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RFC 2855
Network Working Group K. Fujisawa
Request for Comments: 2855 Sony Corporation
Category: Standards Track June 2000
DHCP for IEEE 1394
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2000). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
IEEE Std 1394-1995 is a standard for a High Performance Serial Bus.
Since 1394 uses a different link-layer addressing method than
conventional IEEE802/Ethernet, the usage of some fields must be
clarified to achieve interoperability. This memo describes the 1394
specific usage of some fields of DHCP messages.
1. Introduction
IEEE Std 1394-1995 is a standard for a High Performance Serial Bus.
IETF IP1394 Working Group specified the method to carry IPv4
datagrams and 1394 ARP packets over an IEEE1394 network [RFC2734].
The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) [RFC2131] provides a
framework for passing configuration information to hosts on a TCP/IP
network.
Since 1394 uses a different link-layer addressing method than
conventional IEEE802/Ethernet, the usage of some fields must be
clarified to achieve interoperability. This memo describes the 1394
specific usage of some fields of DHCP. See [RFC2131] for the
mechanism of DHCP and the explanations of each field.
The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
"SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [RFC2119].
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RFC 2855 DHCP for IEEE 1394 June 2000
2. Issues related to 1394 link address
With conventional link-layer protocols, such as an Ethernet, the
'chaddr' (client hardware address) field may be used to return a
reply message from a DHCP server (or relay-agent) to a client. Since
a 1394 link address (node_ID) is transient and will not be consistent
across the 1394 bridge, we have chosen not to put it in the 'chaddr'
field. A DHCP client should request that the server sends a
broadcast reply by setting the BROADCAST flag when 1394 ARP is not
possible yet.
Note: In general, the use of a broadcast reply is discouraged, but
we consider the impact in a 1394 network as a non issue.
3. 1394 specific usage of DHCP message fields
Following rules should be used when a DHCP client is connected to an
IEEE1394 network.
'htype' (hardware address type) MUST be 24 [ARPPARAM].
'hlen' (hardware address length) MUST be 0.
The 'chaddr' (client hardware address) field is reserved. The sender
MUST set this field to zero, and the recipient and the relay agent
MUST ignore its value on receipt.
A DHCP client on 1394 SHOULD set a BROADCAST flag in DHCPDISCOVER and
DHCPREQUEST messages (and set 'ciaddr' to zero) to ensure that the
server (or the relay agent) broadcasts its reply to the client.
Note: As described in [RFC2131], 'ciaddr' MUST be filled in with
client's IP address during BOUND, RENEWING or REBINDING state,
therefore, the BROADCAST flag MUST NOT be set. In these cases,
the DHCP server unicasts DHCPACK message to the address in
'ciaddr'. The link address will be resolved by 1394 ARP.
'client identifier' option MUST be used in DHCP messages from the
client to the server due to the lack of the 'chaddr'. 'client
identifier' option may consist of any data. Because every IP over
1394 node has an EUI-64 (node unique ID), the EUI-64 makes an obvious
'client identifier'. 1394 clients SHOULD include an EUI-64
identifier in the 'client identifier' option. The type value for the
EUI-64 is 27 [ARPPARAM], and the format is illustrated as follows.
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RFC 2855 DHCP for IEEE 1394 June 2000
Code Len Type Client-Identifier
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| 61 | 9 | 27 | EUI-64 (node unique ID) |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Note that the use of other 'client identifier' type, such as a fully
qualified domain name (FQDN), is not precluded by this memo.
For more details, see "9.14. Client-identifier" in [RFC2132].
4. Security Considerations
DHCP currently provides no authentication or security mechanisms.
Potential exposures to attack are discussed in section 7 of the DHCP
protocol specification [RFC2131].
A malicious client can falsify its EUI-64 identifier, thus
masquerading as another client.
Acknowledgments
The author appreciates the members of the Dynamic Host Configuration
Working Group for their review and valuable comments.
References
[RFC2734] Johansson, P., "IPv4 over IEEE 1394", RFC 2734, December
1999.
[RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
Requirement Levels", RFC 2119, March 1997.
[RFC2131] Droms, R., "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol", RFC
2131, March 1997.
[RFC2132] Alexander, S. and R. Droms, "DHCP Options and BOOTP Vendor
Extensions", RFC 2132, March 1997.
[ARPPARAM] http://www.iana.org/numbers.html
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RFC 2855 DHCP for IEEE 1394 June 2000
Author's Address
Kenji Fujisawa
Sony Corporation
6-7-35, Kitashinagawa,
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 141-0001 Japan
Phone: +81-3-5448-8507
EMail: fujisawa@sm.sony.co.jp
Fujisawa Standards Track [Page 4]
RFC 2855 DHCP for IEEE 1394 June 2000
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Acknowledgement
Funding for the RFC Editor function is currently provided by the
Internet Society.
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