rfc791 (3 of 6)

Ron Natalie <ron> ron at brl-adm.ARPA
Tue May 13 22:53:06 AEST 1986



September 1981                                                          
                                                       Internet Protocol
                                                           Specification



  Options:  variable

    The options may appear or not in datagrams.  They must be
    implemented by all IP modules (host and gateways).  What is optional
    is their transmission in any particular datagram, not their
    implementation.

    In some environments the security option may be required in all
    datagrams.

    The option field is variable in length.  There may be zero or more
    options.  There are two cases for the format of an option:

      Case 1:  A single octet of option-type.

      Case 2:  An option-type octet, an option-length octet, and the
               actual option-data octets.

    The option-length octet counts the option-type octet and the
    option-length octet as well as the option-data octets.

    The option-type octet is viewed as having 3 fields:

      1 bit   copied flag,
      2 bits  option class,
      5 bits  option number.

    The copied flag indicates that this option is copied into all
    fragments on fragmentation.

      0 = not copied
      1 = copied

    The option classes are:

      0 = control
      1 = reserved for future use
      2 = debugging and measurement
      3 = reserved for future use











                                                               [Page 15]


                                                          September 1981
Internet Protocol
Specification



    The following internet options are defined:

      CLASS NUMBER LENGTH DESCRIPTION
      ----- ------ ------ -----------
        0     0      -    End of Option list.  This option occupies only
                          1 octet; it has no length octet.
        0     1      -    No Operation.  This option occupies only 1
                          octet; it has no length octet.
        0     2     11    Security.  Used to carry Security,
                          Compartmentation, User Group (TCC), and
                          Handling Restriction Codes compatible with DOD
                          requirements.
        0     3     var.  Loose Source Routing.  Used to route the
                          internet datagram based on information
                          supplied by the source.
        0     9     var.  Strict Source Routing.  Used to route the
                          internet datagram based on information
                          supplied by the source.
        0     7     var.  Record Route.  Used to trace the route an
                          internet datagram takes.
        0     8      4    Stream ID.  Used to carry the stream
                          identifier.
        2     4     var.  Internet Timestamp.

      

    Specific Option Definitions

      End of Option List

        +--------+
        |00000000|
        +--------+
          Type=0

        This option indicates the end of the option list.  This might
        not coincide with the end of the internet header according to
        the internet header length.  This is used at the end of all
        options, not the end of each option, and need only be used if
        the end of the options would not otherwise coincide with the end
        of the internet header.

        May be copied, introduced, or deleted on fragmentation, or for
        any other reason.






[Page 16]                                                               


September 1981                                                          
                                                       Internet Protocol
                                                           Specification



      No Operation

        +--------+
        |00000001|
        +--------+
          Type=1

        This option may be used between options, for example, to align
        the beginning of a subsequent option on a 32 bit boundary.

        May be copied, introduced, or deleted on fragmentation, or for
        any other reason.

      Security

        This option provides a way for hosts to send security,
        compartmentation, handling restrictions, and TCC (closed user
        group) parameters.  The format for this option is as follows:

          +--------+--------+---//---+---//---+---//---+---//---+
          |10000010|00001011|SSS  SSS|CCC  CCC|HHH  HHH|  TCC   |
          +--------+--------+---//---+---//---+---//---+---//---+
           Type=130 Length=11

        Security (S field):  16 bits

          Specifies one of 16 levels of security (eight of which are
          reserved for future use).

            00000000 00000000 - Unclassified
            11110001 00110101 - Confidential
            01111000 10011010 - EFTO
            10111100 01001101 - MMMM
            01011110 00100110 - PROG
            10101111 00010011 - Restricted
            11010111 10001000 - Secret
            01101011 11000101 - Top Secret
            00110101 11100010 - (Reserved for future use)
            10011010 11110001 - (Reserved for future use)
            01001101 01111000 - (Reserved for future use)
            00100100 10111101 - (Reserved for future use)
            00010011 01011110 - (Reserved for future use)
            10001001 10101111 - (Reserved for future use)
            11000100 11010110 - (Reserved for future use)
            11100010 01101011 - (Reserved for future use)





                                                               [Page 17]


                                                          September 1981
Internet Protocol
Specification



        Compartments (C field):  16 bits

          An all zero value is used when the information transmitted is
          not compartmented.  Other values for the compartments field
          may be obtained from the Defense Intelligence Agency.

        Handling Restrictions (H field):  16 bits

          The values for the control and release markings are
          alphanumeric digraphs and are defined in the Defense
          Intelligence Agency Manual DIAM 65-19, "Standard Security
          Markings".

        Transmission Control Code (TCC field):  24 bits

          Provides a means to segregate traffic and define controlled
          communities of interest among subscribers. The TCC values are
          trigraphs, and are available from HQ DCA Code 530.

        Must be copied on fragmentation.  This option appears at most
        once in a datagram.

      Loose Source and Record Route

        +--------+--------+--------+---------//--------+
        |10000011| length | pointer|     route data    |
        +--------+--------+--------+---------//--------+
         Type=131

        The loose source and record route (LSRR) option provides a means
        for the source of an internet datagram to supply routing
        information to be used by the gateways in forwarding the
        datagram to the destination, and to record the route
        information.

        The option begins with the option type code.  The second octet
        is the option length which includes the option type code and the
        length octet, the pointer octet, and length-3 octets of route
        data.  The third octet is the pointer into the route data
        indicating the octet which begins the next source address to be
        processed.  The pointer is relative to this option, and the
        smallest legal value for the pointer is 4.

        A route data is composed of a series of internet addresses.
        Each internet address is 32 bits or 4 octets.  If the pointer is
        greater than the length, the source route is empty (and the
        recorded route full) and the routing is to be based on the
        destination address field.


[Page 18]                                                               


September 1981                                                          
                                                       Internet Protocol
                                                           Specification



        If the address in destination address field has been reached and
        the pointer is not greater than the length, the next address in
        the source route replaces the address in the destination address
        field, and the recorded route address replaces the source
        address just used, and pointer is increased by four.

        The recorded route address is the internet module's own internet
        address as known in the environment into which this datagram is
        being forwarded.

        This procedure of replacing the source route with the recorded
        route (though it is in the reverse of the order it must be in to
        be used as a source route) means the option (and the IP header
        as a whole) remains a constant length as the datagram progresses
        through the internet.

        This option is a loose source route because the gateway or host
        IP is allowed to use any route of any number of other
        intermediate gateways to reach the next address in the route.

        Must be copied on fragmentation.  Appears at most once in a
        datagram.

      Strict Source and Record Route

        +--------+--------+--------+---------//--------+
        |10001001| length | pointer|     route data    |
        +--------+--------+--------+---------//--------+
         Type=137

        The strict source and record route (SSRR) option provides a
        means for the source of an internet datagram to supply routing
        information to be used by the gateways in forwarding the
        datagram to the destination, and to record the route
        information.

        The option begins with the option type code.  The second octet
        is the option length which includes the option type code and the
        length octet, the pointer octet, and length-3 octets of route
        data.  The third octet is the pointer into the route data
        indicating the octet which begins the next source address to be
        processed.  The pointer is relative to this option, and the
        smallest legal value for the pointer is 4.

        A route data is composed of a series of internet addresses.
        Each internet address is 32 bits or 4 octets.  If the pointer is
        greater than the length, the source route is empty (and the



                                                               [Page 19]


                                                          September 1981
Internet Protocol
Specification



        recorded route full) and the routing is to be based on the
        destination address field.

        If the address in destination address field has been reached and
        the pointer is not greater than the length, the next address in
        the source route replaces the address in the destination address
        field, and the recorded route address replaces the source
        address just used, and pointer is increased by four.

        The recorded route address is the internet module's own internet
        address as known in the environment into which this datagram is
        being forwarded.

        This procedure of replacing the source route with the recorded
        route (though it is in the reverse of the order it must be in to
        be used as a source route) means the option (and the IP header
        as a whole) remains a constant length as the datagram progresses
        through the internet.

        This option is a strict source route because the gateway or host
        IP must send the datagram directly to the next address in the
        source route through only the directly connected network
        indicated in the next address to reach the next gateway or host
        specified in the route.

        Must be copied on fragmentation.  Appears at most once in a
        datagram.

      Record Route

        +--------+--------+--------+---------//--------+
        |00000111| length | pointer|     route data    |
        +--------+--------+--------+---------//--------+
          Type=7

        The record route option provides a means to record the route of
        an internet datagram.

        The option begins with the option type code.  The second octet
        is the option length which includes the option type code and the
        length octet, the pointer octet, and length-3 octets of route
        data.  The third octet is the pointer into the route data
        indicating the octet which begins the next area to store a route
        address.  The pointer is relative to this option, and the
        smallest legal value for the pointer is 4.

        A recorded route is composed of a series of internet addresses.
        Each internet address is 32 bits or 4 octets.  If the pointer is


[Page 20]                                                               


September 1981                                                          
                                                       Internet Protocol
                                                           Specification



        greater than the length, the recorded route data area is full.
        The originating host must compose this option with a large
        enough route data area to hold all the address expected.  The
        size of the option does not change due to adding addresses.  The
        intitial contents of the route data area must be zero.

        When an internet module routes a datagram it checks to see if
        the record route option is present.  If it is, it inserts its
        own internet address as known in the environment into which this
        datagram is being forwarded into the recorded route begining at
        the octet indicated by the pointer, and increments the pointer
        by four.

        If the route data area is already full (the pointer exceeds the
        length) the datagram is forwarded without inserting the address
        into the recorded route.  If there is some room but not enough
        room for a full address to be inserted, the original datagram is
        considered to be in error and is discarded.  In either case an
        ICMP parameter problem message may be sent to the source
        host [3].

        Not copied on fragmentation, goes in first fragment only.
        Appears at most once in a datagram.

      Stream Identifier

        +--------+--------+--------+--------+
        |10001000|00000010|    Stream ID    |
        +--------+--------+--------+--------+
         Type=136 Length=4

        This option provides a way for the 16-bit SATNET stream
        identifier to be carried through networks that do not support
        the stream concept.

        Must be copied on fragmentation.  Appears at most once in a
        datagram.













                                                               [Page 21]


                                                          September 1981
Internet Protocol
Specification



      Internet Timestamp

        +--------+--------+--------+--------+
        |01000100| length | pointer|oflw|flg|
        +--------+--------+--------+--------+
        |         internet address          |
        +--------+--------+--------+--------+
        |             timestamp             |
        +--------+--------+--------+--------+
        |                 .                 |
                          .
                          .
        Type = 68

        The Option Length is the number of octets in the option counting
        the type, length, pointer, and overflow/flag octets (maximum
        length 40).

        The Pointer is the number of octets from the beginning of this
        option to the end of timestamps plus one (i.e., it points to the
        octet beginning the space for next timestamp).  The smallest
        legal value is 5.  The timestamp area is full when the pointer
        is greater than the length.

        The Overflow (oflw) [4 bits] is the number of IP modules that
        cannot register timestamps due to lack of space.

        The Flag (flg) [4 bits] values are

          0 -- time stamps only, stored in consecutive 32-bit words,

          1 -- each timestamp is preceded with internet address of the
               registering entity,

          3 -- the internet address fields are prespecified.  An IP
               module only registers its timestamp if it matches its own
               address with the next specified internet address.

        The Timestamp is a right-justified, 32-bit timestamp in
        milliseconds since midnight UT.  If the time is not available in
        milliseconds or cannot be provided with respect to midnight UT
        then any time may be inserted as a timestamp provided the high
        order bit of the timestamp field is set to one to indicate the
        use of a non-standard value.

        The originating host must compose this option with a large
        enough timestamp data area to hold all the timestamp information
        expected.  The size of the option does not change due to adding


[Page 22]                                                               


September 1981                                                          
                                                       Internet Protocol
                                                           Specification



        timestamps.  The intitial contents of the timestamp data area
        must be zero or internet address/zero pairs.

        If the timestamp data area is already full (the pointer exceeds
        the length) the datagram is forwarded without inserting the
        timestamp, but the overflow count is incremented by one.

        If there is some room but not enough room for a full timestamp
        to be inserted, or the overflow count itself overflows, the
        original datagram is considered to be in error and is discarded.
        In either case an ICMP parameter problem message may be sent to
        the source host [3].

        The timestamp option is not copied upon fragmentation.  It is
        carried in the first fragment.  Appears at most once in a
        datagram.

  Padding:  variable

    The internet header padding is used to ensure that the internet
    header ends on a 32 bit boundary.  The padding is zero.

3.2.  Discussion

  The implementation of a protocol must be robust.  Each implementation
  must expect to interoperate with others created by different
  individuals.  While the goal of this specification is to be explicit
  about the protocol there is the possibility of differing
  interpretations.  In general, an implementation must be conservative
  in its sending behavior, and liberal in its receiving behavior.  That
  is, it must be careful to send well-formed datagrams, but must accept
  any datagram that it can interpret (e.g., not object to technical
  errors where the meaning is still clear).

  The basic internet service is datagram oriented and provides for the
  fragmentation of datagrams at gateways, with reassembly taking place
  at the destination internet protocol module in the destination host.
  Of course, fragmentation and reassembly of datagrams within a network
  or by private agreement between the gateways of a network is also
  allowed since this is transparent to the internet protocols and the
  higher-level protocols.  This transparent type of fragmentation and
  reassembly is termed "network-dependent" (or intranet) fragmentation
  and is not discussed further here.

  Internet addresses distinguish sources and destinations to the host
  level and provide a protocol field as well.  It is assumed that each
  protocol will provide for whatever multiplexing is necessary within a
  host.


                                                               [Page 23]


                                                          September 1981
Internet Protocol
Specification



  Addressing

    To provide for flexibility in assigning address to networks and
    allow for the  large number of small to intermediate sized networks
    the interpretation of the address field is coded to specify a small
    number of networks with a large number of host, a moderate number of
    networks with a moderate number of hosts, and a large number of
    networks with a small number of hosts.  In addition there is an
    escape code for extended addressing mode.

    Address Formats:

      High Order Bits   Format                           Class
      ---------------   -------------------------------  -----
            0            7 bits of net, 24 bits of host    a
            10          14 bits of net, 16 bits of host    b
            110         21 bits of net,  8 bits of host    c
            111         escape to extended addressing mode

      A value of zero in the network field means this network.  This is
      only used in certain ICMP messages.  The extended addressing mode
      is undefined.  Both of these features are reserved for future use.

    The actual values assigned for network addresses is given in
    "Assigned Numbers" [9].

    The local address, assigned by the local network, must allow for a
    single physical host to act as several distinct internet hosts.
    That is, there must be a mapping between internet host addresses and
    network/host interfaces that allows several internet addresses to
    correspond to one interface.  It must also be allowed for a host to
    have several physical interfaces and to treat the datagrams from
    several of them as if they were all addressed to a single host.

    Address mappings between internet addresses and addresses for
    ARPANET, SATNET, PRNET, and other networks are described in "Address
    Mappings" [5].

  Fragmentation and Reassembly.

    The internet identification field (ID) is used together with the
    source and destination address, and the protocol fields, to identify
    datagram fragments for reassembly.

    The More Fragments flag bit (MF) is set if the datagram is not the
    last fragment.  The Fragment Offset field identifies the fragment
    location, relative to the beginning of the original unfragmented
    datagram.  Fragments are counted in units of 8 octets.  The


[Page 24]                                                               




More information about the Mod.sources.doc mailing list