wdiff draft-ietf-tsvwg-datagram-plpmtud-03.txt draft-ietf-tsvwg-datagram-plpmtud-04.txt

Internet Engineering Task Force G. Fairhurst
Internet-Draft T. Jones
Updates: 4821 (if approved) University of Aberdeen
Intended status: Standards Track M. Tuexen
Expires: January 3, March 9, 2019 I. Ruengeler
Muenster University of Applied Sciences
July 02,
September 5, 2018

Packetization Layer Path MTU Discovery for Datagram Transports
draft-ietf-tsvwg-datagram-plpmtud-03
draft-ietf-tsvwg-datagram-plpmtud-04

Abstract

This document describes a robust method for Path MTU Discovery
(PMTUD) for datagram Packetization layers. Layers (PLs). The document
describes an extension to RFC 1191 and RFC 8201, which specifies
ICMP-based Path MTU Discovery for IPv4 and IPv6. The method allows a Packetization
Layer (PL),
PL, or a datagram application that uses a PL, to discover whether a
network path can support the current size of datagram. This can be
used to detect and reduce the message size when a sender encounters a
network black hole (where packets are discarded, and no ICMP message
is received). The method can also probe a network path with
progressively larger packets to find whether the maximum packet size
can be increased. This allows a sender to determine an appropriate
packet size, providing functionally for datagram transports that is
equivalent to the Packetization layer PMTUD specification for TCP,
specified in RFC4821. RFC 4821.

The document also provides implementation notes for incorporating
Datagram PMTUD into IETF Datagram datagram transports or applications that use
datagram transports.

When published, this specification updates RFC4821. RFC 4821 when used with
datagram transports.

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 January 3, March 9, 2019.

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
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Table of Contents

1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.1. Classical Path MTU Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4
1.2. Packetization Layer Path MTU Discovery . . . . . . . . . 5
1.3. Path MTU Discovery for Datagram Services . . . . . . . . 6
2. Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7
3. Features Required to Provide Datagram PLPMTUD . . . . . . . . 8
3.1. PLPMTU Probe Packets . . 9
4. DPLPMTUD Mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.2. Validation of Probe Packet Size . . . . . 11
4.1. PLPMTU Probe Packets . . . . . . . . 12
3.3. Reducing the PLPMTU: Confirming Path Characteristics . . 12
3.4. Increasing the PLPMTU: Supporting Path Changes . . . . . 13
3.5. Robustness to inconsistent Path information . . . 11
4.2. Confirmation of Probed Packet Size . . . . 13
4. Datagram Packetization Layer PMTUD . . . . . . . 13
4.3. Detection of Black Holes . . . . . . 13
4.1. PROBE_SEARCH: Probing for a larger PLPMTU . . . . . . . . 14
4.2. The PROBE_DONE state . . 13
4.4. Response to PTB Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.3. 14
4.4.1. Validation and Use of PTB Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.4. Timers . . . . . 14
4.4.2. Use of PTB Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5. Datagram Packetization Layer PMTUD . . . 16
4.5. Constants . . . . . . . . . . 16
5.1. DPLPMTUD Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.6. Variables . . . . . 17
5.1.1. Timers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.7. Selecting PROBED_SIZE . . . . 17
5.1.2. Constants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.8. Simple Black Hole Detection . . . . . . . . 17
5.1.3. Variables . . . . . . . 18
4.8.1. Simple Black Hole Detection State Machine . . . . . . 19
4.9. Full State Machine . . . . . . . . . 18
5.2. DPLPMTUD Phases . . . . . . . . . . 20
5. Specification of Protocol-Specific Methods . . . . . . . . . 23
5.1. Application support for DPLPMTUD with UDP or UDP-Lite . . 23
5.1.1. Application Request 19
5.2.1. Path Confirmation Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.2.2. Search Phase . . 24
5.1.2. Application Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.1.3. Sending Application Probe Packets . . 21
5.2.2.1. Resilience to inconsistent path information . . . 21
5.2.3. Search Complete Phase . . . . . 24
5.1.4. Validating the Path . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.2.4. PROBE_BASE Phase . . . . . . 24
5.1.5. Handling of PTB Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.2.5. ERROR Phase . . 24
5.2. DPLPMTUD with UDP Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.2.1. UDP Request Option . . . 22
5.2.5.1. Robustness to inconsistent path . . . . . . . . . 23

5.2.6. DISABLED Phase . . . . . 25
5.2.2. UDP Response Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.3. State Machine . . . 25
5.3. DPLPMTUD for SCTP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.4. Search to Increase the PLPMTU . 26
5.3.1. SCTP/IP4 and SCTP/IPv6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.4.1. Probing for a larger PLPMTU . . 26
5.3.1.1. Sending SCTP Probe Packets . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.3.1.2. Validating the Path with SCTP
5.4.2. Selection of Probe Sizes . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.3.1.3. PTB Message Handling by SCTP . . . . 27
5.4.3. Resilience to inconsistent Path information . . . . . 28
6. Specification of Protocol-Specific Methods . 27
5.3.2. DPLPMTUD . . . . . . . . 28
6.1. Application support for SCTP/UDP DPLPMTUD with UDP or UDP-Lite . . 28
6.1.1. Application Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.3.2.1. . 29
6.1.2. Application Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.1.3. Sending SCTP/UDP Application Probe Packets . . . . . . . . . 27
5.3.2.2. . 29
6.1.4. Validating the Path with SCTP/UDP . . . . . . . . 27
5.3.2.3. . . . . . . . . . 29
6.1.5. Handling of PTB Messages by SCTP/UDP . . . . . . 27
5.3.3. DPLPMTUD for SCTP/DTLS . . . . . . . . 29
6.2. DPLPMTUD with UDP Options . . . . . . . 28
5.3.3.1. Sending SCTP/DTLS Probe Packets . . . . . . . . . 28
5.3.3.2. Validating the Path with SCTP/DTLS 30
6.2.1. UDP Probe Request Option . . . . . . . 28
5.3.3.3. Handling of PTB Messages by SCTP/DTLS . . . . . . 28
5.4. DPLPMTUD for QUIC . 31
6.2.2. UDP Probe Response Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6.3. DPLPMTUD for SCTP . . . . . 28
5.4.1. Sending QUIC Probe Packets . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
5.4.2. Validating the Path with QUIC . . 32
6.3.1. SCTP/IPv4 and SCTP/IPv6 . . . . . . . . . . 29
5.4.3. Handling of PTB Messages by QUIC . . . . . 32
6.3.1.1. Sending SCTP Probe Packets . . . . . 29
6. Acknowledgements . . . . . . 32
6.3.1.2. Validating the Path with SCTP . . . . . . . . . . 33
6.3.1.3. PTB Message Handling by SCTP . . . . . . . 29
7. IANA Considerations . . . 33
6.3.2. DPLPMTUD for SCTP/UDP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
6.3.2.1. Sending SCTP/UDP Probe Packets . . . 29
8. Security Considerations . . . . . . 33
6.3.2.2. Validating the Path with SCTP/UDP . . . . . . . . 33
6.3.2.3. Handling of PTB Messages by SCTP/UDP . . . . . . 30
9. References 33
6.3.3. DPLPMTUD for SCTP/DTLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
6.3.3.1. Sending SCTP/DTLS Probe Packets . . . . . . . . . 34
6.3.3.2. Validating the Path with SCTP/DTLS . 30
9.1. Normative References . . . . . . 34
6.3.3.3. Handling of PTB Messages by SCTP/DTLS . . . . . . 34
6.4. DPLPMTUD for QUIC . . . . . . 30
9.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
6.4.1. Sending QUIC Probe Packets . . . 32
Appendix A. Event-driven state changes . . . . . . . . . . 34
6.4.2. Validating the Path with QUIC . . . 32
Appendix B. Revision Notes . . . . . . . . . 35
6.4.3. Handling of PTB Messages by QUIC . . . . . . . . . . 35
Authors' Addresses
7. Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
8. IANA Considerations . 37

1. Introduction

The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
9. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
10. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
10.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
10.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Appendix A. Event-driven state changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Appendix B. Revision Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Authors' Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

1. Introduction

The IETF has specified datagram transport using UDP, SCTP, and DCCP,
as well as protocols layered on top of these transports (e.g., SCTP/
UDP, DCCP/UDP) DCCP/UDP, QUIC/UDP), and directly direct datagram transport over the IP
network layer. This document describes a robust method for Path MTU
Discovery (PMTUD) that may be used with these transport protocols (or
the applications that use their transport service) to discover an
appropriate size of packet to use across an Internet path.

This specification clarifies the PLPMTUD method for SCTP described in
section 10.2 of [RFC4821] by specifying the procedure in Section 6.3
of this document.

1.1. Classical Path MTU Discovery

Classical Path Maximum Transmission Unit Discovery (PMTUD) can be
used with any transport that is able to process ICMP Packet Too Big
(PTB) messages (e.g., [RFC1191] and [RFC8201]). The term PTB message
is applied to both IPv4 ICMP Unreachable messages (type (Type 3) that carry
the error Fragmentation Needed (Type 3, Code 4) and ICMPv6 packet too
big messages (Type 2). When a sender receives a PTB message, it
reduces the effective MTU to the value reported as the Link MTU in the PTB message, and a message
(in this document called the PTB_SIZE). A method that from time-to-time
increases the packet size in attempt to discover an increase in the
supported PMTU. The packets sent with a size larger than the current
effective PMTU are known as probe packets.

Packets not intended as probe packets are either fragmented to the
current effective PMTU, or the an attempt to send a packet larger than
current effective PMTU fails with an error code. Applications are
sometimes provided with a primitive to let them read the maximum
packet size, derived from the current effective PMTU.

Classical PMTUD is subject to protocol failures. One failure arises
when traffic using a packet size larger than the actual PMTU is
black-holed black
holed (all datagrams sent with this size, or larger, are silently
discarded without the sender receiving ICMP PTB messages). This
could arise when the PTB messages are not delivered back to the
sender for some reason [RFC2923]). For example, ICMP messages are
increasingly filtered by middleboxes (including firewalls) [RFC4890].
A stateful firewall could be configured with a policy to block
incoming ICMP messages, which would prevent reception of PTB messages
to endpoints behind this firewall. Other examples include cases
where PTB messages are not correctly processed/generated by tunnel
endpoints.

Another failure could result if a node that is not on the network
path sends a PTB message that attempts to force the sender to change
the effective PMTU [RFC8201]. A sender can protect itself from
reacting to such messages by utilising the quoted packet within a PTB
message payload to validate that the received PTB message was
generated in response to a packet that had actually originated from
the sender. However, there are situations where a sender would be
unable to provide this validation.

Examples where validation of the PTB message is not possible include:

o When the router issuing the ICMP message is acting on a tunneled
packet, the ICMP message will be directed to the tunnel endpoint.
This tunnel endpoint is responsible for forwardiung forwarding the ICMP
message and also processing the quoted packet within the payload
field to remove the effect of the tunnel, and return a correctly
fromatted
formatted ICMP message to the sender. Failure to do this appropriate
processing therefore results in black-holing.

o When a router issuing the ICMP message implements RFC792 RFC 792
[RFC0792], it is only required the to include (quote) the first 64
bits of the IP payload of the packet within the quoted payload.This may ICMP payload.
This could be insufficient to perfom perform the tunnel processing
described in the previous bullet. Even if the decapsulated
message is processed by the tunnel endpoint, there could be
insufficient bytes remaining for the sender to interpret the
quoted transport information.
RFC1812 RFC 1812 [RFC1812] requires routers
to return the full packet if
possible, often the case for IPv4 possible. This can result in black-
holing when used the path includes
tunnels; or where tunnels.

o When a router issuing the ICMP message quotes a packet has been encapsulated/tunneled over with an
encrypted transport and transport, it is not possible may lack sufficient context to determine
the original transport header ). header.

o Even when the PTB message includes sufficient bytes of the quoted
packet, the network layer could lack sufficient context to
validate the ICMP message, because this depends on information
about the active transport flows at an endpoint node (e.g., the socket/
address
socket/address pairs being used, and other protocol header
information).

1.2. Packetization Layer Path MTU Discovery

The term Packetization Layer (PL) has been introduced to describe the
layer that is responsible for placing data blocks into the payload of
IP packets and selecting an appropriate Maximum Packet Size (MPS).
This function is often performed by a transport protocol, but can
also be performed by other encapsulation methods working above the
transport.
transport layer.

In contrast to PMTUD, Packetization Layer Path MTU Discovery
(PLPMTUD) [RFC4821] does not rely upon reception and validation of
PTB messages. It is therefore more robust than Classical PMTUD.

This has become the recommended approach for implementing PMTU
discovery with TCP.

It uses a general strategy where the PL sends probe packet packets to search
for the largest size of unfragmented datagram that can be sent over a
network path. The probe packets are sent with a progressively larger
packet size. If a probe packet is successfully delivered (as
determined by the PL), then the PLPMTU is raised to the size of the
successful probe. If no response is received to a probe packet, the
method reduces the probe size. This PLPMTU is used to set the
application MPS.

PLPMTUD introduces flexibility in the implementation of PMTU
discovery. At one extreme, it can be configured to only perform PTB
black hole detection and recovery to increase the robustness of
Classical PMTUD, or at the other extreme, all PTB processing can be
disabled and PLPMTUD can completely replace Classical PMTUD.

PLPMTUD can also include additional consistency checks without
increasing the risk of increased black-holing. For instance,the
information available at the PL, or higher layers, makes PTB
validation more straight forward.

1.3. Path MTU Discovery for Datagram Services

Section 4 5 of this document presents a set of algorithms for datagram
protocols to discover the largest size of unfragmented datagram that
can be sent over a network path. The method described relies on
features of the PL described in Section 3 and apply applies to transport
protocols operating over IPv4 and IPv6. It does not require
cooperation from the lower layers, although it can utilise ICMP PTB
messages when these received messages are made available to the PL.

The UDP Usage Guidelines [RFC8085] state "an application SHOULD
either use the Path MTU information provided by the IP layer or
implement Path MTU Discovery (PMTUD)", but does not provide a
mechanism for discovering the largest size of unfragmented datagram
than
that can be used on a network path. Prior to this document, PLPMTUD
had not been specified for UDP.

Section 10.2 of [RFC4821] recommends a PLPMTUD probing method for the
Stream Control Transport Protocol (SCTP). SCTP utilises heartbeat
messages as probe packets, but RFC4821 does not provide a complete
specification. This The present document provides the details to complete
that specification.

The Datagram Congestion Control Protocol (DCCP) [RFC4340] requires
implementations to support Classical PMTUD and states that a DCCP
sender "MUST maintain the MPS allowed for each active DCCP session".
It also defines the current congestion control MPS (CCMPS) supported
by a network path. This recommends use of PMTUD, and suggests use of
control packets (DCCP-Sync) as path probe packets, because they do
not risk application data loss. The method defined in this
specification could be used with DCCP.

Section 5 6 specifies the method for a set of transports, and provides
information to enables enable the implementation of PLPMTUD with other
datagram transports and applications that use datagram transports.

2. Terminology

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 [RFC2119].

Other terminology is directly copied from [RFC4821], and the
definitions in [RFC1122].

Black-Holed: When

Actual PMTU: The Actual PMTU is the PMTU of a network path between a
sender PL and a destination PL, which the DPLPMTUD algorithm seeks
to determine.

Black Holed: Packets are Black holed when the sender is unaware that
packets are not delivered to the destination endpoint (e.g., when
the sender transmits packets of a particular size with a
previously known effective PMTU (also refered to as and they are silently discarded by
the PLPMTU), network, but is unaware not made aware of a change to the path that
resulted in a smaller PLPMTU). PLPMTU by ICMP messages).

Classical Path MTU Discovery: Classical PMTUD is a process described
in [RFC1191] and [RFC8201], in which nodes rely on PTB messages to
learn the largest size of unfragmented datagram than that can be used
across a network path.

Datagram: A datagram is a transport-layer protocol data unit,
transmitted in the payload of an IP packet.

Effective PMTU: The Effective PMTU is the current estimated value
for PMTU that is used by a PMTUD. This is equivalent to the
PLPMTU derived by PLPMTUD.

EMTU_S: The Effective MTU for sending (EMTU_S) is defined in
[RFC1122] as "the maximum IP datagram size that may be sent, for a
particular combination of IP source and destination addresses...".

EMTU_R: The Effective MTU for receiving (EMTU_R) is designated in
[RFC1122] as the largest datagram size that can be reassembled by
EMTU_R ("Effective MTU to receive").

Link: A Link is a communication facility or medium over which nodes
can communicate at the link layer, i.e., a layer below the IP
layer. Examples are Ethernet LANs and Internet (or higher) layer
and tunnels.

Link MTU: The Link Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) is the size in
bytes of the largest IP packet, including the IP header and
payload, that can be transmitted over a link. Note that this
could more properly be called the IP MTU, to be consistent with
how other standards organizations use the acronym MT. acronym. This includes
the IP header, but excludes link layer headers and other framing
that is not part of IP or the IP payload. Other standards
organizations generally define the link MTU to include the link
layer headers.

MPS: The Maximum Packet Size (MPS) is the largest size of
application data block that can be sent unfragmented across a network path. In
DPLPMTUD this quantity is derived from the PLPMTU by taking into
consideration the size of the application and lower protocol layer headers.

MIN_PMTU: The MIN_PMTU is the smallest size of PLPMTU that DPLPTMUD
will attempt to use.

Packet: An A Packet is the IP header plus the IP payload.

Packetization Layer (PL): The Packetization Layer (PL) is the layer
of the network stack that places data into packets and performs
transport protocol functions.

Path: The Path is the set of link links and routers traversed by a packet
between a source node and a destination node by a particular flow.

Path MTU (PMTU): The Path MTU (PMTU) is the minimum of the Link MTU
of all the links forming a network path between a source node and
a destination node.

PTB_SIZE: The PTB_SIZE is a value reported in a validated PTB
message that indicates next hop link MTU of a router along the
path.

PLPMTU: The Packetization Layer PMTU is an estimate of the actual
PMTU provided by the DPLPMTUD algorithm.

PLPMTUD: Packetization Layer Path MTU Discovery, Discovery (PLPMTUD), the
method described in this document for datagram PLs, which is an
extension to Classical PMTU Discovery.

Probe packet: A probe packet is a datagram sent with a purposely
chosen size (typically larger than the current PLPMTU) PLPMTU or larger) to detect if
packets of this size can be successfully sent end-toend end-to-end across
the network path.

3. Features Required to Provide Datagram PLPMTUD

TCP PLPMTUD has been defined using standard TCP protocol mechanisms.
All of the requirements in [RFC4821] also apply to the use of the
technique with a datagram PL. Unlike TCP, some datagram PLs require
additional mechanisms to implement PLPMTUD.

There are eight requirements for performing the datagram PLPMTUD
method described in this specification:

1. PMTU parameters: A DPLPMTUD sender is RECOMMENDED to provide
information about the maximum size of packet that can be
transmitted by the sender on the local link (the local Link MTU).
It MAY utilize similar information about the receiver when this
is supplied (note this could be less than EMTU_R). This avoids
implementations trying to send probe packets that can not be
transmited
transmitted by the local link. Too high of a value may could reduce
the efficiency of the search algorithm. Some applications also
have a maximum transport protocol data unit (PDU) size, in which
case there is no benefit from probing for a size larger than this
(unless a transport allows multiplexing multiple applications
PDUs into the same datagram).

2. PLPMTU: A datagram application MUST is REQUIRED to be able to choose
the size of datagrams sent to the network, up to the PLPMTU, or a
smaller value (such as the MPS) derived from this. This value is
managed by the DPLPMTUD method. The PLPMTU (specified as the
effective PMTU in Section 1 of [RFC1191]) is equivalent to the
EMTU_S (specified in [RFC1122]).

3. Probe packets: On request, a PLPMTUD DPLPMTUD sender is REQUIRED to be
able to transmit a packet larger than the PLMPMTU. This can be
uses is used
to send a probe packet. In IPv4, a probe packet MUST be sent
with the Don't Fragment (DF) bit set in the IP header, and
without network layer endpoint fragmentation. In IPv6, a probe
packet is always sent without source fragmentation (as specified
in section 5.4 of [RFC8201]).

4. Processing PTB messages: A DPLPMTUD sender MAY optionally utilize
PTB messages received from the network layer to help identify
when a network path does not support the current size of packet probe. probe
packet. Any received PTB message MUST be validated before it is
used to update the PLPMTU discovery information [RFC8201]. This
validation confirms that the PTB message was sent in response to
a packet originating by the sender, and needs to be performed
before the PLPMTU discovery method reacts to the PTB message.
When the router link MTU PTB_SIZE is indicated in the PTB message message, this MAY be
used by DPLPMTUD to reduce the probe size but MUST NOT be used to
increase the PLPMTU ([RFC8201]). This validation SHOULD utilise
information that can not be simply determined by an off-
path off-path
attacker, for example, by checking the value of a protocol header
field known only to the two PL endpoints. (Some datagram
applications use well-known source and destination ports and
therefore this check needs to rely on other information.)

5. Reception feedback: The destination PL endpoint is REQUIRED to
provide a feedback method that indicates to the DPLPMTUD sender
when a probe packet has been received by the destination PL
endpoint. The mechanism needs to be robust to the possibility
that packets could be significantly delayed along a network path.
The local PL endpoint at the sending node is REQUIRED to pass
this feedback to the sender-side DPLPMTUD method.

6. Probing and congestion control: The isolated loss of a probe
packet SHOULD NOT be treated as an indication of congestion and
its loss SHOULD NOT directly trigger a congestion control
reaction [RFC4821].

7. Probe loss recovery: If the data block carried by a probe packet
needs to be sent reliably, the PL (or layers above) MUST are REQUIRED
to arrange any retransmission/repair of any resulting loss. This
method MUST is REQUIRED to be robust in the case where probe packets
are lost due to other reasons (including link transmission error,
congestion). The DPLPMTUD method sender treats isolated loss of a probe
packet (with or without an PTB message) as a potential indication
of a PMTU limit
on for the path, but not as an indictaion indication of congestion
congestion, see Paragraph 6.

8. Shared PLPMTU state: The PLPMTU value could also be stored with
the corresponding entry in the destination cache and used by
other PL instances. The specification of PLPMTUD [RFC4821]
states: "If PLPMTUD updates the MTU for a particular path, all
Packetization Layer sessions that share the path representation
(as described in Section 5.2 of [RFC4821]) SHOULD be notified to
make use of the new MTU and make the required congestion control
adjustments". Such methods need to MUST be robust to the wide variety of
underlying network forwarding behaviours, PLPMTU adjustments
based on shared PLPMTU values should be incorporated in the
search algorithms. Section 5.2 of [RFC8201] provides guidance on
the caching of PMTU information and also the relation to IPv6
flow labels.

In addition, the following principles are stated for design of a
DPLPMTUD method:

o MPS: A method MUST is REQUIRED to signal an appropriate MPS to the
higher layer using the PL. This may change following a change The value of the MPS can change
following a change to the path.
The method SHOULD It is RECOMMENDED that methods
avoid forcing an application to use an arbitrary small MPS
(PLPMTU) for transmission while the method is searching for the
currently supported PLPMTU. Datagram PLs do not necessarily
support fragmentation of PDUs larger than the PLPMTU. A reduced
MPS can adversely impact the performance of a datagram
application.

o Path validation: A method MUST be It is RECOMMENDED that methods are robust to path
changes that could have occurred since the path characteristics
were last confirmed, and to the possibility of inconsistent path
information being received.

o Datagram reordering: A method MUST is REQUIRED to be robust to the
possibility that a flow encounters reordering, or has the traffic
(including probe packets) is divided over more than one network
path.

o When to probe: A method SHOULD It is RECOMMENDED that methods determine whether
the path capacity has increased since it last measured the path.
This determines when the path should again be probed.

3.1.

4. DPLPMTUD Mechanisms

This section lists the protocol mechanisms used in this
specification.

4.1. PLPMTU Probe Packets

The DPLPMTUD method relies upon the PL sender being able to generate
probe packets with a specific size. TCP is able to generate these
probe packets by choosing to appropriately segment data being sent
[RFC4821]. In contrast, a datagram PL that needs to construct a
probe packet has to either request an application to send a data
block that is larger than that generated by an application, or to
utilise padding functions to extend a datagram beyond the size of the
application data block. Protocols that permit exchange of control
messages (without an application data block) could alternatively
prefer to generate a probe packet by extending a control message with
padding data.

When the method fails to validate the PLPMTU, it may be required to
send a probe packet with a size less than the size of the data block
generated by an application. In this case, the PL could provide a
way to fragment a datagram at the PL, or could instead utilise a
control packet with padding.

A receiver needs to be able to distinguish an in-band data block from
any added padding. This is needed to ensure that any added padding
is not passed on to an application at the receiver.

This results in three possible ways that a sender can create a probe
packet listed in order of preference:

Probing using padding data: A probe packet that contains only
control information together with any padding padding, which is needed to inflate
the packet
be inflated to the size required for the probe packet. Since
these probe packets do not carry an application-supplied data block,they
block, they do not typically require retransmission, although they
do still consume network capacity and incur endpoint processing.

Probing using appication application data and padding data: A probe packet that
contains a data block supplied by an application that is combined
with padding to inflate the length of the datagram to the size
required for the probe packet. If the application/transport needs
protection from the loss of this probe packet, the application/
transport may could perform transport-layer retransmission/repair of
the data block (e.g., by retransmission after loss is detected or
by duplicating the data block in a datagram without the padding
data).

Probing using appication application data: A probe packet that contains a data
block supplied by an application that matches the size required
for the probe packet. This method requests the application to
issue a data block of the desired probe size. If the application/
transport needs protection from the loss of an unsuccessful probe
packet, the application/transport needs then to perform transport-
layer retransmission/repair of the data block (e.g., by
retransmission after loss is detected).

A PL that uses a probe packet carrying an application data block,
could need to retransmit this application data block if the probe
fails. This could need the PL to re-fragment the data block to a
smaller packet size that is expected to traverse the end-to-end path
(which could utilise endpoint network-layer or PL fragmentation when
these are available).

DLPMTUD

DPLPMTUD MAY choose to use only one of these methods to simplify the
implementation.

3.2. Validation of

Probe messages sent by a PL MUST contain enough information to
uniquely identify the probe within Maximum Segment Lifetime, while
being robust to reordering and replay of probe response and ICMP PTB
messages.

4.2. Confirmation of Probed Packet Size

The PL needs a method to determine (confirm) when probe packets have
been successfully received end-to-end across a network path.

Transport protocols can include end-to-end methods that detect and
report reception of specific datagrams that they send (e.g., DCCP and
SCTP provide keep-alive/heartbeat features). When supported, this
mechanism SHOULD also be used by DPLPMTUD to acknowledge reception of
a probe packet.

A PL that does not acknowledge data reception (e.g., UDP and UDP-
Lite) is unable itself to detect when the packets that it sends are
discarded because their size is greater than the actual PMTU. These
PLs need to either rely on an application protocol to detect this
loss, or make use of an additional transport method such as UDP-
Options [I-D.ietf-tsvwg-udp-options]. In addition, they might need
to send reachability probes (e.g., periodically solicit a response
from the destination) to determine whether the last successfully
probed PLPMTU is still supported by the network path.

Section Section 4 5 specifies this function for a set of IETF-specified
protocols.

3.3. Reducing the PLPMTU: Confirming Path Characteristics

If the DPLPMTUD method detects that a packet with

4.3. Detection of Black Holes

A PL sender needs to reduce the PLPMTU size is
no when it discovers the actual
PMTU supported by the a network path, then path is less than the DLPMTUD method needs PLPMTU (i.e. to
validate the PLPMTU.
detect that traffic is being black holed). This can happen be triggered
when a validated PTB message is received, or by another event that
indicates the network path no longer sustains this the current packet
size, such as a loss report from the PL

All implementations or repeated lack of DPLPMTUD are REQUIRED response
to provide support that
reduces the PLPMTU when probe packets sent to confirm the actual PMTU supported PLPMTU. Detection is followed
by a network path
is less than reduction of the PLPMTU.

3.4. Increasing the PLPMTU: Supporting Path Changes

An implementation that only reduces the

Black Hole detection is performed by periodically sending packet
probes of size PLPMTU to verify that a suitable size is
sufficient to ensure reliable operation, but may be very inefficient
when the actual PMTU changes or when network path still supports
the method (for whatever reason)
makes last acknowledged PLPMTU size. There are two ways a suboptimal choice for the PLPMTU.

A full implementation of the DPLPMTUD method is RECOMMENDED to
provide a way for the sending PL endpoint to
sender detect when that the current PLPMTU is smaller than the actual PMTU size. This allows not sustained by the sender path
(i.e., to
increase the PLPMTU following detect a change in black hole):

o A PL can rely upon a mechanisms implemented within the characteristics PL protocol
to detect excessive loss of the
path, such as when a link is reconfigured data sent with a larger MTU, or when
there is specific packet size
and then conclude that this excessive loss could be a change in the set result of links traversed by an end-to-end flow
(e.g. after a routing or fail-over decision).

3.5. Robustness to inconsistent Path information

The decision to increase
invalid PMTU (as in PLPMTUD for TCP [RFC4821]).

o A PL can use the PLPMTU needs to be robust probing mechanism to the
possibility that information learned about the path is inconsistent
(this could happen when send confirmation probe
packets are lost due to other reasons,
or some of the packets in a flow are forwarded along a portion size of the
path that supports a different PMTU).

Frequent path changes could occur due to unexpected "flapping" -
where some packets from current PLPMTU and a flow pass along one path, but other timer track
whether acknowledgments are received (e.g., The number of probe
packets
follow a different sent without receiving an acknowledgement, PROBE_COUNT,
becomes greater than the MAX_PROBES). These messages need to be
generated periodically (e.g., using the confirmation timer
Section 5.1.1), and should be suppressed when the PL is not
actively sending data. Successive loss of probes is an indication
that the current path with different properties. no longer supports the PLPMTU.

When the method detects the current PLPMTU is not supported (a black
hole is found), DPLPMTUD sets a lower MPS. The PL then confirms that
the updated PLPMTU can be
made robust to these anomalies by introducing hysteresis into successfully used across the
decision path. This
can need the PL to increase send a probe packet with a size less than the Maximum Packet Size.

XXX A future revision size
of the data block generated by an application. In this section will include recommend
appropriate methods to case, the PL
could provide robustness. XXX

4. Datagram Packetization Layer PMTUD

This section specifies Datagram PLPMTUD (DPLPMTUD). This method can
be introduced a way to fragment a datagram at various points in the IP protocol stack, PL, or could
instead utilise a control packet with padding.

4.4. Response to discover PTB Messages

This method requires the PLPMTU so that DPLPMTUD sender to validate any received PTB
message before using the application can use an MPS appropriate PTB information. The response to a PTB
message depends on the
current network path.

+----------------------+
| APP* |
+-+-------+----+---+---+
| | | |
+---+--+ +--+--+ | +-+---+
| QUIC*| |UDPO*| | |SCTP*|
+---+--+ +--+--+ | ++--+-+
| | | | |
+-------++ | | |
| | | |
++-+--++ |
| UDP | |
+---+--+ |
| |
+--------------+-----+-+
| Network Interface |
+----------------------+

Figure 1: Examples where DPLPMTUD can be implemented

The central idea PTB_SIZE indicated in the PTB message, the
state of DPLPMTUD is probing by a sender. Probe packets the PLPMTUD state machine, and the IP protocol being used.

Section 4.4.1 first describes validation for both IPv4 ICMP
Unreachable messages (type 3) and ICMPv6 packet too big messages,
both of which are sent referred to find out the maximum size as PTB messages in this document.

4.4.1. Validation of user message PTB Messages

A PL that is
completely transferred across receives a PTB message from a router or middlebox, MUST
perform ICMP validation as specified in Section 5.2 of [RFC8085].
This needs the network path PL to check the protocol information in the quoted
payload to validate the message originated from the sender sending node.
This check includes determining the appropriate port and IP
information - necessary for the PTB message to be passed to the
destination.

The are various functions performed PL.
In addition, the PL SHOULD validate information from the ICMP payload
to determine that the quoted packet was sent by the algorithm:

4.1. PROBE_SEARCH: Probing for a larger PLPMTU

The DPLPMTUD method utilises probe packets PL. These checks
are intended to confirm provide protection from packets that originate from a packet
of size PROBED_SIZE can traverse
node that is not on the network path. The PROBE_COUNT
is initialised PTB messages are discarded if
they fail to zero when a probe packet pass these checks, or where there is first sent with a
particular size.

A timer is used insufficient ICMP
payload to trigger perform the generation checks

PTB messages that have been validated can be utilised by the DPLPMTUD
algorithm. A method that utilises these PTB messages can improve the
speed at the which the algorithm detects an appropriate PLPMTU,
compared to one that relies solely on probing.

4.4.2. Use of probe packets. The
probe_timer is started each time PTB Messages

A set of checks are intended to provide protection from a probe packet is sent router that
reports an unexpected PTB_SIZE. The PL needs to check that the
destination and
indicated PTB_SIZE is cancelled when receipt of less than the size used by probe packet is
acknowledged. The PROBED_SIZE is confirmed, packets and this value is then
assignmed to PLPMTU. The DPLPMTUD method may send subsequent probes
of
larger than minimum size accepted.

This section provides an increasing size. Increasing probes follow a search strategy as
discussed in Section 4.7.

Each time the probe_timer expires, the PROBE_COUNT is incremented,
the probe_timer informative summary of how PTB messages can
be utilised.

Validating PTB Messages:

* A simple implementation is reinitialised, permitted to ignore received PTB
messages and a probe packet of therefore the same size PLPMTU is retransmitted.

The maximum number of retransmissions for not updated when a PROBED_SIZE PTB
message is configured
(MAX_PROBES). If the value of the PROBE_COUNT reaches MAX_PROBES,
probing will stop and enters received.

* An implementation that supports PTB messages MUST validate
messages before they are processed.

MIN_PMTU < PTB_SIZE < BASE_MTU

* A robust PL MAY enter the PROBE_DONE state.

4.2. The PROBE_DONE PROBE_ERROR state

When the PL sender completes probing for a larger PLPMTU, it enters an IPv4 path
when the PROBE_DONE state. This starts PTB_SIZE reported in the PMTU_RAISE_TIMER. While PTB message >= 576B and when
this
running, the PLPMTU remains at is less than the value set in BASE_MTU.

* A robust PL MAY enter the last succesful
probe packet.

If PROBE_ERROR state for an IPv6 path
when the PL is designed PTB_SIZE reported in a way that the PTB message >= 1280B and when
this is unable less than the BASE_MTU.

PTB_SIZE = PLPMTU

* Transition to validate
reachability SEARCH_COMPLETE.

PTB_SIZE > PROBED_SIZE

* The PTB_SIZE > PROBED_SIZE, inconsistent network signal. These
PTB messages ought to the destination endpoint after probing has completed,
the method uses a REACHABILITY_TIMER be discarded without further processing
(the PLPMTU not updated).

* The information could be utilised as an input to periodically repeat trigger
enabling a probe
packet for the current resilience mode.

BASE_PMTU <= PTB_SIZE < PLPMTU size, while the PMTU_RAISE_TIMER

* Black hole detection is
running. If the REACHABILITY_TIMER expires, the method exits triggered and the
PROBE_DONE state. PLPMTU ought to be
set to BASE_PMTU.

* The done state is also exited when a validated PTB
message is received.

If the PMTU_RAISE_TIMER expires, the PL sender also exits the
PROBE_DONE state, but could use PTB_SIZE reported in this case resumes probing from the size of the PLPMTU.

4.3. Validation and Use of PTB Messages

This section describes processing for both IPv4 ICMP Unreachable
messages (type 3) and ICMPv6 packet too big messages.

A PL that receives a PTB message from to
initialise a router or middlebox, MUST
validate the PTB message. search algorithm.

PLPMTU < PTB_SIZE < PROBED_SIZE

* The PL checks the protocol information in
the quoted payload PLPMTU continues to validate be valid, but the message originated from last PROBED_SIZE
searched was larger than the
sending node. actual PMTU.

* The node also checks that PLPMTU is not updated.

* The PL can use the reported link MTU size
is less than PTB_SIZE from the size used by packet probes. PTB messages are
discarded if they fail to pass these checks, or where there is
insufficient ICMP payload to perform these checks. message as
the next search point when it resumes the search algorithm.

5. Datagram Packetization Layer PMTUD

This section specifies Datagram PLPMTUD (DPLPMTUD). The checks are
intended method can
be introduced at various points in the IP protocol stack to provide protection from packets that originate from a
node that is not on discover
the network path or a node PLPMTU so that attempts to
report a larger link MTU than an application can utilise an appropriate MPS for
the current probe size.

PTB messages that have been validated network path.

+----------------------+
| APP* |
+-+-------+----+---+---+
| | | |
+---+--+ +--+--+ | +-+---+
| QUIC*| |UDPO*| | |SCTP*|
+---+--+ +--+--+ | ++--+-+
| | | | |
+-------+-+ | | |
| | | |
++-+--++ |
| UDP | |
+---+--+ |
| |
+--------------+-----+-+
| Network Interface |
+----------------------+

Figure 1: Examples where DPLPMTUD can be utilised implemented

The central idea of DPLPMTUD is probing by a sender. Probe packets
are sent to find the DPLPMTUD
algorithm. A method maximum size of user message that utilises these PTB messages can improve the
speed at is completely
transferred across the which network path from the algorithm detects an appropriate PLPMTU
compared sender to one that relies solely on probing.

4.4. the
destination.

This section identifies the components needed for implementation, the
phases of operation, the state machine and search algorithm.

5.1. DPLPMTUD Components

This section describes components of DPLPMTUD.

5.1.1. Timers

The method in the previous subsections utilises three timers:

PROBE_TIMER: Configured The PROBE_TIMER is configured to expire after a period
longer than the maximum time to receive an acknowledgment to a
probe packet. This value MUST be larger than 1 second, and SHOULD
be larger than 15 seconds. Guidance on selection of the timer
value are provide provided in section 3.1.1 of the UDP Usage Guidelines
[RFC8085].

If the PL has an RTT a path Round Trip Time (RTT) estimate and timely acknowedgements
acknowledgements the PROBE_TIMER can be derrived derived from the PL RTT
estimate.

PMTU_RAISE_TIMER: Configured The PMTU_RAISE_TIMER is configured to the period a
sender ought to will continue to use the current PLPMTU, after which it re-commences
probing for a higher PMTU. re-
enters the Search phase. This timer has a period of 600 secs, as
recommended by DPLPMTUD PLPMTUD [RFC4821].

REACHABILITY_TIMER: Configured

DPLPMTUD SHOULD inhibit sending probe packets when no application
data has been sent since the previous probe packet.

CONFIRMATION_TIMER: The CONFIRMATION_TIMER is configured to the
period a PL sender ought to wait waits before confirming the current PLPMTU is
still supported. This is less than the PMTU_RAISE_TIMER and used
to decrease the PLPMTU
(e.g. (e.g., when a black hole is encountered).

DPLPMTUD ought
Confirmation needs to suspend reachability probes be frequent enough when no application data has been sent since is flowing that
the previous probe packet. sending PL does not black hole extensive amounts of traffic.
Guidance on selection of the timer value are provide provided in section
3.1.1 of the UDP Usage Guidelines[RFC8085].

DPLPMTUD ought to be suspended or
only sent in conjuction with out traffic during periods of
dormancy. This PLPMTU validation needs to be frequent enough SHOULD inhibit sending probe packets when no application
data is flowing that has been sent since the sending PL does not black hole extensive
amounts of traffic previous probe packet.

An implementation could implement the various timers using a single
timer process.

4.5.

5.1.2. Constants

The following constants are defined:

MAX_PROBES: The MAX_PROBES is the maximum value of the
PROBE_ERROR_COUNTER. The default value of MAX_PROBES is 10.

MIN_PMTU: The MIN_PMTU is smallest allowed probe packet size. For
IPv6, this value is 1280 bytes, as specified in [RFC2460]. For
IPv4, the minimum value is 68 bytes. (An IPv4 routed router is required
to be able to forward a datagram of 68 octets without further
fragmentation. This is the combined size of an IPv4 header and
the minimum fragment size of 8 octets.)

BASE_PMTU: The BASE_PMTU is a considered a size that ought octets. In addition, receivers are
required to work
in most cases. The size is equal be able to or larger than the minimum
permitted and smaller than the maximum allowed. In the case of
IPv6, this value is 1280 bytes [RFC2460]. When using IPv4, a size reassemble fragmented datagrams at least up
to 576B, as stated in section 3.3.3 of 1200 bytes is RECOMMENDED. [RFC1122]))

MAX_PMTU: The MAX_PMTU is the largest size of PLPMTU that is probed. PLPMTU. This has to
be less than or equal to the minimum of the local MTU of the
outgoing interface and the destination PLMTU PMTU for receiving. An
application or PL may MAY reduce this the MAX_PMTU when it knows there is no need to
send packets above larger than a specific size.

BASE_PMTU: The figure below illustrates the relationship between some of these
variables, in this case when the DPLPMTUD algorithm performs path
probing to increase the BASE_PMTU is a configured size of the PLPMTU. expected to work for
most paths. The MPS size is less equal to or larger than the
PLPMTU. A probe packet has been sent of size PROBED_SIZE. When this
is acknowledged, the PLPMTU will be raised to PROBED_SIZE allowing
the PROBED_SIZE to be increased towards the actual PMTU. MIN_PMTU PMTU_MAX
<------------------------------------------------------>
| | | | |
V | | | V
BASE_PMTU V | V Actual PMTU
MPS | PROBED_SIZE
V
PLPMTU

Figure 2: Relationships between probe and packet sizes

4.6.
smaller than the MAX_PMTU. In the case of IPv6, this value is
1280 bytes [RFC2460]. When using IPv4, a size of 1200 bytes is
RECOMMENDED.

5.1.3. Variables

This method utilises a set of variables:

PROBE_TIMER: Configured to expire after a period longer than the
maximum time to receive an acknowledgment to a probe packet. This
value MUST be larger than 1 second, and SHOULD be larger than 15
seconds. Guidance on selection of the timer value are provide in
section 3.1.1 of the UDP Usage Guidelines [RFC8085].

PL with RTT estimates may use values smaller than 1 seconded
derrived from their RTT estimate to speed up detection of
connectivity issues on the path.

PROBED_SIZE: The PROBED_SIZE is the size of the current probe
packet. This is a tentative value for the PLPMTU, which is
awaiting confirmation by an acknowledgment.

PROBE_COUNT: This The PROBE_COUNT is a count of the number of
unsuccessful probe packets that have been sent with a size of
PROBED_SIZE. The value is initialised to zero when a particular
size of PROBED_SIZE is first attempted.

PTB_SIZE:

The PTB_Size is value returned by a validated PTB message
indicating figure below illustrates the local MTU relationship between the packet size of a router along
constants and variables, in this case when the path.

4.7. Selecting PROBED_SIZE

Implementations discover DPLPMTUD algorithm
performs path probing to increase the search range by validating size of the minimum
path MTU and then using PLPMTU. The MPS is
less than the PLPMTU. A probe method packet has been sent of size
PROBED_SIZE. When this is acknowledged, the PLPMTU will be raised to select a
PROBED_SIZE less
than or equal allowing the PROBED_SIZE to be increased towards the maximum PMTU_MAX. Where
actual PMTU.

Figure 2: Relationships between probe and EMTU_R (learned from the remote endpoint). packet sizes

5.2. DPLPMTUD Phases

The PMTU_MAX MAY be constrained by an application Datagram PLPMTUD algorithm moves through several phases of
operation.

An implementation that has a maximum
to only reduces the size of datagrams it wishes PLPMTU to send.

Implementations use a search algorithm to choose probe sizes within
the search range.

xxx A future version of this section will detail example methods for
selecting probe suitable size values, but does not plan
would be sufficient to mandate a single
method. xxx

Implementations MAY optimizse ensure reliable operation, but can be very
inefficient when the search procedure by selecting step
sizes from a table of common actual PMTU sizes.

Implementations SHOULD select probe sizes to maximise changes or when the gain in
PLPMTU each search step. Implementations ought to take into
consideration useful probe size steps and a minimum useful gain in
PLPMTU.

4.8. Simple Black Hole Detection

The DPLPMTUD method can be used to provide black hole detection.
This enables (for
whatever reason) makes a reduction suboptimal choice for the PLPMTU.

A full implementation of DPLPMTUD provides an algorithm enabling the PLPMTU when a PL
DPLPMTUD sender encounters a
path that fails to support the current MPS and also fails to return a
PTB message to the sender.

The simple method starts by setting increase the PLPMTU to following a change in the BASE_PMTU.
When
characteristics of the method detects that communication path, such as when a link is not possible reconfigured with this
size of packet, the PLPMTU
a larger MTU, or when there is reduced, until a change in the set of links traversed
by an operable message size
is reached end-to-end flow (e.g., after a routing or path fail-over
decision).

Black hole detection, see Section 4.3 and PTB processing Section 4.4
proceed in parallel with these phases of operation.

+-------------------+
| Path Confirmation +-- Connectivity
+--------+----------+ \----- or BASE_PMTU
| /\ \/ Confirmation Fails
Connectivity and | | +-------+
BASE_PMTU confirmed | ---------+ Error |
| +-------+
| CONFIRMATION_TIMER
| Fires
\/
+----------------+ +--------------+
| Search Complete|<---------+ Search |
+----------------+ +--------------+
Search Algorithm
Completes

Figure 3: DPLPMTUD Phases

Path Confirmation

* Connectivity is confirmed.

* DPLPMTUD confirms the PLPMTU reaches BASE_PMTU is supported across the BASE_MTU size. The method
enables a sending PL to inform an application of network
path.

* DPLPMTUD then enters the reduced MPS and
accordingly send smaller packets.

The simple black hole detetction method does not seek search phase.

* DPLPMTUD performs probing to increase the PLPMTU. This makes it vulneable to transient reductions in

* DPLPMTUD then enters the
actual PLPMTU, which could result in search complete or an error phase.

Search Complete

* DPLPMTUD has found a suitable PLPMTU lower than the actual
PMTU.

The full methiod that is specified in Section 4.9.

4.8.1. Simple Black Hole Detection State Machine

The PL sender starts with supported across
the network path.

* Black hole detection will confirm this PLPMTU and PROBED_SIZE set continues to the
BASE_PMTU.

While a PL has be
supported.

* On a longer time-frame, DPLPMTUD will re-enter the search phase
to discover if the PLPMTU greater than can be raised.

Error

* Inconsistent or invalid network signals cause DPLPMTUD to be
unable to progress.

* This causes the algorithm to lower the BASE_MTU, MPS until the PL needs path is
shown to
send probe packets at support the PROBED_SIZE BASE_PMTU, or to revalidate suspend DPLPMTUD.

5.2.1. Path Confirmation Phase

DPLPMTUD starts in the PLPMTU.
Black hole detection Path confirmation phase. Path confirmation is also triggered by lack of reachability at
performed in two stages:

1. Connectivity to the
PL. remote peer is first confirmed. When the a
connection-oriented PL sender detects that multiple transmissions of
packets is used, this stage is implicit. It is
performed as part of PROBED_SIZE are no longer being acknowledged (e.g., When the number of probe packets sent without receiving normal PL connection handshake. In
contrast, an acknowledgement
(PROBE_COUNT) becomes greater than the MAX_PROBES), the connectionless PL concludes MUST send an acknowledged probe
packet to confirm that it has detected a black hole and reduces PLPMTU.

The connectivity check may be performened by the protocol
implementing remote peer is reachable.

2. In the second stage, the PL (as in PLPMTUD for TCP [RFC4821]). When confirms it can successfully send a
datagram of the
application using BASE_PMTU size across the current path.

A PL that does not regularly send packets of size
PROBED_SIZE, additional probe packets need wish to be sent support a network path with a PLPMTU less
than BASE_PMTU can simplify the phase into a single step by PL using
performing connectivity checks with probes of the
reachability timer BASE_PMTU size.

A PL MAY respond to PTB messages while in this phase, see
Section 4.4.

Once path confirmation has completed, DPLPMTUD can advertise an MPS
to an upper layer.

If method does reduces the PLPMTU DPLPMTUD fails to complete these tests it enters the MIN_PMTU, the method
concludes
PROBE_DISABLED phase, see Section 5.2.6, and ceases using DPLPTMUD.

5.2.2. Search Phase

The search phase utilises a search algorithm in attempt to increase
the path does not support PLPMTU (see Section 5.4.1). The PL sender increases the MIN_PMTU.

If multihoming is supported, MPS each
time a state machine packet probe confirms a larger PLPMTU is needed for each
active supported by the
path. The state machine for a simple black hole detection mechanism is
depicted in Figure 3.

XXX a future version of algorithm concludes by entering the simple black hole detection state machine
might consider icmp SEARCH_COMPLETE phase,
see Section 5.2.3.

A PL MAY respond to PTB messages XXX
+------------+
| PROBE_START|
+-----+------+
| Connectivity confirmed
| (reachability tests start)
PROBE_COUNT >= V
MAX_PROBES +------------+
+---------------| PROBE_BASE +->-+
| +-----+------+ |
| | ^ | PROBE_COUNT < MAX_PROBES
| | +-----+
| V
| | PROBE_ACK
| PROBE_COUNT |
| = MAX_PROBES +------------+
| (reduce +-<-+ PROBE_DONE +->-+
| PLPMTU) | +------+-----+ |
| | ^ | ^ | PROBE_COUNT < MAX_PROBES
| | | | | | (Contine probing)
| +-----+ | +-----+
V V
+------------+ |
| PROBE_ERROR|<------------+
+------------+

Figure 3: State machine for detecting while in this phase, using the PTB
to advance or terminate the search, see Section 4.4. Similarly black holes

4.9. Full State Machine

A full state machine
hole detection can terminate the search by entering the PROBE_BASE
phase, see Section 5.2.4.

5.2.2.1. Resilience to inconsistent path information

Sometimes a PL sender is able to detect inconsistent results from the
sequence of PLPMTU probes that it sends or the sequence of PTB
messages that it receives. This could be manifested as excessive
fluctuation of the MPS.

When inconsistent path information is detected, a PL sender can
enable an alternate search mode that clamps the offered MPS to a
smaller value for a period of time. This avoids unnecessary black-
holing of packets.

5.2.3. Search Complete Phase

On entry to the search complete phase, the DPLPMTUD sender starts the
PMTU_RAISE_TIMER. In this phase, the PLPMTU remains at the value
confirmed by the last successful probe packet.

In this phase, the PL MUST periodically confirm that the PLPMTU is depicted in Figure 4.
still supported by the path. If
multihoming the PL is supported, designed in a state machine way that is needed
unable to confirm reachability to the destination endpoint after
probing has completed, the method uses a CONFIRMATION_TIMER to
periodically repeat a probe packet for each active
path.

PROBE_TIMER expiry
(PROBE_COUNT = MAX_PROBES)
+-------------+ +--------------+
+->| PROBE_START +--------------->|PROBE_DISABLED|
PROBE_TIMER expiry | +--+-------+--+ +--------------+
(PROBE_COUNT = | | |
MAX_PROBES) +-----+ | Connectivity confirmed
v
+---------- +------------+ -+ PROBE_TIMER expiry
MAX_PMTU acked the current PLPMTU size.

If the DPLPMTUD sender is unable to confirm reachability for packets
with a size of the current PLPMTU (e.g., if the CONFIRMATION_TIMER
expires) or | | the PL signals a lack of reachability, the method exits
the phase and enters the PROBE_BASE | | (PROBE_COUNT <
PTB (>= BASE_PMTU)| +----> +--------+---+ <+ MAX_PROBES)
+---------------+ | /\ | |
| | | | | phase, see Section 5.2.4.

If the PMTU_RAISE_TIMER expires, the DPLPMTUD sender re-enters the
Search phase, see Section 5.2.2, and resumes probing for a larger
PLPMTU.

Back hole detection can be used in parallel to check that a network
path continues to support a previously confirmed PLPMTU. If a black
hole is detected the algorithm moves to the PROBE_BASE phase, see
Section 5.2.4.

5.2.4. PROBE_BASE Phase

This phase is entered when black hole detection or
| (PROBE_COUNT | | | | PROBE_TIMER expiry
| = MAX_PROBES) | | | | (PROBE_COUNT = MAX_PROBES)
| +-----------+ | | \
| | a PTB | | \
| | (< PROBED_SIZE)| | \
| | | | ---------------+
| | | | |
| | | | Probe |
| | | | acked |
v | | v v
+----------+-+ +----+---------+ Probe +-------------+
| PROBE_DONE |<-------------- | PROBE_SEARCH |<-------| message
indicates that the PLPMTU is not supported by the path.

On entry to this phase, the PLPMTU is set to the BASE_PMTU, and a
corresponding reduced MPS is advertised.

PROBED_SIZE is then set to the PLPMTU (i.e., the BASE_PMTU), to
confirm this size is supported across the path. If confirmed,
DPLPMTUD enters the Search Phase to determine whether the PL sender
can use a larger PLPMTU.

If the path cannot be confirmed to support the BASE_PMTU after
sending MAX_PROBES, DPLPMTUD moves to the Error phase, see
Section 5.2.5.

5.2.5. ERROR Phase

The ERROR phase is entered when there is conflicting or invalid
PLPMTU information for the path (e.g. a failure to support the
BASE_PMTU). In this phase, the MPS is set to a value less than the
BASE_PMTU, but at least the size of the MIN_PMTU.

DPLPMTUD remains in the ERROR phase until a consistent view of the
path can be discovered and it has also been confirmed that the path
supports the BASE_PMTU.

Note: MIN_PMTU may be identical to BASE_PMTU, simplifying the actions
in this phase.

If no acknowledgement is received for PROBE_COUNT probes of size
MIN_PMTU, the method suspends DPLPMTUD, see Section 5.2.5.

5.2.5.1. Robustness to inconsistent path

Robustness to paths unable to sustain the BASE_PMTU. Some paths
could be unable to sustain packets of the BASE_PMTU size. These
paths could use an alternate algorithm to implement the PROBE_ERROR
phase that allows fallback to a smaller than desired PLPMTU, rather
than suffer connectivity failure.

This could also utilise methods such as endpoint IP fragmentation to
enable the PL sender to communicate using packets smaller than the
BASE_PMTU.

5.2.6. DISABLED Phase

This phase suspends operation of DPLPMTUD. It disables probing for
the PLPMTU until action is taken by the PL or application using the
PL.

5.3. State Machine

A state machine for DPLPMTUD is depicted in Figure 4. If multihoming
is supported, a state machine is needed for each active path.

PROBE_TIMER expiry
(PROBE_COUNT = MAX_PROBES)
+-------------------+ +--------------+
| PROBE_START +------>|PROBE_DISABLED|
+-------------------+ +--------------+
| ^
| Path confirmed |
v |
MAX_PMTU acked or +--------------+-+ (PROBE_COUNT |
PTB (BASE_PMTU <= +---------| PROBE_SEARCH | | < MAX_PROBES) |
PTB_SIZE | +--> +--------------+<+ or Probe acked |
<PROBED_SIZE) | | | ^ |
or | | | | |
(PROBE_COUNT | | | | |
=MAX_PROBES) | | | | |
+---------------+ | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| PMTU_RAISE_TIMER | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| +-----------+ | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | (PTB_SIZE < PLPMTU)| | |
| | or | | BASE_PMTU |
| | Black hole detected | | Probe acked |
v | v | |
+----------+----+ +--------------+ +-------------+
|SEARCH_COMPLETE|----------->| PROBE_BASE |<-------| PROBE_ERROR |
+------+--------+ +--------------+ +-------------+
/\ | Black hole detected ^ | | BASE_PMTU Probe acked: ^
| | or | | | |
| | (PTB_SIZE < PLPMTU) | | | Probe BASE_PMTU: |
| | | | | (PROBE_COUNT = MAX_PROBES)|
| | | | +---------------------------+
+----+ +--+
Confirmation: PROBE_TIMER expiry:
(PROBE_COUNT < MAX_PROBES) (PROBE_COUNT < MAX_PROBES)
or
PLPMTU Probe acked

Figure 4: State machine for Datagram PLPMTUD. Note: Some state
changes are not show to simplify the diagram.

The following states are defined:

PROBE_START: The PROBE_START state is the initial state before
probing has started. The state confirms connectivity to the
remote PL.

The PLPMTU is set to the BASE_PMTU size. Probing ought to start
immediately after connection setup to prevent the prevent the loss
of user data. PLPMTUD is not performed in this state. The state
transitions to PROBE_SEARCH, when a network path has been
confirmed, i.e., when a sent packet has been acknowledged on this
network path and the BASE_PMTU is confirmed to be supported. If
the network path cannot be confirmed this state transitions to
PROBE_DISABLED.

PROBE_SEARCH: The PROBE_SEARCH state is the main probing state.
This state is entered when probing for the BASE_PMTU was
successful.

The PROBE_COUNT is set to zero when the first probe packet is sent
for each probe size. Each time a probe packet is acknowledged,
the PLPMTU is set to the PROBED_SIZE, and then the PROBED_SIZE is
increased using the search algorithm.

When a probe packet is sent and not acknowledged within the period
of the PROBE_TIMER, the PROBE_COUNT is incremented and the probe
packet is retransmitted. The state is exited when the PROBE_COUNT
reaches MAX_PROBES; a PTB message is validated; a probe of size
PMTU_MAX is acknowledged or black hole detection is triggered.

SEARCH_COMPLETE: The SEARCH_COMPLETE state indicates a successful
end to the PROBE_SEARCH state. DPLPMTUD remains in this state
until either the PMTU_RAISE_TIMER expires; a received PTB message
is validated; or black hole detection is triggered.

When DPLPMTUD uses an unacknowledged PL and is in the
SEARCH_COMPLETE state, a CONFIRMATION_TIMER periodically resets
the PROBE_COUNT and schedules a probe packet with the size of the
PLPMTU. If the probe packet fails to be acknowledged after
MAX_PROBES attempts, the method enters the PROBE_BASE state. When
used with an acknowledged PL (e.g., SCTP), DPLPMTUD SHOULD NOT
continue to generate PLPMTU probes in this state.

PROBE_BASE: The PROBE_BASE state is used to confirm whether the
BASE_PMTU size is supported by the network path and is designed to
allow an application to continue working when there are transient
reductions in the actual PMTU. It also seeks to avoid long
periods where traffic is black holed while searching for a larger
PLPMTU.

On entry, the PROBED_SIZE is set to the BASE_PMTU size and the
PROBE_COUNT is set to zero.

Each time a probe packet is sent, and the PROBE_TIMER is started.
The state is exited when the probe packet is acknowledged, and the
PL sender enters the PROBE_SEARCH state.

The state is also left when the PROBE_COUNT reaches MAX_PROBES; a
PTB message is validated. This causes the PL sender to enter the
PROBE_ERROR state.

PROBE_ERROR: The PROBE_ERROR |
+------+-----+ MAX_PMTU acked +------------+-+ acked +-------------+
/\ | or /\ |
| | PROBE_TIMER expiry | |
| |(PROBE_COUNT = MAX_PROBES) | |
| | | |
+----+ +------+
Reachability state represents the case where the
network path is not known to support a PLPMTU of at least the
BASE_PMTU size. It is entered when either a probe acked PROBE_TIMER expiry of size
BASE_PMTU has not been acknowledged or a validated PTB message
indicates a smaller PTB_SIZE smaller than the BASE_PMTU.

On entry, the PROBE_COUNT is set to zero and the PROBED_SIZE is
set to the MIN_PMTU size, and the PLPMTU is reset to MIN_PMTU
size. In this state, a probe packet is sent, and the PROBE_TIMER expiry (PROBE_COUNT < MAX_PROBES)
(PROBE_COUNT < MAX_PROBES) or
Probe acked

Figure 4: State machine for Datagram PLPMTUD

XXX A future version
is started. The state transitions to the PROBE_SEARCH state when
a probe packet is acknowledged of at least size BASE_PMTU. Robust
implementations may validate the BASE_PMTU several times before
transition to the PROBE_SEARCH.

Implementations are permitted to enable endpoint fragmentation if
the DPLPMTUD is unable to validate MIN_PMTU within PROBE_COUNT
probes. If DPLPMTUD is unable to validate MIN_PMTU the
implementation should transition to PROBE_DISABLED.

PROBE_DISABLED: The PROBE_DISABLED state indicates that connectivity
could not be established. DPLPMTUD MUST NOT probe in this document will update state.

Appendix A contains an informative description of key events.

5.4. Search to Increase the PLPMTU

This section describes the algorithms used by DPLPMTUD to search for
a larger PLPMTU.

5.4.1. Probing for a larger PLPMTU

Implementations use a search algorithm across the search range to
determine whether a larger PLPMTU can be supported across a network
path.

The method discovers the state machine search range by confirming the minimum
PLPMTU and then using the probe method to describe handling select a PROBED_SIZE less
than or equal to PMTU_MAX. PMTU_MAX is the minimum of validated PTB messages. XXX the local MTU
and EMTU_R (learned from the remote endpoint). The following states are defined PMTU_MAX MAY be
reduced by an application that sets a maximum to reflect the probing process:

PROBE_START: size of
datagrams it will send.

The PROBE_START state is the initial state before
probing has started. PLPMTUD PROBE_COUNT is not performed in this state. The
state transitions initialised to PROBE_BASE, when a path has been confirmed,
i.e. zero when a sent probe packet has been acknowledged on this path. Any
transport method may be is first
sent with a particular size. A timer is used by the search algorithm
to exit PROBE_BASE as long as trigger the
send sending of probe packets of size PROBED_SIZE, larger
than the PLPMTU. Each probe packet successfully sent to the remote
peer is acknowledge confirmed by acknowledgement at the other side. The PLPMTU PL, see Section 4.1.

Each time a probe packet is set
to the BASE_PMTU size. Probing ought to start immediately after
connection setup sent to prevent the prevent destination, the loss of user data.

PROBE_BASE: PROBE_TIMER
is started. The PROBE_BASE state timer is cancelled when the starting point for probing
with datagram PLPMTUD. It PL receives
acknowledgment that the probe packet has been successfully sent
across the path Section 4.1. This confirms that the PROBED_SIZE is
supported, and the PROBED_SIZE value is then assigned to the PLPMTU.
The search algorithm can continue to send subsequent probe packets of
an increasing size.

If the timer expires before a probe packet is used acknowledged, the probe
has failed to confirm whether the
BASE_PMTU size is supported by PROBED_SIZE. Each time the network path. On entry, PROBE_TIMER
expires, the
PROBED_SIZE PROBE_COUNT is set to the BASE_PMTU size and incremented, the PROBE_COUNT PROBE_TIMER is
set to zero. A
reinitialised, and a probe packet is sent, and of the PROBE_TIMER same size is
started. retransmitted
(the replicated probe improve the resilience to loss). The state maximum
number of retransmissions for a particular size is left when configured
(MAX_PROBES). If the value of the PROBE_COUNT reaches
MAX_PROBES; MAX_PROBES,
probing will stop, and the PL sender enters the SEARCH_COMPLETE
state.

5.4.2. Selection of Probe Sizes

The search algorithm needs to determine a PTB message is validated, or minimum useful gain in
PLPMTU. It would not be constructive for a PL sender to attempt to
probe packet is
acknowledged.

PROBE_SEARCH: The PROBE_SEARCH state is the main probing state.
This state is entered either when probing for all sizes - this would incur unnecessary load on the BASE_PMTU was
successful or when there is a successful reachability test in path
and has the
PROBE_ERROR state. On entry, undesirable effect of slowing the PLPMTU is set time to reach a more
optimal MPS. Implementations SHOULD select the last
acknowledged PROBED_SIZE.

The PROBE_COUNT is set to zero when the first of probe packet is sent
for
sizes to maximise the gain in PLPMTU from each search step.

Implementations could optimize the search procedure by selecting step
sizes from a table of common PMTU sizes. When selecting the
appropriate next size to search, an implementor ought to also
consider that there can be common sizes of MPS that applications seek
to use.

xxx Author Note: A future version of this section will detail example
methods for selecting probe size. Each time size values, but does not plan to mandate
a probe packet is acknowledged, single method. xxx

5.4.3. Resilience to inconsistent Path information

A decision to increase the PLPMTU is set needs to be resilient to the PROBED_SIZE, and then
possibility that information learned about the PROBED_SIZE network path is
increased.

When a
inconsistent (this could happen when probe packet is sent and not acknowledged within packets are lost due to
other reasons, or some of the period packets in a flow are forwarded along a
portion of the PROBE_TIMER, path that supports a different actual PMTU).

Frequent path changes could occur due to unexpected "flapping" -
where some packets from a flow pass along one path, but other packets
follow a different path with different properties. DPLPMTUD can be
made resilient to these anomalies by introducing hysteresis into the PROBE_COUNT is incremented and
search decision to increase the probe
packet is retransmitted. MPS.

6. Specification of Protocol-Specific Methods

This section specifies protocol-specific details for datagram PLPMTUD
for IETF-specified transports.

The state is exited when first subsection provides guidance on how to implement the PROBE_COUNT
reaches MAX_PROBES;
DPLPMTUD method as a PTB message is validated; part of an application using UDP or UDP-Lite.
The guidance also applies to other datagram services that do not
include a probe specific transport protocol (such as a tunnel
encapsulation). The following subsection describe how DPLPMTUD can
be implemented as a part of size
PMTU_MAX is acknowledged.

PROBE_ERROR: the transport service, allowing
applications using the service to benefit from discovery of the
PLPMTU without themselves needing to implement this method.

6.1. Application support for DPLPMTUD with UDP or UDP-Lite

The PROBE_ERROR state represents current specifications of UDP [RFC0768] and UDP-Lite [RFC3828] do
not define a method in the case where RFC-series that supports PLPMTUD. In
particular, the
network path is UDP transport does not known to support an PLPMTU of at least provide the
BASE_PMTU size. It is entered when either transport layer
features needed to implement datagram PLPMTUD.

The DPLPMTUD method can be implemented as a probe part of size
BASE_PMTU has not been acknowledged an application
built directly or a validated PTB message
indicates a smaller link MTU than indirectly on UDP or UDP-Lite, but relies on
higher-layer protocol features to implement the BASE_PMTU. On entry, method [RFC8085].

Some primitives used by DPLPMTUD might not be available via the
PROBE_COUNT is set to zero and
Datagram API (e.g., the PROBED_SIZE is set ability to the
MIN_PMTU size, and access the PLPMTU is reset to MIN_PMTU size. cache, or
interpret received ICMP PTB messages).

In this
state, a probe packet addition, it is sent, and the PROBE_TIMER desirable that PMTU discovery is started.
The state transitions to the PROBE_SEARCH state not performed by
multiple protocol layers. An application SHOULD avoid implementing
DPLPMTUD when the underlying transport system provides this
capability. Using a probe
packet is acknowledged.

PROBE_DONE: The PROBE_DONE state indicates a successful end to a
probing phase. DPLPMTUD remains common method for managing the PLPMTU has
benefits, both in this state until either the
PMTU_RAISE_TIMER expires or ability to share state between different
processes and opportunities to coordinate probing.

6.1.1. Application Request

An application needs an application-layer protocol mechanism (such as
a received PTB message is validated.

When PLPMTUD uses an unacknowledged PL and is acknowledgement method) that solicits a response from a
destination endpoint. The method SHOULD allow the sender to check
the value returned in the PROBE_DONE
state, response to provide additional protection
from off-path insertion of data [RFC8085], suitable methods include a REACHABILITY_TIMER periodically resets
parameter known only to the PROBE_COUNT
and schedules two endpoints, such as a probe packet with session ID or
initialised sequence number.

6.1.2. Application Response

An application needs an application-layer protocol mechanism to
communicate the size of response from the PLPMTU. If destination endpoint. This
response may indicate successful reception of the probe packet fails across the
path, but could also indicate that some (or all packets) have failed
to be acknowledged after MAX_PROBES attempts, reach the method enters destination.

6.1.3. Sending Application Probe Packets

A probe packet that may carry an application data block, but the PROBE_BASE state. When
successful transmission of this data is at risk when used with an
acknowledged PL (e.g., SCTP), DPLPMTUD SHOULD NOT continue for
probing. Some applications may prefer to use a probe in this state.

PROBE_DISABLED: The PROBE_DISABLED state indicates packet that connectivity
could
does not be established. DPLPMTUD MUST NOT carry an application data block to avoid disruption to
normal data transfer.

6.1.4. Validating the Path

An application that does not have other higher-layer information
confirming correct delivery of datagrams SHOULD implement the
CONFIRMATION_TIMER to periodically send probe packets while in this the
SEARCH_COMPLETE state.

Appendix A contains an informative description of key events.

5. Specification

6.1.5. Handling of Protocol-Specific Methods

This section specifies protocol-specific details for datagram PLPMTUD
for IETF-specified transports.

The first subsection provides guidance on how PTB Messages

An application that is able and wishes to implement the
DPLPMTUD method receive PTB messages MUST
perform ICMP validation as a part specified in Section 5.2 of an [RFC8085].
This requires that the application using UDP or UDP-Lite.
The guidance also applies to other datagram services check each received PTB
messages to validate it is received in response to transmitted
traffic and that do not
include a specific transport protocol (such as a tunnel
encapsulation). The following subsection describe how DPLPMTUD can
be implemented as a part of the transport service, allowing
applications using reported PTB_SIZE is less than the service current
probed size. A validated PTB message MAY be used as input to benefit from discovery of the
PLPMTU without themselves needing
DPLPMTUD algorithm, but MUST NOT be used directly to implement this method.

5.1. Application support for set the PLPMTU.

6.2. DPLPMTUD with UDP or UDP-Lite

The current specifications of Options

UDP [RFC0768] and UDP-Lite [RFC3828] do
not define a method in Options[I-D.ietf-tsvwg-udp-options] can supply the RFC-series that supports PLPMTUD. In
particular, additional
functionality required to implement DPLPMTUD within the UDP transport does not provide
service. Implementing DPLPMTU using UDP Options avoids the transport layer
features needed to implement datagram PLPMTUD.

The DPLPMTUD method can be implemented as a part of an need for
each application
built directly or indirectly on UDP or UDP-Lite, but relies on
higher-layer protocol features to implement the method [RFC8085].

Some primitives used by DPLPMTUD might not be available via method.

Section 5.6 of[I-D.ietf-tsvwg-udp-options] defines the
Datagram API (e.g., MSS option,
which allows the ability local sender to access the PLPMTU cache, or
interpret received ICMP PTB messages).

In addition, it is desirable that PMTU discovery is not performed by
multiple protocol layers. An application SHOULD avoid implementing
DPLPMTUD when the underlying transport system provides this
capability. Using a common method for manging indicate the PLPMTU has
benefits, both in EMTU_R to the ability peer.
The value received in this option can be used to share state between different
processes and opportunities initialise PMTU_MAX.

UDP Options enables padding to coordinate probing.

5.1.1. Application Request

An application needs an application-layer protocol mechanism (such be added to UDP datagrams that are
used as Probe Packets. Feedback confirming reception of each Probe
Packet is provided by two new UDP Options:

o The Probe Request Option (Section 6.2.1) is set by a message acknowledgement method) that solicits sending PL to
solicit a response from a
destination remote endpoint. A four-byte token
identifies each request.

o The method SHOULD allow the sender to check Probe Response Option (Section 6.2.2 is generated by the value returned UDP
Options receiver in the response to provide additional protection
from off-path insertion reception of data [RFC8085], suitable methods include a
parameter known only previously received
Probe Request Option. Each Probe Response Option echoes a
previously received four-byte token.

The token value allows implementations to the two endpoints, such as be distinguish between
acknowledgements for initial probe packets and acknowledgements
confirming receipt of subsequent probe packets (e.g., travelling
along alternate paths with a session ID or
initialised sequence number.

5.1.2. Application Response

An application larger RTT). Each probe packet needs an application-layer protocol mechanism to
communicate the response from the destination endpoint. This
response may indicate successful reception of
be uniquely identifiable by the probe across UDP Options sender within the
path, but could also indicate that some (or all packets) have failed Maximum
Segment Lifetime (MSL). The UDP Options sender therefore needs to reach the destination.

5.1.3. Sending Application Probe Packets
not recycle token values until they have expired or have been
acknowledged. A probe packet that may carry an application data block, but the
successful transmission of this data is at risk when used 4 byte value for
probing. Some applications may prefer the token field provides sufficient
space for multiple unique probes to use be made within the MSL.

Implementations ought to only send a probe packet that
does not carry an application data block to avoid disruption with a Probe
Request Option when required by their local state machine, i.e., when
probing to
normal data transfer.

5.1.4. Validating grow the Path

An application that does not have other higher-layer information
confirming correct delivery of datagrams SHOULD implement PLPMTU or to confirm the
REACHABILITY_TIMER current PLPMTU. The
procedure to periodically send probe packets while in handle the
PROBE_DONE state.

5.1.5. Handling loss of PTB Messages

An application that a response packet is able and wishes the
responsibility of the sender of the request.

A PL needs to receive PTB messages MUST
perform ICMP validation as specified in Section 5.2 determine that the path can still support the size of [RFC8085].
This requires
datagram that the application to check each received PTB
messages to validate it is received currently sending in response to transmitted
traffic and that the reported link MTU is less than the current probe
size. A validated PTB message MAY be used as input to the DPLPMTUD
algorithm, but MUST NOT be used directly
search_done state (i.e., to set the PLPMTU.

5.2. DPLPMTUD with UDP Options

UDP-Options [I-D.ietf-tsvwg-udp-options] can supply the additional
functionality required detect black-holing of data). One way to implement DPLPMTUD within the UDP transport
service. This avoids the need for applications
achieve this is to implement the
DPLPMTUD method.

This enables padding send probe packets of size PLPMTU or to be added utilise a
higher-layer method that provides explicit feedback indicating any
packet loss. Another possibility is to UDP datagrams and utilise data packets that
carry a Timestamp Option. Reception of a valid timestamp that was
echoed by the remote endpoint can be used to infer connectivity.

This can provide useful feedback acknowledgement of received probe packets.

The specification also defines two even over paths with asymmetric
capacity and/or that carry UDP Options to support DPLMTUD.

Section 5.6 Option flows that have very asymmetric
datagram rates, because an echo of [I-D.ietf-tsvwg-udp-options] defines the MSS option
which allows most recent timestamp still
indicates reception of at least one packet of the local sender transmitted size.
This is sufficient to indicate the EMTU_R confirm there is no black hole.

In contrast, when sending a probe to increase the peer.
This option can PLPMTU, a timestamp
may be used unable to initialise PMTU_MAX. An application
wishing unambiguously identify that a specific probe packet
has been received. Timestamp mechanisms cannot be used to avoid confirm
the effects reception of MSS-Clamping (where a middlebox
changes the advertised TCP maximum sending size) ought individual probe messages and cannot be used to use
stimulate a
cryptographic method to encrypt this parameter.

5.2.1. response from the remote peer.

6.2.1. UDP Probe Request Option

The Probe Request Option allows a sending endpoint to solicit a
response from a destination endpoint.

The Probe Request Option carries a four byte token set by the sender.
This token can be set to a value that is likely to be known only to
the sender (and becomes known to nodes is sent along the end-to-end path). The sender can
then check the value returned in the response to UDP Probe Response Option. The
value of the Token field, uniquely identifies a probe within the
maximum segment lifetime and can also provide additional protection
from off-path insertion of data [RFC8085]. data[RFC8085].

+---------+--------+-----------------+
| Kind=9 | Len=6 | Token |
+---------+--------+-----------------+
1 byte 1 byte 4 bytes

Figure 5: UDP Probe REQ Option Format

5.2.2.

6.2.2. UDP Probe Response Option

The Probe Response Option is generated by the PL in response to reception of a
previously received Echo Request. Probe Request Option.

The Probe Response Option carries a four byte token field. The Token
field associates the response with the Token value carried in the
most recently-
received recently-received Echo Request. The rate of generation of UDP
packets carrying a Probe Response Option MAY be rate-limited.

+---------+--------+-----------------+
| Kind=10 | Len=6 | Token |
+---------+--------+-----------------+
1 byte 1 byte 4 bytes

Figure 6: UDP Probe RES Option Format

5.3.

6.3. DPLPMTUD for SCTP

Section 10.2 of [RFC4821] specifies a recommended PLPMTUD probing
method for SCTP. It recommends the use of the PAD chunk, defined in
[RFC4820] to be attached to a minimum length HEARTBEAT chunk to build
a probe packet. This enables probing without affecting the transfer
of user messages and without interfering with congestion control.
This is preferred to using DATA chunks (with padding as required) as
path probes.

XXX Author Note: Future versions of this document might define a
parameter contained in the INIT and INIT ACK chunk to indicate the
remote peer MTU to the local peer. However, multihoming makes this a
bit complex, so it might not be worth doing. XXX

5.3.1. SCTP/IP4

6.3.1. SCTP/IPv4 and SCTP/IPv6

The base protocol is specified in [RFC4960]. This provides an
acknowledged PL. A sender can therefore enter the PROBE_BASE state
as soon as connectivity has been confirmed.

5.3.1.1.

6.3.1.1. Sending SCTP Probe Packets

Probe packets consist of an SCTP common header followed by a
HEARTBEAT chunk and a PAD chunk. The PAD chunk is used to control
the length of the probe packet. The HEARTBEAT chunk is used to
trigger the sending of a HEARTBEAT ACK chunk. The reception of the
HEARTBEAT ACK chunk acknowledges reception of a successful probe.

The HEARTBEAT chunk carries a Heartbeat Information parameter which
should include, besides the information suggested in [RFC4960], the
probe size, which is the size of the complete datagram. The size of
the PAD chunk is therefore computed by reducing the probing size by
the IPv4 or IPv6 header size, the SCTP common header, the HEARTBEAT
request and the PAD chunk header. The payload of the PAD chunk
contains arbitrary data.

To avoid fragmentation of retransmitted data, probing starts right
after the handshake, before data is sent. Assuming normal behaviour
(i.e., the PMTU is smaller than or equal to the interface MTU), this
process will take a few round trip time periods depending on the
number of PMTU sizes probed. The Heartbeat timer can be used to
implement the PROBE_TIMER.

5.3.1.2.

6.3.1.2. Validating the Path with SCTP

Since SCTP provides an acknowledged PL, a sender does MUST NOT implement
the REACHABILITY_TIMER CONFIRMATION_TIMER while in the PROBE_DONE SEARCH_COMPLETE state.

5.3.1.3.

6.3.1.3. PTB Message Handling by SCTP

Normal ICMP validation MUST be performed as specified in Appendix C
of [RFC4960]. This requires that the first 8 bytes of the SCTP
common header are quoted in the payload of the PTB message, which can
be the case for ICMPv4 and is normally the case for ICMPv6.

When a PTB message has been validated, the router Link MTU indicated PTB_SIZE reported in the
PTB message SHOULD be used with the DPLPMTUD algorithm, providing
that the reported Link MTU PTB_SIZE is less than the current probe size.

5.3.2.

6.3.2. DPLPMTUD for SCTP/UDP

The UDP encapsulation of SCTP is specified in [RFC6951].

5.3.2.1.

6.3.2.1. Sending SCTP/UDP Probe Packets

Packet probing can be performed as specified in Section 5.3.1.1. 6.3.1.1. The
maximum payload is reduced by 8 bytes, which has to be considered
when filling the PAD chunk.

5.3.2.2.

6.3.2.2. Validating the Path with SCTP/UDP

Since SCTP provides an acknowledged PL, a sender does MUST NOT implement
the REACHABILITY_TIMER CONFIRMATION_TIMER while in the PROBE_DONE SEARCH_COMPLETE state.

5.3.2.3.

6.3.2.3. Handling of PTB Messages by SCTP/UDP

Normal ICMP validation MUST be performed for PTB messages as
specified in Appendix C of [RFC4960]. This requires that the first 8
bytes of the SCTP common header are contained in the PTB message,
which can be the case for ICMPv4 (but note the UDP header also
consumes a part of the quoted packet header) and is normally the case
for ICMPv6. When the validation is completed, the router Link MTU
size PTB_SIZE indicated
in the PTB message SHOULD be used with the DPLPMTUD providing that
the reported link MTU PTB_SIZE is less than the current probe size.

5.3.3.

6.3.3. DPLPMTUD for SCTP/DTLS

The Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) encapsulation of SCTP is
specified in [RFC8261]. It is used for data channels in WebRTC
implementations.

5.3.3.1.

6.3.3.1. Sending SCTP/DTLS Probe Packets

Packet probing can be done as specified in Section 5.3.1.1.

5.3.3.2. 6.3.1.1.

6.3.3.2. Validating the Path with SCTP/DTLS

Since SCTP provides an acknowledged PL, a sender does MUST NOT implement
the REACHABILITY_TIMER CONFIRMATION_TIMER while in the PROBE_DONE SEARCH_COMPLETE state.

5.3.3.3.

6.3.3.3. Handling of PTB Messages by SCTP/DTLS

It is not possible to perform normal ICMP validation as specified in
[RFC4960], since even if the ICMP message payload contains sufficient
information, the reflected SCTP common header would be encrypted.
Therefore it is not possible to process PTB messages at the PL.

5.4.

6.4. DPLPMTUD for QUIC

Quick UDP Internet Connection (QUIC) [I-D.ietf-quic-transport] is a
UDP-based transport that provides reception feedback.

Section 9.2 of [I-D.ietf-quic-transport] describes the path
considerations when sending QUIC packets. It recommends the use of
PADDING frames to build the probe packet. This enables probing the
without affecting the transfer of other QUIC frames.

This provides an acknowledged PL. A sender can therefore enter the
PROBE_BASE state as soon as connectivity has been confirmed.

5.4.1.

6.4.1. Sending QUIC Probe Packets

A probe packet consists of a QUIC Header and a payload containing
only PADDING Frames. PADDING Frames are a single octet (0x00) and
several of these can be used to create a probe packet of size
PROBED_SIZE. QUIC provides an acknowledged PL. A sender can
therefore enter the PROBE_BASE state as soon as connectivity has been
confirmed.

The current specification of QUIC sets the following:

o BASE_PMTU: 1200. A QUIC sender needs to pad initial packets to
1200 bytes to validate confirm the path can support packets of a useful
size.

o MIN_PMTU: 1200 bytes. A QUIC sender that determines the PMTU has
fallen below 1200 bytes MUST immediately stop sending on the
affected path.

5.4.2.

6.4.2. Validating the Path with QUIC

QUIC provides an acknowledged PL. A sender therefore MUST NOT
implement the REACHABILITY_TIMER CONFIRMATION_TIMER while in the PROBE_DONE SEARCH_COMPLETE state.

5.4.3.

6.4.3. Handling of PTB Messages by QUIC

QUIC operates over the UDP transport, and the guidelines on ICMP
validation as specified in Section 5.2 of [RFC8085] therefore apply.
Although QUIC does not currently specify a method for validating ICMP
responses, it does provide some guidelines to make it harder for an
off-path attacker to inject ICMP messages.

o Set the IPv4 Don't Fragment (DF) bit on a small proportion of
packets, so that most invalid ICMP messages arrive when there are
no DF packets outstanding, and can therefore be identified as
spurious.

o Store additional information from the IP or UDP headers from DF
packets (for example, the IP ID or UDP checksum) to further
authenticate incoming Datagram Too Big messages.

o Any reduction in PMTU due to a report contained in an ICMP packet
is provisional until QUIC's loss detection algorithm determines
that the packet is actually lost.

XXX The above list was pulled whole from quic-transport - input is
invited from QUIC contributors. XXX

7. Acknowledgements

This work was partially funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020
research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 644334
(NEAT). The views expressed are solely those of the author(s).

8. IANA Considerations

This memo includes no request to IANA.

XXX If new UDP Options are specified in this document, a request to
IANA will be included here. XXX

If there are no requirements for IANA, the section will be removed
during conversion into an RFC by the RFC Editor.

9. Security Considerations

The security considerations for the use of UDP and SCTP are provided
in the references RFCs. Security guidance for applications using UDP
is provided in the UDP Usage Guidelines [RFC8085].

There are cases where PTB messages are not delivered due to policy,
configuration or equipment design (see Section 1.1), this method
therefore does not rely upon PTB messages being received, but is able
to utilise these when they are received by the sender. PTB messages
could potentially be used to cause a node to inappropriately reduce
the PLPMTU. A node supporting DPLPMTUD MUST therefore appropriately
validate the payload of PTB messages to ensure these are received in
response to transmitted traffic (i.e., a reported error condition
that corresponds to a datagram actually sent by the path layer. layer).

Parallel forwarding paths may need to be considered. Section 3.5 5.2.5.1
identifies the need for robustness in the method when the path
information may be inconsistent.

A node performing DPLPMTUD could experience conflicting information
about the size of supported probe packets. This could occur when
there are multiple paths are concurrently in use and these exhibit a
different PMTU. If not considered, this could result in data being
black holed when the PLPMTU is larger than the smallest PMTU across
the current paths.

An on-path attacker could forge PTB messages to drive down the PLPMTU

10. References

9.1.

10.1. Normative References

[I-D.ietf-quic-transport]
Iyengar, J. and M. Thomson, "QUIC: A UDP-Based Multiplexed
and Secure Transport", draft-ietf-quic-transport-13 draft-ietf-quic-transport-14 (work
in progress), June August 2018.

[I-D.ietf-tsvwg-udp-options]
Touch, J., "Transport Options for UDP", draft-ietf-tsvwg-
udp-options-04
udp-options-05 (work in progress), July 2018.

[RFC0768] Postel, J., "User Datagram Protocol", STD 6, RFC 768,
DOI 10.17487/RFC0768, August 1980,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc768>.

[RFC0792] Postel, J., "Internet Control Message Protocol", STD 5,
RFC 792, DOI 10.17487/RFC0792, September 1981,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc792>.

[RFC1122] Braden, R., Ed., "Requirements for Internet Hosts -
Communication Layers", STD 3, RFC 1122,
DOI 10.17487/RFC1122, October 1989,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc1122>.

[RFC1812] Baker, F., Ed., "Requirements for IP Version 4 Routers",
RFC 1812, DOI 10.17487/RFC1812, June 1995,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc1812>.

[RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119,
DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>.

[RFC2460] Deering, S. and R. Hinden, "Internet Protocol, Version 6
(IPv6) Specification", RFC 2460, DOI 10.17487/RFC2460,
December 1998, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2460>.

[RFC3828] Larzon, L-A., Degermark, M., Pink, S., Jonsson, L-E., Ed.,
and G. Fairhurst, Ed., "The Lightweight User Datagram
Protocol (UDP-Lite)", RFC 3828, DOI 10.17487/RFC3828, July
2004, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc3828>.

[RFC4820] Tuexen, M., Stewart, R., and P. Lei, "Padding Chunk and
Parameter for the Stream Control Transmission Protocol
(SCTP)", RFC 4820, DOI 10.17487/RFC4820, March 2007,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4820>.

[RFC4960] Stewart, R., Ed., "Stream Control Transmission Protocol",
RFC 4960, DOI 10.17487/RFC4960, September 2007,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4960>.

[RFC6951] Tuexen, M. and R. Stewart, "UDP Encapsulation of Stream
Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) Packets for End-Host
to End-Host Communication", RFC 6951,
DOI 10.17487/RFC6951, May 2013,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6951>.

[RFC8085] Eggert, L., Fairhurst, G., and G. Shepherd, "UDP Usage
Guidelines", BCP 145, RFC 8085, DOI 10.17487/RFC8085,
March 2017, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8085>.

[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,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8201>.

[RFC8261] Tuexen, M., Stewart, R., Jesup, R., and S. Loreto,
"Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) Encapsulation of
SCTP Packets", RFC 8261, DOI 10.17487/RFC8261, November
2017, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8261>.

9.2.

10.2. Informative References

[RFC1191] Mogul, J. and S. Deering, "Path MTU discovery", RFC 1191,
DOI 10.17487/RFC1191, November 1990,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc1191>.

[RFC2923] Lahey, K., "TCP Problems with Path MTU Discovery",
RFC 2923, DOI 10.17487/RFC2923, September 2000,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2923>.

[RFC4340] Kohler, E., Handley, M., and S. Floyd, "Datagram
Congestion Control Protocol (DCCP)", RFC 4340,
DOI 10.17487/RFC4340, March 2006,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4340>.

[RFC4821] Mathis, M. and J. Heffner, "Packetization Layer Path MTU
Discovery", RFC 4821, DOI 10.17487/RFC4821, March 2007,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4821>.

[RFC4890] Davies, E. and J. Mohacsi, "Recommendations for Filtering
ICMPv6 Messages in Firewalls", RFC 4890,
DOI 10.17487/RFC4890, May 2007,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4890>.

Appendix A. Event-driven state changes

This appendix contains an informative description of key events:

Path Setup: When a new path is initiated, the state is set to
PROBE_START. This sends a probe packet with the size of the
BASE_PMTU. As soon as the path is confirmed, the state changes to PROBE_BASE and probing for this path is started. The first
probe packet is sent with the size of the BASE_PMTU.
PROBE_SEARCH.

Arrival of an Acknowledgment: Depending on the probing state, the
reaction differs according to Figure 7, which is a simplification
of Figure 4 focusing on this event.

+--------------+ +----------------+
| PROBE_START | --3------------------------------->| --3------------------------------> | PROBE_DISABLED |
+--------------+ --4-----------\ --4---------------- ------------> +----------------+
\
\/
+--------------+ /\ +--------------+ \
| PROBE_ERROR | --------------- -------------------- \ ----------> | PROBE_BASE |
+--------------+ \ \
\ --4--------------/ \ +--------------+
\
+--------------+ --1 -------- \ +--------------+
| PROBE_BASE | --1---------- \ ------------> --- \ ------> | PROBE_BASE PROBE_ERROR |
+--------------+ --2----- --3--------- \ -----/ \ +--------------+
\ \ \
+--------------+ \ \ ------------> -----> +--------------+
| PROBE_SEARCH | --2--- \ -----------------> | PROBE_SEARCH |
+--------------+ --1---\----\---------------------> \ ------------------> +--------------+
\ ---- /
+---------------+ / \
+--------------+ +---------------+
|SEARCH_COMPLETE| -1--- \ |SEARCH_COMPLETE|
+---------------+ -5-- -----------------------> +---------------+
\ +--------------+
| PROBE_DONE |
\ -------------------> +--------------+
--------------------------> | PROBE_DONE PROBE_BASE |
+--------------+ -----------------------> +--------------+

Condition 1: The maximum PMTU size has not yet been reached.
Condition 2: The maximum PMTU size has been reached. Conition Condition 3:
Probe Timer expires and PROBE_COUNT = MAX_PROBEs. Condition 4:
PROBE_ACK received. Condition 5: Black hole detected.

Figure 7: State changes at the arrival of an acknowledgment

Probing timeout: The PROBE_COUNT is initialised to zero each time
the value of PROBED_SIZE is changed and when a acknowledgment
confirming delivery of a probe packet arries. packet. The PROBE_TIMER is started
each time a probe packet is sent. It is stopped when an
acknowledgment arrives that confirms delivery of a probe packet of
PROBED_SIZE. If the probe packet is not acknowledged before the
PROBE_TIMER expires, the PROBE_COUNT is incremented. When the
PROBE_COUNT equals the value MAX_PROBES, the state is changed,
otherwise a new probe packet of the same size (PROBED_SIZE) is
resent. The state transitions are illustrated in Figure 8. This
shows a simplification of Figure 4 with a focus only on this
event.

+--------------+ +----------------+
| PROBE_START |----------------------------------->| | --2------------------------------->| PROBE_DISABLED |
+--------------+ +----------------+

+--------------+ +--------------+
| PROBE_ERROR | -----------------> | PROBE_ERROR |
+--------------+ / +--------------+
/
+--------------+ --2----------/ +--------------+
| PROBE_BASE | --1------------------------------> | PROBE_BASE |
+--------------+ +--------------+

+--------------+ +--------------+
| PROBE_SEARCH | --1------------------------------> | PROBE_SEARCH |
+--------------+ --2--------- +--------------+
\
+--------------+
+---------------+ \ +--------------+
| PROBE_DONE | +---------------+
|SEARCH_COMPLETE| -------------------> | PROBE_DONE |
+--------------+ +--------------+ |SEARCH_COMPLETE|
+---------------+ +---------------+

Condition 1: The maximum number of probe packets has not been
reached. Condition 2: The maximum number of probe packets has been
reached. XXX This diagram has not been validated.

Figure 8: State changes at the expiration of the probe timer

PMTU raise timer timeout: The path through the network can change
over time. It impossible to discover whether a path change has
increased the actual PMTU by exchanging packets less than or equal
to the PLPMTU. This requires PLPMTUD to DPLPMTUD periodically send sends a probe packet
to detect whether a larger PMTU is possible. This probe packet is
generated by the PMTU_RAISE_TIMER. When the timer
expires, probing is restarted with the BASE_PMTU and the state is
changed to PROBE_BASE.

Arrival of a PTB message: The active probing of the path can be
supported by the arrival of a PTB message sent by a router or
middleboxes indicating the router's local link MTU. PTB_SIZE.
Two cases can
be distinguished: examples are:

1. The indicated link MTU in the PTB message PTB_SIZE is between the
already probed and PLPMTU and the probe that
triggered the PTB message.

2. The indicated link MTU in the PTB message PTB_SIZE is smaller than the PLPMTU.

In first case, the PROBE_BASE state transitions to the PROBE_ERROR
state. In the PROBE_SEARCH state, a new probe packet is sent with
the sized size reported by the PTB message. Its result is handled
according to the former events.

The

In second case could be a result of a network re-configuration.
If the reported link MTU in the PTB message is greater than the
BASE_MTU, case, the probing starts again with a value of
PROBE_BASE.
Otherwise, the method enters the state PROBE_ERROR.

Note: Not all routers include the link MTU size when they send a
PTB message. If the PTB message does not indicate the link MTU,
the probe is handled in the same way as condition 2 of Figure 8.

Appendix B. Revision Notes

Note to RFC-Editor: please remove this entire section prior to
publication.

Individual draft -00:

o Comments and corrections are welcome directly to the authors or
via the IETF TSVWG working group mailing list.

o This update is proposed for WG comments.

Individual draft -01:

o Contains the first representation of the algorithm, showing the
states and timers

o This update is proposed for WG comments.

Individual draft -02:

o Contains updated representation of the algorithm, and textual
corrections.

o The text describing when to set the effective PMTU has not yet
been validated by the authors

o To determine security to off-path-attacks: We need to decide
whether a received PTB message SHOULD/MUST be validated? The text
on how to handle a PTB message indicating a link MTU larger than
the probe has yet not been validated by the authors

o No text currently describes how to handle inconsistent results
from arbitrary re-routing along different parallel paths

o This update is proposed for WG comments.

Working Group draft -00:

o This draft follows a successful adoption call for TSVWG

o There is still work to complete, please comment on this draft.

Working Group draft -01:

o This draft includes improved introduction.

o The draft is updated to require ICMP validation prior to accepting
PTB messages - this to be confirmed by WG

o Section added to discuss Selection of Probe Size - methods to be
evlauated and recommendations to be considered

o Section added to align with work proposed in the QUIC WG.

Working Group draft -02:

o The draft was updated based on feedback from the WG, and a
detailed review by Magnus Westerlund.

o The document updates RFC 4821.

o Requirements list updated.

o Added more explicit discussion of a simpler black-hole detection
mode.

o This draft includes reorganisation of the section on IETF
protocols.

o Added more discussion of implementation within an application.

o Added text on flapping paths.

o Replaced 'effective MTU' with new term PLPMTU.

Working Group draft -03:

o Updated figures

o Added more discussion on blackhole detection

o Added figure describing just blackhole detection

o Added figure relating MPS sizes

Working Group draft -04:

o Updated full Described phases and named these consistently.

o Corrected transition from confirmation directly to the search
phase (Base has been checked).

o Redrawn state machine artwork diagrams.

o Renamed BASE_MTU to BASE_PMTU (because it is a base for clarity the PMTU).

o Clarified Error state.

o Clarified supsending DPLPMTUD.

o Verified normative text in requirements section.

o Removed duplicate text.

o Changed all text to refer to /packet probes/ /validation/ (rather
than /verification/). probe/probe packet/
/validation/verification/ added term /Probe Confirmation/ and
clarified BlackHole detection.

Authors' Addresses

Godred Fairhurst
University of Aberdeen
School of Engineering
Fraser Noble Building
Aberdeen AB24 3U
UK

Email: gorry@erg.abdn.ac.uk

Tom Jones
University of Aberdeen
School of Engineering
Fraser Noble Building
Aberdeen AB24 3U
UK

Email: tom@erg.abdn.ac.uk

Michael Tuexen
Muenster University of Applied Sciences
Stegerwaldstrasse 39
Stein fart 48565
DE

Email: tuexen@fh-muenster.de
Irene Ruengeler
Muenster University of Applied Sciences
Stegerwaldstrasse 39
Stein fart 48565
DE

Email: i.ruengeler@fh-muenster.de