Re: [DNA] Considerations for DNA Schemes with multiple Interface andLayer 2 Technologies

[Bernard Aboba <aboba@internaut.com>]

> There may be some problems related to link layer addresses, etc,
> but someone should really point us to the right documents, or better,
> write a problem statement draft of the situation, trying to clarify
> the current plans of running IPv6 over make-before-break CDMA (and
> other such radio links).  I don't see much use to argue about this
> until we properly understand the details, and at least I can't
> possibly claim understanding them.  I don't even know what documents
> I should read; sorry about my ignorance.

I must admit that I am also finding this conversation hard to follow.

As noted in Multi-Net (see
http://research.microsoft.com/~bahl/MS_Projects/MultiNet/default.htm)
it is quite possible for a single radio and single MAC address to be used
to construct multiple virtual interfaces, each connected to a distinct
network. In this case, DNA would be run on each virtual interface, with no
interactions between them.

It is also possible for a single radio to be used to construct multiple
virtual interfaces, each connected to the same network, as long as
distinct MAC addresses are used on each virtual interface.  Again, in this
case, DNA would be run on each virtual interface with no interactions
between them.

DNA is fundamentally about optimizing the problem of address assignment.
This is quite distinct from the problem of determining the outgoing or
incoming interface for packets, which is a routing problem.

Where the host is multi-homed, routing behavior is determined by whether
the host implements the strong or weak end-system model, the state of the
routing table, the state of Mobile IP (if present) and the dictates of
the application.  The link layer influences this behavior primarily
through its influence on the routing table.

Through constructs such as dial-on-demand or idle timeout, and link-aware
routing, it is possible for the state of one interface to influence
whether packets are routed out another interface.  And of course, link
indications such as "Link Down" can result in removal of routes, and "Link
Up" can result in insertion of routes.  Yet none of these phenomena
introduce the need for link layers to interace with respect to DNA.

Or is there something I'm missing?