[openib-general] Re: IP addressing on InfiniBand networks (Caitlin Bestler)

[Caitlin Bestler]

That is the primary distinction between an "IA Address" and an "IP Address".
An "IA Address" meets all of the *local* characteristics of an IP Address,
but does not necessarily meet the *global* characteristics of an IP Address
(namely it might not have been assigned by IANA).

But there is nothing that says than a network administrator cannot assign
a network ID properly granted by IANA to an IP network implemented on
InfiniBand.

In fact doing so would make it easy to implement an IP/IB bridge/router.

In context, I am not advocating that RDMA interfaces require IANA 
registered addresses. I am merely pointing out that the IPv6 *format*
is adequate for all needs, and in fact it is only one of several methods
that allows the Connection Management function to properly identify
the remote peer's L3 Address in IPv6 format.


On 6/29/05, Bill Strahm <bill at strahm.net> wrote:
> 
> >------------------------------
> >
> >Message: 2
> >Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 09:00:37 -0700
> >From: Roland Dreier <rolandd at cisco.com>
> >Subject: Re: [openib-general] IP addressing on InfiniBand networks
> >To: Caitlin Bestler <caitlin.bestler at gmail.com>
> >Cc: "Lentini, James" <James.Lentini at netapp.com>, Christoph Hellwig
> >       <hch at lst.de>,   openib-general <openib-general at openib.org>
> >Message-ID: <5264vxi256.fsf at topspin.com>
> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> >
> >    Caitlin> An assigned GID meets all of the requirements for an IA
> >    Caitlin> Address.  I think taking advantage of that existing
> >    Caitlin> capability is just one of many options that can be done
> >    Caitlin> by the IB CM rather than forcing IB specific changes up
> >    Caitlin> to the application layer.
> >
> >Just to be clear, the IBA spec is very clear that a GID _is_ an IPv6 address.
> >
> > - R.
> >
> >
> >
> Just to be REALLY clear - IANA has not allocated IPv6 address space to
> any Infiniband entities - so they are not Internet IPv6 addresses.  GIDs
> are formatted like IPv6 addresses but in no sense should EVER be used at
> an IP layer 3 address.
> 
>  From an IPoIB stance - IB is just a very over engineered Layer 2 that
> has a singularly large MAC address.
> 
>  From an IB ULP point of view - how you get to the layer 2 address that
> is needed to perform communications that do not include IP, it isn't a
> problem - but let me tell you.... The leadership of the IETF is scared
> of IB because of saying things IB GIDs _ARE_ IPv6 addresses.
> 
> Bill
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