6lo Working Group R. Droms Internet-Draft P. Duffy Intended status: Informational Cisco Expires: December 8, 2016 June 6, 2016 Assignment of an Ethertype for IPv6 with LoWPAN Encapsulation draft-ietf-6lo-ethertype-request-01 Abstract When carried over layer 2 technologies such as Ethernet, IPv6 datagrams using LoWPAN encapsulation as defined in RFC 4944 must be identified so the receiver can correctly interpret the encoded IPv6 datagram. This document requests the assignment of an Ethertype for that purpose. Status of This Memo This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79. Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Note that other groups may also distribute working documents as Internet-Drafts. The list of current Internet- Drafts is at http://datatracker.ietf.org/drafts/current/. 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Droms & Duffy Expires December 8, 2016 [Page 1] Internet-Draft Ethertype for LoWPAN Encapsulation June 2016 1. Introduction The IETF has defined a format for IPv6 [RFC2460] datagram encapsulation [RFC4944] ("LoWPAN encapsulation"). This document regards any IPv6 datagram using the Dispatch octet as defined in section 5.1 of RFC 4944 to be using LoWPAN encapsulation. LoWPAN encapsulation as defined in RFC 4944 has been updated by [RFC6282], and may be extended and modified by future IETF standards document. The intended layer 2 technology for IPv6 datagrams using LoWPAN encapsulation as originally defined is [IEEE.802.15.4_2011], which does not provide for a protocol switch in its layer 2 headers. There is interest in supporting Ethertype based protocol dispatch for LoWPAN encapsulated IPv6 datagrams: o Usage of LoWPAN encapsulation in conjunction with IEEE 802.15.9 Multiplexed Data Service [IEEE802159], which provides the ability to perform upper layer protocol dispatch for IEEE 802.15.4 networks. Wi-SUN Alliance intends to use the 15.9 Multiplexed Data Information Element to dispatch LoWPAN encapsulation frames to upper stack layers. As specified in IEEE 802.15.9, dispatch of LoWPAN encapsulation frames will require an Ethertype be assigned for LoWPAN encapsulation. o LoWPAN encapsulation will likely be needed for WiFi Alliance's HaLoW [HALOW] standard (low power operation in the 900 MHz band) o Other layer 2 technologies such as Ethernet and debugging tools such as Wireshark require a unique protocol type field for LoWPAN encapsulation to properly interpret IPv6 datagrams that use LoWPAN encapsulation. o Any existing or future Layer 2 technology, incorporating Ethertype based upper layer dispatch, can use the Ethertype proposed in this document to dispatch LoWPAN encapsulated IPv6 datagrams. 2. Request to IEEE for assignment of an Ethertype When this document is published, the IETF will formally submit a request to IEEE for assignment of an Ethertype for IPv6 datagrams using LoWPAN encapsulation. 3. IANA Considerations This memo includes no request to IANA. Droms & Duffy Expires December 8, 2016 [Page 2] Internet-Draft Ethertype for LoWPAN Encapsulation June 2016 4. Security Considerations This document is intended only to request assignment of an Ethertype for IPv6 datagrams using LoWPAN encapsulation. It has no incremental implications for security beyond those in the relevant protocols. 5. Normative References [HALOW] Wi-Fi Alliance, "Wi-Fi HaLow", http://www.wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/wi-fi-halow . [IEEE.802.15.4_2011] IEEE, "IEEE Standard for Local and metropolitan area networks--Part 15.4: Low-Rate Wireless Personal Area Networks (LR-WPANs)", IEEE 802.15.4-2011, DOI 10.1109/ieeestd.2011.6012487, September 2011, . [IEEE802159] IEEE, "IEEE Draft Recommended Practice for Transort of Key Management Protocol (KMP) Datagrams", IEEE P802.15.9/D04, May 2015. [RFC2460] Deering, S. and R. Hinden, "Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification", RFC 2460, DOI 10.17487/RFC2460, December 1998, . [RFC4944] Montenegro, G., Kushalnagar, N., Hui, J., and D. Culler, "Transmission of IPv6 Packets over IEEE 802.15.4 Networks", RFC 4944, DOI 10.17487/RFC4944, September 2007, . [RFC6282] Hui, J., Ed. and P. Thubert, "Compression Format for IPv6 Datagrams over IEEE 802.15.4-Based Networks", RFC 6282, DOI 10.17487/RFC6282, September 2011, . Authors' Addresses Ralph Droms Cisco 55 Cambridge Parkway Cambridge, Massachusetts US Phone: +1 617 621 1904 Email: rdroms.ietf@gmail.com Droms & Duffy Expires December 8, 2016 [Page 3] Internet-Draft Ethertype for LoWPAN Encapsulation June 2016 Paul Duffy Cisco 1414 Massachusetts Ave. Boxborough, Massachusetts 01719 US Phone: +1 978 204 9993 Email: paduffy@cisco.com Droms & Duffy Expires December 8, 2016 [Page 4]