Standards » Infrastructure Area » NSI WG

Slides asking two basic questions, and list possible approaches (answers), relevant for the topology exchange proposals

1. How to handle different policies for different users?

• No policy distribution: every client sees the same topology
  (policies are enforced after a request is made, they are unknown beforehand)
• Policies are mentioned in the topology; every clients receives the same topology+policy information.
  (policies are preferable only generic: e.g. 'transit allowed', 'local users only', 'need prior agreement for access')
• Each neighbour may receive a custom topology. Redistribution to their neighbours is allowed.
• Every client receives a custom topology. Redistribution is not allowed.
  (most flexible, but least scalable option)

2. Data plane and control plane have the same topology

• same topology
  (allows in-band distribution of topology or topology pointers; incompatible with the tree model)
• control plane may have different peers
  (allows for brokers/proxy server, i.e. delegated control, such as common for virtual organisations)