Proposal to use SLPv2 for FCIP device discovery

["Dave Peterson" <dap@cisco.com>]

As requested here is the proposal I presented at Mondays' FCIP meeting:

FCIP Draft Proposal
For Clause 4.2, item 3.

Each FCIP device may be statically or dynamically configured with a list of
IP addresses and port numbers corresponding to all the participating FCIP
devices. If dynamic discovery of participating FCIP devices is supported
this function shall be performed using the Service Location Protocol
(SLPv2). For additional FCIP device management capability, the iSNS Internet
Storage Naming Service may be implemented. It is outside the scope of this
specification to describe any static configuration method for participating
FCIP device discovery. Refer to clause XXX for a detailed description of
dynamic discovery of participating FCIP device using SLPv2.

Notes:
1. DHCP:
	a. Allows an entity to discovery information about itself, not discover
information about all other entities.
	b. Uses a broadcast mechanism that may not work via routers without
additional configuration. But, most current router 		implementations will
support the forwarding of DHCP requests across routed subnets.
	c. May be used to find SLP Directory Agents and Scope Lists allowing for a
more scalable solution.
2. DNS Services are too limiting. This is the reason why SLP was started.
3. LDAP is simply a database interface. SLP and iSNS may use LDAP as a
back-end store.
4. SLP FCIP Device Type Specifics
	a. IP address(es)
	b. Port numbers(s)
	c. Scope
	d. Attributes
		i. Discovery domain (i.e. a group name or zone name, don’t want to use
zone name in this context though)
		ii. need to start listing these (if we can think of any more)
	e. Lifetime

Work In progress:
1.	Putting together a model for FCIP device discovery using SLPv2.
2.	Implementing a “default/suggested” SLPv2 template.
3.	Reviewing RFC 3082 – Notification and Subscription for SLP for enhanced
device notification.

Requirements							SLPv2	iSNS
Discovery of FCIP targets					Y	Y
Discovery of FCIP device IP address(es)			Y	Y
Discovery of FCIP port number(s)				Y	Y
Attribute support							Y	Y
Semi-timely notification of devices coming and going	Y	Y
Authentication							Y	Y(uses SLPv2 constructs)
Minimal/no configuration					Y	Y(?)
Provisioning							Y	Y
Multicast support							Y	N
Publicly available source					Y	N
Standardized and mature						Y	N
Lighweight implementation					Y	N

Non-Requirements
Zoning								N	Y
State Change Notification					N	Y
Naming Services							N	Y


David Peterson
Lead Architect - Standards Development
Cisco Systems - SRBU
6450 Wedgwood Road
Maple Grove, MN 55311
Office: 763-398-1007
Cell: 612-802-3299
Email: dap@cisco.com