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UpdatedPROPOSED STANDARDIETF stream

RFC 9168: Path Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP) Extension for Flow Specification

Still current, but amended. Parts of this document are changed or extended by RFC 9756. Read both.

In plain English — editorial summary, not part of the RFC

The Path Computation Element (PCE) is a functional component capable of selecting paths through a traffic engineering (TE) network. These paths may be supplied in response to requests for computation or may be unsolicited requests issued by the PCE to network elements. Both approaches use the PCE Communication Protocol (PCEP) to convey the details of the computed path. Traffic flows may be categorized and described using "Flow Specifications". RFC 8955 defines the Flow Specification and describes how Flow Specification components are used to describe traffic flows. RFC 8955 also defines how Flow Specifications may be distributed in BGP to allow specific traffic flows to be associated with routes. This document specifies a set of extensions to PCEP to support dissemination of Flow Specifications. This allows a PCE to indicate what traffic should be placed on each path that it is aware of. The extensions defined in this document include the creation, update, and withdrawal of Flow Specifications via PCEP and can be applied to tunnels initiated by the PCE or to tunnels where control is delegated to the PCE by the Path Computation Client (PCC). Furthermore, a PCC requesting a new path can include Flow Specifications in the request to indicate the purpose of the tunnel allowing the PCE to factor this into the path computation.

Document record

Document ID
RFC9168
Published
January 2022
Authors
D. Dhody; A. Farrel; Z. Li
Status
PROPOSED STANDARD
Stream
IETF
Area
rtg
Pages
29
Also known as
—
Updated by:
RFC 9756

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The document record above — title, authors, date, status, stream, area, relationships, DOI and errata — is imported verbatim from the public RFC Editor index. The “in plain English” section is editorial: written by The metasystema editorial team, not part of the RFC. Where the two differ, the RFC text governs.

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canonical URL: /rfc/9168-path-computation-element-communication-protocol-pcep-extension-for-flow-specific