OLD DOG CONSULTING

www.mpls2005.com

MPLS, GMPLS and Pseudowires:The Need for Cooperation Between

Standards Bodies

Adrian FarrelOld Dog Consulting

adrian@olddog.co.uk

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Why Have Standards?

Do we all want standardization? Sometimes I wonder!

Good for Providers More choice and flexibility

Good for Vendors Ease of market penetration

Good for Individuals Transferable skill set

All of these points have equally powerful opposites

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Why Have Standards Bodies (SDOs)?

What is the alternative? Each company develops and documents its own

solution Everyone has to implement two or three solutions Chaos, confusion and expense

We can learn from other people There is a relatively small global pool of

“experts” Acapulco is very nice at this time of year

Does everyone in the SDO want standardization?

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Which SDOs Impact MPLS and GMPLS?

Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Optical Interworking Forum (OIF) Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

(IEEE) MPLS, ATM and Frame Relay Alliance (MFA) Tele Management Forum (TMF) IP Sphere ?? Others ??

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Some Overlap Between SDOs

This is an understatement! Converged networks imply converged SDOs Examples:

IETF, ITU-T and OIF working on protocol specifications for control planes for optical networks

IETF and ITU-T overlap on MPLS applications such as OAM Pseudowires MPLS transport

IETF examining ways to manage IEEE Ethernet networks

MFA and ITU-T working on MPLS NNIs etc.

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Are Multiple MPLS and GMPLS SDOs Helpful?

Against Do we want multiple standards for the same function? Can we hope to attend all relevant standards meetings? SDOs become marketing organizations Chaos, confusion and expense

For Different SDOs have developed specializations

Different applications, protocols or functions Architecture versus protocol Requirements, experimentation, development,

operation Different SDO processes are conducive to different results It’s good for job creation Hawaii is a pretty nice place

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What Is the Solution?

SDOs have a duty of care to the industry No SDO should regard itself as “better” than

any other Each SDO must protect itself from abuse

“Standards shopping” Corporate politics

Each SDO must be aware of overlaps and potential overlaps Communicate plans Seek “natural homes” for work Cooperate to a common goal

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What Form Should Cooperation Take?

Focus on the end result Devolve work to areas of expertise Clear sense of ownership of protocols Understanding of wider implications of

changing protocols Responsiveness between SDOs

Questions and clarifications Requests for assistance or work Formal liaison process may be helpful

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Do We Need Formal Processes?

Skepticism, lack of trust, and turf wars Bad history Over-specified process may ensure smooth operation

Can relax the process in the future Process must include a commitment to follow the

process

For example: MPLS and GMPLS Change Process

(draft-andersson-rtg-gmpls-change-01) Makes the IETF the place for developing protocol

extensions for MPLS and GMPLS Includes a commitment by the IETF to receive

requirements from other SDOs