The IESG has received a request from the Global Routing Operations WG (grow) to consider the following document: - 'Distribution of diverse BGP paths.' <draft-ietf-grow-diverse-bgp-path-dist-07.txt> as Informational RFC The IESG plans to make a decision in the next few weeks, and solicits final comments on this action. Please send substantive comments to the ietf@ietf.org mailing lists by 2012-07-19. Exceptionally, comments may be sent to iesg@ietf.org instead. In either case, please retain the beginning of the Subject line to allow automated sorting. Abstract The BGP4 protocol specifies the selection and propagation of a single best path for each prefix. As defined and widely deployed today BGP has no mechanisms to distribute alternate paths which are not considered best path between its speakers. This behaviour results in number of disadvantages for new applications and services. This document presents an alternative mechanism for solving the problem based on the concept of parallel route reflector planes. Such planes can be built in parallel or they can co-exist on the current route reflection platforms. Document also compares existing solutions and proposed ideas that enable distribution of more paths than just the best path. This proposal does not specify any changes to the BGP protocol definition. It does not require upgrades to provider edge or core routers nor does it need network wide upgrades. The file can be obtained via http://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-ietf-grow-diverse-bgp-path-dist/ IESG discussion can be tracked via http://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-ietf-grow-diverse-bgp-path-dist/ballot/ No IPR declarations have been submitted directly on this I-D.
