The IESG has approved the following document: - 'Distribution of diverse BGP paths.' (draft-ietf-grow-diverse-bgp-path-dist-08.txt) as Informational RFC This document is the product of the Global Routing Operations Working Group. The IESG contact persons are Ronald Bonica and Benoit Claise. A URL of this Internet Draft is: http://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-ietf-grow-diverse-bgp-path-dist/ Technical Summary 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. Working Group Summary The draft was well supported in the working group, with active conversation on the mailing list. Numerous people contributed and commented on the draft as part of the process. Document Quality The document has had contribution from both vendors, researchers and operators. The proposal does not require any changed to the BGP protocol, but does require an implementation of the functionality specified. Personnel Document Shepherd -- Peter Schoenmaker <pds@lugs.com> Area Directory -- Ron Bonica <rbonica@juniper.net>
