
The proposed IS-IS protocol for OSI (DP 10589) when run on a LAN
requires broadcast capability. Because of the nature of the process
for nominating the designated IS on a LAN, and other special features
of this protocol, it is important never to partition the set of
intermediate systems on a HYPERchannel network.
The implementation therefore is very simple. An intermediate system
on HYPERchannel runs the IS-IS protocol directly. However, when it
goes to send a message, it consults the profiled list of all level 1
ISs on the HYPERchannel or of all level 2 ISs on the HYPERchannel,
and then sends individual copies of the message to each destination.
This multiple transmission should be transparent to the IS-IS
protocol itself.
Note that as with ES-IS on an intermediate system, it is important to
space out the individual message transmissions. On most networks,
spacing of 0.1 seconds will work well.
References
+1+ ISO IS 9542 - End system to intermediate system routing
exchange protocol
+2+ ISO DP 10589 - Intermediate system to Intermediate system
Infra-Domain routing exchange protocol
Security Considerations
Security issues are not discussed in this memo.
Author's Address
Joel M. Halpern
Principal Engineer
Network Systems Corporation MS033
7600 Boone Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, AN 55428
Phone: (612) 424-1606
Email: jmh@anubis.network.com
