Network Working Group F. L. Templin, Ed. Internet-Draft Boeing Research & Technology Updates: 6864, 8900 (if approved) 22 May 2024 Intended status: Standards Track Expires: 23 November 2024 IPv6 Extended Fragment Header for IPv4 draft-templin-intarea-ipid-ext2-04 Abstract The Internet Protocol, version 4 (IPv4) header includes a 16-bit Identification field in all packets, but this length is too small to ensure reassembly integrity even at moderate data rates in modern networks. Even for Internet Protocol, version 6 (IPv6), the 32-bit Identification field included when a Fragment Header is present may be smaller than desired for some applications. This specification addresses these limitations by adapting the IPv6 Extended Fragment Header for IPv4. 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 https://datatracker.ietf.org/drafts/current/. Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any time. It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference material or to cite them other than as "work in progress." This Internet-Draft will expire on 23 November 2024. Copyright Notice Copyright (c) 2024 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the document authors. All rights reserved. This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (https://trustee.ietf.org/ license-info) in effect on the date of publication of this document. Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect to this document. Code Components Templin Expires 23 November 2024 [Page 1] Internet-Draft IP Identification Extension May 2024 extracted from this document must include Revised BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as described in the Revised BSD License. Table of Contents 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2. Relation to IPv6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3. IPv6 Extended Fragment Header for IPv4 . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4. Destination Qualification and Path MTU . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5. Packet Too Big (PTB) Extensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 6. Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7. Implementation Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 8. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 9. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 10. Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 11. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 11.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 11.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Appendix A. Change Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Author's Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 1. Introduction The Internet Protocol, version 4 (IPv4) header includes a 16-bit Identification in all packets [RFC0791], but this length is too small to ensure reassembly integrity even at moderate data rates in modern networks [RFC4963][RFC6864][RFC8900]. This specification adapts the IPv6 Extended Fragment Header [I-D.templin-6man-ipid-ext2] for Identification extension and to support an alternate fragmentation and reassembly service for IPv4. When an IPv4 packet includes the IPv6 Extended Fragment Header, a "deep packet fragmentation" capability is enabled that supports Identification, fragmentation and reassembly services from deep within the packet independently of any IPv4 header level services. This may be useful for networks that engage fragmentation and reassembly at extreme data rates, or for cases when advanced IPv4 packet Identification uniqueness assurance is critical. 2. Relation to IPv6 As is often the case, extensions intended for IPv6 can be applied in similar fashion as for IPv4 (and vice-versa). The terminology used and the motivation for extending the Identification field for IPv4 is the same as for IPv6 Identification extension as specified in [I-D.templin-6man-ipid-ext2]. All normative aspects of the IPv6 specification that can be applied for IPv4 apply also to this Templin Expires 23 November 2024 [Page 2] Internet-Draft IP Identification Extension May 2024 document. 3. IPv6 Extended Fragment Header for IPv4 IPv4 end systems and intermediate systems do not by default recognize the IP protocol numbers for IPv6 extension headers, as these are typically used to support IPv6 operations only. However, implementations of this specification are required to recognize IP protocol number 0 and the IPv6 Minimum Path MTU Option formats as defined for the IPv6 Hop-by-Hop Options header per [RFC8200][RFC9268] as well as IP protocol number 60 and its associated header and option formats as defined for the IPv6 Destination Options header per [RFC8200]. Implementations of this specification also recognize the IPv6 Extended Fragment Header Option as specified in [I-D.templin-6man-ipid-ext2] when it appears in an IPv6 Destination Options Header following the IPv4 header. Requirements for encapsulation of extension headers in IPv4 packets are introduced and discussed in [I-D.herbert-ipv4-eh]. IPv4 sources insert an IPv6 Destination Option with an Extended Fragment Header in an IPv6 extension header chain that begins immediately after the end of the IPv4 header and ends immediately before the upper layer protocol header, e.g., TCP, UDP, etc. The source then increments the IPv4 Total Length by the length of the extension headers, and sets the IPv4 Protocol field to the protocol number of the first extension header. The source then sets the IPv6 Destination Options Header Next Header field to the protocol number of the next extension header or the upper layer protocol number if there are no further extensions. The IPv4 source then applies fragmentation if necessary the same as for the IPv6 fragmentation procedures specified in [I-D.templin-6man-ipid-ext2]. This will produce a sequence of fragments each containing a copy of the IPv4 header followed by any Per-Fragment headers up to and including the Destination Options Header with IPv6 Extended Fragment Header Option (with Index, M and Identification set appropriately) followed by a fragment of the upper layer protocol payload. The IPv4 source then sends the fragments to the IPv4 destination which accepts and processes them only if it recognizes the IP Protocol value of the first extension header. The destination then reassembles per the procedures specified in [I-D.templin-6man-ipid-ext2]. Templin Expires 23 November 2024 [Page 3] Internet-Draft IP Identification Extension May 2024 IPv4 intermediate systems that recognize the IPv6 Destination Options Header in IPv4 packets forward packets or fragments that include the option if they are no larger than the next hop link MTU; otherwise, they drop the packet/fragment and return a PTB message. Destinations that recognize the option perform reassembly and/or return PTB messages as necessary under the same conditions specified for the IPv6 Extended Fragment Header in [I-D.templin-6man-ipid-ext2]. 4. Destination Qualification and Path MTU IPv4 intermediate systems and destinations that do not recognize the IPv6 Destination Options Header with Extended Fragment Header Option appearing after the IPv4 header unconditionally drop the packet and SHOULD return an "ICMPv4 Destination Unreachable - Protocol Unreachable" message per [RFC0792]. The source can therefore test whether the path up to and including the destination accepts the IPv6 Destination Options Header and Extended Fragment Header Option by occasionally sending "probe" packets that include them. If the source receives an acknowledgement, it has assurance that the destination recognizes the protocol and that intermediate systems at least forward the protocol messages without dropping; the source can instead consider receipt of an ICMPv4 Destination Unreachable - Protocol Unreachable as a hint that some node in the path rejects the protocol. The source should occasionally re-probe each destination in case routing redirects a flow to a different anycast destination. The source can also include IPv6 Minimum Path MTU Discovery Hop-by- Hop Options in packets/fragments sent to unicast, multicast or anycast destinations per [RFC9268]. The source inserts the Hop-by- Hop Options Header between the IPv4 header and the Destination Options header, then increments the IPv4 Total Length by 8 octets, sets the IPv4 Protocol field to 0 (i.e., the protocol number for the Hop-by-Hop Options header) and sets the Hop-by-Hop Options Header Next Header field to 60. If the source receives acknowledgements that include an MTU/Fragmentation Report Destination Option, the source should regard the reported MTU as the largest potential fragment size for this destination under current path MTU conditions noting that the actual size may be smaller still for some paths. Templin Expires 23 November 2024 [Page 4] Internet-Draft IP Identification Extension May 2024 5. Packet Too Big (PTB) Extensions When an intermediate system attempts to forward an IP packet that exceeds the next hop link MTU but for which fragmentation is forbidden, it returns an ICMPv6 "Packet Too Big (PTB)" message with Code 0 [RFC4443] [RFC8201] or an ICMPv4 "Destination Unreachable - Fragmentation Needed" message [RFC1191] to the source and discards the packet. This always results in wasted transmissions for which the source is required to reduce the size of the packets it is sending and retransmit. (Note: IPv4 intermediate systems that recognize the IPv6 Destination Option header with Extended Fragment Header Option return ICMPv6 PTB messages instead of ICMPv4 messages. IPv4 intermediate systems and destinations that send Code 0 ICMPv6 PTB messages must therefore employ OMNI UDP/IPv4 encapsulation of ICMPv6 messages with IPv4-compatible IPv6 addresses so the messages can traverse IPv4 networks [I-D.templin-6man-omni3]. IPv4 sources that include the IPv6 Extended Fragment Header Option must therefore monitor the OMNI UDP port for UDP/IPv4-encapsulated ICMPv6 messages. 6. Requirements All nodes that process an IPv4 packet with an IPv6 Destination Options Header with Extended Fragment Header Option observe the requirements found in [I-D.templin-6man-ipid-ext2] in addition to the requirements found in this section. All nodes that process an IPv6 Destination Options Header with Extended Fragment Header Option observe the extension header limits specified in [I-D.ietf-6man-eh-limits]. Intermediate systems that recognize IPv6 extension headers MUST forward without dropping IPv4 packets that include a Destination Options Header with an Extended Fragment Header Option unless they detect a security policy threat through deeper inspection of the protocol data that follows. Sources MUST include at most one Extended Fragment Header in each IPv4 packet/fragment. Intermediate systems and destinations SHOULD silently drop packets/fragments with multiples. Destinations that accept flows using Extended Fragment Headers MUST configure an EMTU_R of 65535 octets or larger. Templin Expires 23 November 2024 [Page 5] Internet-Draft IP Identification Extension May 2024 Note: IP fragmentation can only be applied for conventional packets as large as 65535 octets. IP parcels and Advanced Jumbos (AJs) provide a means for efficiently packaging and shipping multiple or singleton segments ranging in size from very small to very large, but they are not eligible for fragmentation at any size [I-D.templin-intarea-parcels2]. 7. Implementation Status In progress. 8. IANA Considerations This document has no requirements for IANA. 9. Security Considerations All aspects of IP security apply equally to this document, which does not introduce any new vulnerabilities. Moreover, when employed correctly the mechanisms in this document robustly address known IPv4 reassembly integrity concerns [RFC4963] and also provide an advanced degree of packet Identification uniqueness assurance. All other security aspects of the IPv6 Extended Fragment Header per [I-D.templin-6man-ipid-ext2] apply also to its use in IPv4. 10. Acknowledgements This work was inspired by continued DTN performance studies. Amanda Baber, Tom Herbert, Bob Hinden and Eric Vyncke offered useful insights that helped improve the document. Honoring life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 11. References 11.1. Normative References [RFC0791] Postel, J., "Internet Protocol", STD 5, RFC 791, DOI 10.17487/RFC0791, September 1981, . [RFC0792] Postel, J., "Internet Control Message Protocol", STD 5, RFC 792, DOI 10.17487/RFC0792, September 1981, . Templin Expires 23 November 2024 [Page 6] Internet-Draft IP Identification Extension May 2024 [RFC1191] Mogul, J. and S. Deering, "Path MTU discovery", RFC 1191, DOI 10.17487/RFC1191, November 1990, . [RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997, . [RFC4443] Conta, A., Deering, S., and M. Gupta, Ed., "Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMPv6) for the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) Specification", STD 89, RFC 4443, DOI 10.17487/RFC4443, March 2006, . [RFC8174] Leiba, B., "Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in RFC 2119 Key Words", BCP 14, RFC 8174, DOI 10.17487/RFC8174, May 2017, . [RFC8200] Deering, S. and R. Hinden, "Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification", STD 86, RFC 8200, DOI 10.17487/RFC8200, July 2017, . [RFC8201] McCann, J., Deering, S., Mogul, J., and R. Hinden, Ed., "Path MTU Discovery for IP version 6", STD 87, RFC 8201, DOI 10.17487/RFC8201, July 2017, . 11.2. Informative References [I-D.herbert-ipv4-eh] Herbert, T., "IPv4 Extension Headers and Flow Label", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-herbert-ipv4-eh-03, 22 February 2024, . [I-D.ietf-6man-eh-limits] Herbert, T., "Limits on Sending and Processing IPv6 Extension Headers", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-6man-eh-limits-12, 18 December 2023, . Templin Expires 23 November 2024 [Page 7] Internet-Draft IP Identification Extension May 2024 [I-D.templin-6man-ipid-ext2] Templin, F. and T. Herbert, "IPv6 Extended Fragment Header (EFH)", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-templin- 6man-ipid-ext2-03, 14 May 2024, . [I-D.templin-6man-omni3] Templin, F., "Transmission of IP Packets over Overlay Multilink Network (OMNI) Interfaces", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-templin-6man-omni3-03, 15 April 2024, . [I-D.templin-intarea-parcels2] Templin, F., "IPv4 Parcels and Advanced Jumbos (AJs)", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-templin-intarea- parcels2-03, 12 April 2024, . [RFC4963] Heffner, J., Mathis, M., and B. Chandler, "IPv4 Reassembly Errors at High Data Rates", RFC 4963, DOI 10.17487/RFC4963, July 2007, . [RFC6864] Touch, J., "Updated Specification of the IPv4 ID Field", RFC 6864, DOI 10.17487/RFC6864, February 2013, . [RFC8900] Bonica, R., Baker, F., Huston, G., Hinden, R., Troan, O., and F. Gont, "IP Fragmentation Considered Fragile", BCP 230, RFC 8900, DOI 10.17487/RFC8900, September 2020, . [RFC9268] Hinden, R. and G. Fairhurst, "IPv6 Minimum Path MTU Hop- by-Hop Option", RFC 9268, DOI 10.17487/RFC9268, August 2022, . Appendix A. Change Log << RFC Editor - remove prior to publication >> Differences from earlier versions: * First draft publication. Templin Expires 23 November 2024 [Page 8] Internet-Draft IP Identification Extension May 2024 Author's Address Fred L. Templin (editor) Boeing Research & Technology P.O. Box 3707 Seattle, WA 98124 United States of America Email: fltemplin@acm.org Templin Expires 23 November 2024 [Page 9]