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-rw-r--r--lib/diameter/doc/src/diameter.xml31
-rw-r--r--lib/diameter/doc/standard/rfc7683.txt2355
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diff --git a/lib/diameter/doc/src/diameter.xml b/lib/diameter/doc/src/diameter.xml
index 0169afb619..6b84b22eb5 100644
--- a/lib/diameter/doc/src/diameter.xml
+++ b/lib/diameter/doc/src/diameter.xml
@@ -1083,6 +1083,37 @@ implies having to set matching *-Application-Id AVPs in a
</item>
<tag>
+<marker id="avp_dictionaries"/><c>{avp_dictionaries, [module()]}</c></tag>
+<item>
+<p>
+A list of alternate dictionary modules with which to encode/decode
+AVPs that are not defined by the dictionary of the application in
+question.
+At decode, such AVPs are represented as diameter_avp records in the
+<c>'AVP'</c> field of a decoded message or Grouped AVP, the first
+alternate that succeeds in decoding the AVP setting the record's value
+field.
+At encode, values in an <c>'AVP'</c> list can be passed as AVP
+name/value 2-tuples, and it is an encode error for no alternate to
+define the AVP of such a tuple.</p>
+
+<p>
+Defaults to the empty list.</p>
+
+<note>
+<p>
+The motivation for alternate dictionaries is RFC 7683, Diameter
+Overload Indication Conveyance (DOIC), which defines AVPs to
+be piggybacked onto existing application messages rather than defining
+an application of its own.
+The DOIC dictionary is provided by the diameter application, as module
+<c>diameter_gen_doic_rfc7683</c>, but alternate dictionaries can be
+used to encode/decode any set of AVPs not known to an application
+dictionary.</p>
+</note>
+</item>
+
+<tag>
<marker id="capabilities"/><c>{capabilities, [&capability;]}</c></tag>
<item>
<p>
diff --git a/lib/diameter/doc/standard/rfc7683.txt b/lib/diameter/doc/standard/rfc7683.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ab2392c6c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/diameter/doc/standard/rfc7683.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2355 @@
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) J. Korhonen, Ed.
+Request for Comments: 7683 Broadcom Corporation
+Category: Standards Track S. Donovan, Ed.
+ISSN: 2070-1721 B. Campbell
+ Oracle
+ L. Morand
+ Orange Labs
+ October 2015
+
+
+ Diameter Overload Indication Conveyance
+
+Abstract
+
+ This specification defines a base solution for Diameter overload
+ control, referred to as Diameter Overload Indication Conveyance
+ (DOIC).
+
+Status of This Memo
+
+ This is an Internet Standards Track document.
+
+ This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force
+ (IETF). It represents the consensus of the IETF community. It has
+ received public review and has been approved for publication by the
+ Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG). Further information on
+ Internet Standards is available in Section 2 of RFC 5741.
+
+ Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
+ and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
+ http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7683.
+
+Copyright Notice
+
+ Copyright (c) 2015 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
+ document authors. All rights reserved.
+
+ This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
+ Provisions Relating to IETF Documents
+ (http://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
+ to this document. Code Components extracted from this document must
+ include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of
+ the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as
+ described in the Simplified BSD License.
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 1]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+Table of Contents
+
+ 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
+ 2. Terminology and Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
+ 3. Conventions Used in This Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
+ 4. Solution Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
+ 4.1. Piggybacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
+ 4.2. DOIC Capability Announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
+ 4.3. DOIC Overload Condition Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
+ 4.4. DOIC Extensibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
+ 4.5. Simplified Example Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
+ 5. Solution Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
+ 5.1. Capability Announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
+ 5.1.1. Reacting Node Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
+ 5.1.2. Reporting Node Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
+ 5.1.3. Agent Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
+ 5.2. Overload Report Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
+ 5.2.1. Overload Control State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
+ 5.2.2. Reacting Node Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
+ 5.2.3. Reporting Node Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
+ 5.3. Protocol Extensibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
+ 6. Loss Algorithm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
+ 6.1. Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
+ 6.2. Reporting Node Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
+ 6.3. Reacting Node Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
+ 7. Attribute Value Pairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
+ 7.1. OC-Supported-Features AVP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
+ 7.2. OC-Feature-Vector AVP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
+ 7.3. OC-OLR AVP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
+ 7.4. OC-Sequence-Number AVP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
+ 7.5. OC-Validity-Duration AVP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
+ 7.6. OC-Report-Type AVP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
+ 7.7. OC-Reduction-Percentage AVP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
+ 7.8. AVP Flag Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
+ 8. Error Response Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
+ 9. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
+ 9.1. AVP Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
+ 9.2. New Registries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
+ 10. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
+ 10.1. Potential Threat Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
+ 10.2. Denial-of-Service Attacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
+ 10.3. Noncompliant Nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
+ 10.4. End-to-End Security Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
+ 11. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
+ 11.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
+ 11.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 2]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ Appendix A. Issues Left for Future Specifications . . . . . . . 35
+ A.1. Additional Traffic Abatement Algorithms . . . . . . . . . 35
+ A.2. Agent Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
+ A.3. New Error Diagnostic AVP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
+ Appendix B. Deployment Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
+ Appendix C. Considerations for Applications Integrating the DOIC
+ Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
+ C.1. Application Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
+ C.2. Implications of Application Type Overload . . . . . . . . 37
+ C.3. Request Transaction Classification . . . . . . . . . . . 38
+ C.4. Request Type Overload Implications . . . . . . . . . . . 39
+ Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
+ Authors' Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
+
+1. Introduction
+
+ This specification defines a base solution for Diameter overload
+ control, referred to as Diameter Overload Indication Conveyance
+ (DOIC), based on the requirements identified in [RFC7068].
+
+ This specification addresses Diameter overload control between
+ Diameter nodes that support the DOIC solution. The solution, which
+ is designed to apply to existing and future Diameter applications,
+ requires no changes to the Diameter base protocol [RFC6733] and is
+ deployable in environments where some Diameter nodes do not implement
+ the Diameter overload control solution defined in this specification.
+
+ A new application specification can incorporate the overload control
+ mechanism specified in this document by making it mandatory to
+ implement for the application and referencing this specification
+ normatively. It is the responsibility of the Diameter application
+ designers to define how overload control mechanisms work on that
+ application.
+
+ Note that the overload control solution defined in this specification
+ does not address all the requirements listed in [RFC7068]. A number
+ of features related to overload control are left for future
+ specifications. See Appendix A for a list of extensions that are
+ currently being considered.
+
+2. Terminology and Abbreviations
+
+ Abatement
+
+ Reaction to receipt of an overload report resulting in a reduction
+ in traffic sent to the reporting node. Abatement actions include
+ diversion and throttling.
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 3]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ Abatement Algorithm
+
+ An extensible method requested by reporting nodes and used by
+ reacting nodes to reduce the amount of traffic sent during an
+ occurrence of overload control.
+
+ Diversion
+
+ An overload abatement treatment where the reacting node selects
+ alternate destinations or paths for requests.
+
+ Host-Routed Requests
+
+ Requests that a reacting node knows will be served by a particular
+ host, either due to the presence of a Destination-Host Attribute
+ Value Pair (AVP) or by some other local knowledge on the part of
+ the reacting node.
+
+ Overload Control State (OCS)
+
+ Internal state maintained by a reporting or reacting node
+ describing occurrences of overload control.
+
+ Overload Report (OLR)
+
+ Overload control information for a particular overload occurrence
+ sent by a reporting node.
+
+ Reacting Node
+
+ A Diameter node that acts upon an overload report.
+
+ Realm-Routed Requests
+
+ Requests sent by a reacting node where the reacting node does not
+ know to which host the request will be routed.
+
+ Reporting Node
+
+ A Diameter node that generates an overload report. (This may or
+ may not be the overloaded node.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 4]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ Throttling
+
+ An abatement treatment that limits the number of requests sent by
+ the reacting node. Throttling can include a Diameter Client
+ choosing to not send requests, or a Diameter Agent or Server
+ rejecting requests with appropriate error responses. In both
+ cases, the result of the throttling is a permanent rejection of
+ the transaction.
+
+3. Conventions Used in This Document
+
+ 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 RFC 2119 [RFC2119].
+
+ The interpretation from RFC 2119 [RFC2119] does not apply for the
+ above listed words when they are not used in all caps.
+
+4. Solution Overview
+
+ The Diameter Overload Information Conveyance (DOIC) solution allows
+ Diameter nodes to request that other Diameter nodes perform overload
+ abatement actions, that is, actions to reduce the load offered to the
+ overloaded node or realm.
+
+ A Diameter node that supports DOIC is known as a "DOIC node". Any
+ Diameter node can act as a DOIC node, including Diameter Clients,
+ Diameter Servers, and Diameter Agents. DOIC nodes are further
+ divided into "Reporting Nodes" and "Reacting Nodes." A reporting
+ node requests overload abatement by sending Overload Reports (OLRs).
+
+ A reacting node acts upon OLRs and performs whatever actions are
+ needed to fulfill the abatement requests included in the OLRs. A
+ reporting node may report overload on its own behalf or on behalf of
+ other nodes. Likewise, a reacting node may perform overload
+ abatement on its own behalf or on behalf of other nodes.
+
+ A Diameter node's role as a DOIC node is independent of its Diameter
+ role. For example, Diameter Agents may act as DOIC nodes, even
+ though they are not endpoints in the Diameter sense. Since Diameter
+ enables bidirectional applications, where Diameter Servers can send
+ requests towards Diameter Clients, a given Diameter node can
+ simultaneously act as both a reporting node and a reacting node.
+
+ Likewise, a Diameter Agent may act as a reacting node from the
+ perspective of upstream nodes, and a reporting node from the
+ perspective of downstream nodes.
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 5]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ DOIC nodes do not generate new messages to carry DOIC-related
+ information. Rather, they "piggyback" DOIC information over existing
+ Diameter messages by inserting new AVPs into existing Diameter
+ requests and responses. Nodes indicate support for DOIC, and any
+ needed DOIC parameters, by inserting an OC-Supported-Features AVP
+ (Section 7.1) into existing requests and responses. Reporting nodes
+ send OLRs by inserting OC-OLR AVPs (Section 7.3).
+
+ A given OLR applies to the Diameter realm and application of the
+ Diameter message that carries it. If a reporting node supports more
+ than one realm and/or application, it reports independently for each
+ combination of realm and application. Similarly, the OC-Supported-
+ Features AVP applies to the realm and application of the enclosing
+ message. This implies that a node may support DOIC for one
+ application and/or realm, but not another, and may indicate different
+ DOIC parameters for each application and realm for which it supports
+ DOIC.
+
+ Reacting nodes perform overload abatement according to an agreed-upon
+ abatement algorithm. An abatement algorithm defines the meaning of
+ some of the parameters of an OLR and the procedures required for
+ overload abatement. An overload abatement algorithm separates
+ Diameter requests into two sets. The first set contains the requests
+ that are to undergo overload abatement treatment of either throttling
+ or diversion. The second set contains the requests that are to be
+ given normal routing treatment. This document specifies a single
+ "must-support" algorithm, namely, the "loss" algorithm (Section 6).
+ Future specifications may introduce new algorithms.
+
+ Overload conditions may vary in scope. For example, a single
+ Diameter node may be overloaded, in which case, reacting nodes may
+ attempt to send requests to other destinations. On the other hand,
+ an entire Diameter realm may be overloaded, in which case, such
+ attempts would do harm. DOIC OLRs have a concept of "report type"
+ (Section 7.6), where the type defines such behaviors. Report types
+ are extensible. This document defines report types for overload of a
+ specific host and for overload of an entire realm.
+
+ DOIC works through non-supporting Diameter Agents that properly pass
+ unknown AVPs unchanged.
+
+4.1. Piggybacking
+
+ There is no new Diameter application defined to carry overload-
+ related AVPs. The overload control AVPs defined in this
+ specification have been designed to be piggybacked on top of existing
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 6]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ application messages. This is made possible by adding the optional
+ overload control AVPs OC-OLR and OC-Supported-Features into existing
+ commands.
+
+ Reacting nodes indicate support for DOIC by including the
+ OC-Supported-Features AVP in all request messages originated or
+ relayed by the reacting node.
+
+ Reporting nodes indicate support for DOIC by including the
+ OC-Supported-Features AVP in all answer messages that are originated
+ or relayed by the reporting node and that are in response to a
+ request that contained the OC-Supported-Features AVP. Reporting
+ nodes may include overload reports using the OC-OLR AVP in answer
+ messages.
+
+ Note that the overload control solution does not have fixed server
+ and client roles. The DOIC node role is determined based on the
+ message type: whether the message is a request (i.e., sent by a
+ "reacting node") or an answer (i.e., sent by a "reporting node").
+ Therefore, in a typical client-server deployment, the Diameter Client
+ may report its overload condition to the Diameter Server for any
+ Diameter-Server-initiated message exchange. An example of such is
+ the Diameter Server requesting a re-authentication from a Diameter
+ Client.
+
+4.2. DOIC Capability Announcement
+
+ The DOIC solution supports the ability for Diameter nodes to
+ determine if other nodes in the path of a request support the
+ solution. This capability is referred to as DOIC Capability
+ Announcement (DCA) and is separate from the Diameter Capability
+ Exchange.
+
+ The DCA mechanism uses the OC-Supported-Features AVPs to indicate the
+ Diameter overload features supported.
+
+ The first node in the path of a Diameter request that supports the
+ DOIC solution inserts the OC-Supported-Features AVP in the request
+ message.
+
+ The individual features supported by the DOIC nodes are indicated in
+ the OC-Feature-Vector AVP. Any semantics associated with the
+ features will be defined in extension specifications that introduce
+ the features.
+
+ Note: As discussed elsewhere in the document, agents in the path
+ of the request can modify the OC-Supported-Features AVP.
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 7]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ Note: The DOIC solution must support deployments where Diameter
+ Clients and/or Diameter Servers do not support the DOIC solution.
+ In this scenario, Diameter Agents that support the DOIC solution
+ may handle overload abatement for the non-supporting Diameter
+ nodes. In this case, the DOIC agent will insert the OC-Supported-
+ Features AVP in requests that do not already contain one, telling
+ the reporting node that there is a DOIC node that will handle
+ overload abatement. For transactions where there was an
+ OC-Supporting-Features AVP in the request, the agent will insert
+ the OC-Supported-Features AVP in answers, telling the reacting
+ node that there is a reporting node.
+
+ The OC-Feature-Vector AVP will always contain an indication of
+ support for the loss overload abatement algorithm defined in this
+ specification (see Section 6). This ensures that a reporting node
+ always supports at least one of the advertised abatement algorithms
+ received in a request messages.
+
+ The reporting node inserts the OC-Supported-Features AVP in all
+ answer messages to requests that contained the OC-Supported-Features
+ AVP. The contents of the reporting node's OC-Supported-Features AVP
+ indicate the set of Diameter overload features supported by the
+ reporting node. This specification defines one exception -- the
+ reporting node only includes an indication of support for one
+ overload abatement algorithm, independent of the number of overload
+ abatement algorithms actually supported by the reacting node. The
+ overload abatement algorithm indicated is the algorithm that the
+ reporting node intends to use should it enter an overload condition.
+ Reacting nodes can use the indicated overload abatement algorithm to
+ prepare for possible overload reports and must use the indicated
+ overload abatement algorithm if traffic reduction is actually
+ requested.
+
+ Note that the loss algorithm defined in this document is a
+ stateless abatement algorithm. As a result, it does not require
+ any actions by reacting nodes prior to the receipt of an overload
+ report. Stateful abatement algorithms that base the abatement
+ logic on a history of request messages sent might require reacting
+ nodes to maintain state in advance of receiving an overload report
+ to ensure that the overload reports can be properly handled.
+
+ While it should only be done in exceptional circumstances and not
+ during an active occurrence of overload, a reacting node that wishes
+ to transition to a different abatement algorithm can stop advertising
+ support for the algorithm indicated by the reporting node, as long as
+ support for the loss algorithm is always advertised.
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 8]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ The DCA mechanism must also allow the scenario where the set of
+ features supported by the sender of a request and by agents in the
+ path of a request differ. In this case, the agent can update the
+ OC-Supported-Features AVP to reflect the mixture of the two sets of
+ supported features.
+
+ Note: The logic to determine if the content of the OC-Supported-
+ Features AVP should be changed is out of scope for this document,
+ as is the logic to determine the content of a modified
+ OC-Supported-Features AVP. These are left to implementation
+ decisions. Care must be taken not to introduce interoperability
+ issues for downstream or upstream DOIC nodes. As such, the agent
+ must act as a fully compliant reporting node to the downstream
+ reacting node and as a fully compliant reacting node to the
+ upstream reporting node.
+
+4.3. DOIC Overload Condition Reporting
+
+ As with DOIC capability announcement, overload condition reporting
+ uses new AVPs (Section 7.3) to indicate an overload condition.
+
+ The OC-OLR AVP is referred to as an overload report. The OC-OLR AVP
+ includes the type of report, a sequence number, the length of time
+ that the report is valid, and AVPs specific to the abatement
+ algorithm.
+
+ Two types of overload reports are defined in this document: host
+ reports and realm reports.
+
+ A report of type "HOST_REPORT" is sent to indicate the overload of a
+ specific host, identified by the Origin-Host AVP of the message
+ containing the OLR, for the Application-ID indicated in the
+ transaction. When receiving an OLR of type "HOST_REPORT", a reacting
+ node applies overload abatement treatment to the host-routed requests
+ identified by the overload abatement algorithm (as defined in
+ Section 2) sent for this application to the overloaded host.
+
+ A report of type "REALM_REPORT" is sent to indicate the overload of a
+ realm for the Application-ID indicated in the transaction. The
+ overloaded realm is identified by the Destination-Realm AVP of the
+ message containing the OLR. When receiving an OLR of type
+ "REALM_REPORT", a reacting node applies overload abatement treatment
+ to realm-routed requests identified by the overload abatement
+ algorithm (as defined in Section 2) sent for this application to the
+ overloaded realm.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 9]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ This document assumes that there is a single source for realm reports
+ for a given realm, or that if multiple nodes can send realm reports,
+ that each such node has full knowledge of the overload state of the
+ entire realm. A reacting node cannot distinguish between receiving
+ realm reports from a single node or from multiple nodes.
+
+ Note: Known issues exist if there are multiple sources for
+ overload reports that apply to the same Diameter entity. Reacting
+ nodes have no way of determining the source and, as such, will
+ treat them as coming from a single source. Variance in sequence
+ numbers between the two sources can then cause incorrect overload
+ abatement treatment to be applied for indeterminate periods of
+ time.
+
+ Reporting nodes are responsible for determining the need for a
+ reduction of traffic. The method for making this determination is
+ implementation specific and depends on the type of overload report
+ being generated. A host report might be generated by tracking use of
+ resources required by the host to handle transactions for the
+ Diameter application. A realm report generally impacts the traffic
+ sent to multiple hosts and, as such, requires tracking the capacity
+ of all servers able to handle realm-routed requests for the
+ application and realm.
+
+ Once a reporting node determines the need for a reduction in traffic,
+ it uses the DOIC-defined AVPs to report on the condition. These AVPs
+ are included in answer messages sent or relayed by the reporting
+ node. The reporting node indicates the overload abatement algorithm
+ that is to be used to handle the traffic reduction in the
+ OC-Supported-Features AVP. The OC-OLR AVP is used to communicate
+ information about the requested reduction.
+
+ Reacting nodes, upon receipt of an overload report, apply the
+ overload abatement algorithm to traffic impacted by the overload
+ report. The method used to determine the requests that are to
+ receive overload abatement treatment is dependent on the abatement
+ algorithm. The loss abatement algorithm is defined in this document
+ (Section 6). Other abatement algorithms can be defined in extensions
+ to the DOIC solution.
+
+ Two types of overload abatement treatment are defined, diversion and
+ throttling. Reacting nodes are responsible for determining which
+ treatment is appropriate for individual requests.
+
+ As the conditions that lead to the generation of the overload report
+ change, the reporting node can send new overload reports requesting
+ greater reduction if the condition gets worse or less reduction if
+ the condition improves. The reporting node sends an overload report
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 10]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ with a duration of zero to indicate that the overload condition has
+ ended and abatement is no longer needed.
+
+ The reacting node also determines when the overload report expires
+ based on the OC-Validity-Duration AVP in the overload report and
+ stops applying the abatement algorithm when the report expires.
+
+ Note that erroneous overload reports can be used for DoS attacks.
+ This includes the ability to indicate that a significant reduction in
+ traffic, up to and including a request for no traffic, should be sent
+ to a reporting node. As such, care should be taken to verify the
+ sender of overload reports.
+
+4.4. DOIC Extensibility
+
+ The DOIC solution is designed to be extensible. This extensibility
+ is based on existing Diameter-based extensibility mechanisms, along
+ with the DOIC capability announcement mechanism.
+
+ There are multiple categories of extensions that are expected. This
+ includes the definition of new overload abatement algorithms, the
+ definition of new report types, and the definition of new scopes of
+ messages impacted by an overload report.
+
+ A DOIC node communicates supported features by including them in the
+ OC-Feature-Vector AVP, as a sub-AVP of OC-Supported-Features. Any
+ non-backwards-compatible DOIC extensions define new values for the
+ OC-Feature-Vector AVP. DOIC extensions also have the ability to add
+ new AVPs to the OC-Supported-Features AVP, if additional information
+ about the new feature is required.
+
+ Overload reports can also be extended by adding new sub-AVPs to the
+ OC-OLR AVP, allowing reporting nodes to communicate additional
+ information about handling an overload condition.
+
+ If necessary, new extensions can also define new AVPs that are not
+ part of the OC-Supported-Features and OC-OLR group AVPs. It is,
+ however, recommended that DOIC extensions use the OC-Supported-
+ Features AVP and OC-OLR AVP to carry all DOIC-related AVPs.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
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+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+4.5. Simplified Example Architecture
+
+ Figure 1 illustrates the simplified architecture for Diameter
+ overload information conveyance.
+
+ Realm X Same or other Realms
+ <--------------------------------------> <---------------------->
+
+
+ +--------+ : (optional) :
+ |Diameter| : :
+ |Server A|--+ .--. : +--------+ : .--.
+ +--------+ | _( `. : |Diameter| : _( `. +--------+
+ +--( )--:-| Agent |-:--( )--|Diameter|
+ +--------+ | ( ` . ) ) : +--------+ : ( ` . ) ) | Client |
+ |Diameter|--+ `--(___.-' : : `--(___.-' +--------+
+ |Server B| : :
+ +--------+ : :
+
+ End-to-end Overload Indication
+ 1) <----------------------------------------------->
+ Diameter Application Y
+
+ Overload Indication A Overload Indication A'
+ 2) <----------------------> <---------------------->
+ Diameter Application Y Diameter Application Y
+
+ Figure 1: Simplified Architecture Choices for Overload Indication
+ Delivery
+
+ In Figure 1, the Diameter overload indication can be conveyed (1)
+ end-to-end between servers and clients or (2) between servers and the
+ Diameter Agent inside the realm and then between the Diameter Agent
+ and the clients.
+
+5. Solution Procedures
+
+ This section outlines the normative behavior for the DOIC solution.
+
+5.1. Capability Announcement
+
+ This section defines DOIC Capability Announcement (DCA) behavior.
+
+ Note: This specification assumes that changes in DOIC node
+ capabilities are relatively rare events that occur as a result of
+ administrative action. Reacting nodes ought to minimize changes
+ that force the reporting node to change the features being used,
+ especially during active overload conditions. But even if
+
+
+
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+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ reacting nodes avoid such changes, reporting nodes still have to
+ be prepared for them to occur. For example, differing
+ capabilities between multiple reacting nodes may still force a
+ reporting node to select different features on a per-transaction
+ basis.
+
+5.1.1. Reacting Node Behavior
+
+ A reacting node MUST include the OC-Supported-Features AVP in all
+ requests. It MAY include the OC-Feature-Vector AVP, as a sub-AVP of
+ OC-Supported-Features. If it does so, it MUST indicate support for
+ the "loss" algorithm. If the reacting node is configured to support
+ features (including other algorithms) in addition to the loss
+ algorithm, it MUST indicate such support in an OC-Feature-Vector AVP.
+
+ An OC-Supported-Features AVP in answer messages indicates there is a
+ reporting node for the transaction. The reacting node MAY take
+ action, for example, creating state for some stateful abatement
+ algorithm, based on the features indicated in the OC-Feature-Vector
+ AVP.
+
+ Note: The loss abatement algorithm does not require stateful
+ behavior when there is no active overload report.
+
+ Reacting nodes need to be prepared for the reporting node to change
+ selected algorithms. This can happen at any time, including when the
+ reporting node has sent an active overload report. The reacting node
+ can minimize the potential for changes by modifying the advertised
+ abatement algorithms sent to an overloaded reporting node to the
+ currently selected algorithm and loss (or just loss if it is the
+ currently selected algorithm). This has the effect of limiting the
+ potential change in abatement algorithm from the currently selected
+ algorithm to loss, avoiding changes to more complex abatement
+ algorithms that require state to operate properly.
+
+5.1.2. Reporting Node Behavior
+
+ Upon receipt of a request message, a reporting node determines if
+ there is a reacting node for the transaction based on the presence of
+ the OC-Supported-Features AVP in the request message.
+
+ If the request message contains an OC-Supported-Features AVP, then a
+ reporting node MUST include the OC-Supported-Features AVP in the
+ answer message for that transaction.
+
+ Note: Capability announcement is done on a per-transaction basis.
+ The reporting node cannot assume that the capabilities announced
+ by a reacting node will be the same between transactions.
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 13]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ A reporting node MUST NOT include the OC-Supported-Features AVP,
+ OC-OLR AVP, or any other overload control AVPs defined in extension
+ documents in response messages for transactions where the request
+ message does not include the OC-Supported-Features AVP. Lack of the
+ OC-Supported-Features AVP in the request message indicates that there
+ is no reacting node for the transaction.
+
+ A reporting node knows what overload control functionality is
+ supported by the reacting node based on the content or absence of the
+ OC-Feature-Vector AVP within the OC-Supported-Features AVP in the
+ request message.
+
+ A reporting node MUST select a single abatement algorithm in the
+ OC-Feature-Vector AVP. The abatement algorithm selected MUST
+ indicate the abatement algorithm the reporting node wants the
+ reacting node to use when the reporting node enters an overload
+ condition.
+
+ The abatement algorithm selected MUST be from the set of abatement
+ algorithms contained in the request message's OC-Feature-Vector AVP.
+
+ A reporting node that selects the loss algorithm may do so by
+ including the OC-Feature-Vector AVP with an explicit indication of
+ the loss algorithm, or it MAY omit the OC-Feature-Vector AVP. If it
+ selects a different algorithm, it MUST include the OC-Feature-Vector
+ AVP with an explicit indication of the selected algorithm.
+
+ The reporting node SHOULD indicate support for other DOIC features
+ defined in extension documents that it supports and that apply to the
+ transaction. It does so using the OC-Feature-Vector AVP.
+
+ Note: Not all DOIC features will apply to all Diameter
+ applications or deployment scenarios. The features included in
+ the OC-Feature-Vector AVP are based on local policy of the
+ reporting node.
+
+5.1.3. Agent Behavior
+
+ Diameter Agents that support DOIC can ensure that all messages
+ relayed by the agent contain the OC-Supported-Features AVP.
+
+ A Diameter Agent MAY take on reacting node behavior for Diameter
+ endpoints that do not support the DOIC solution. A Diameter Agent
+ detects that a Diameter endpoint does not support DOIC reacting node
+ behavior when there is no OC-Supported-Features AVP in a request
+ message.
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 14]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ For a Diameter Agent to be a reacting node for a non-supporting
+ Diameter endpoint, the Diameter Agent MUST include the OC-Supported-
+ Features AVP in request messages it relays that do not contain the
+ OC-Supported-Features AVP.
+
+ A Diameter Agent MAY take on reporting node behavior for Diameter
+ endpoints that do not support the DOIC solution. The Diameter Agent
+ MUST have visibility to all traffic destined for the non-supporting
+ host in order to become the reporting node for the Diameter endpoint.
+ A Diameter Agent detects that a Diameter endpoint does not support
+ DOIC reporting node behavior when there is no OC-Supported-Features
+ AVP in an answer message for a transaction that contained the
+ OC-Supported-Features AVP in the request message.
+
+ If a request already has the OC-Supported-Features AVP, a Diameter
+ Agent MAY modify it to reflect the features appropriate for the
+ transaction. Otherwise, the agent relays the OC-Supported-Features
+ AVP without change.
+
+ Example: If the agent supports a superset of the features reported
+ by the reacting node, then the agent might choose, based on local
+ policy, to advertise that superset of features to the reporting
+ node.
+
+ If the Diameter Agent changes the OC-Supported-Features AVP in a
+ request message, then it is likely it will also need to modify the
+ OC-Supported-Features AVP in the answer message for the transaction.
+ A Diameter Agent MAY modify the OC-Supported-Features AVP carried in
+ answer messages.
+
+ When making changes to the OC-Supported-Features or OC-OLR AVPs, the
+ Diameter Agent needs to ensure consistency in its behavior with both
+ upstream and downstream DOIC nodes.
+
+5.2. Overload Report Processing
+
+5.2.1. Overload Control State
+
+ Both reacting and reporting nodes maintain Overload Control State
+ (OCS) for active overload conditions. The following sections define
+ behavior associated with that OCS.
+
+ The contents of the OCS in the reporting node and in the reacting
+ node represent logical constructs. The actual internal physical
+ structure of the state included in the OCS is an implementation
+ decision.
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 15]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+5.2.1.1. Overload Control State for Reacting Nodes
+
+ A reacting node maintains the following OCS per supported Diameter
+ application:
+
+ o a host-type OCS entry for each Destination-Host to which it sends
+ host-type requests and
+
+ o a realm-type OCS entry for each Destination-Realm to which it
+ sends realm-type requests.
+
+ A host-type OCS entry is identified by the pair of Application-ID and
+ the node's DiameterIdentity.
+
+ A realm-type OCS entry is identified by the pair of Application-ID
+ and realm.
+
+ The host-type and realm-type OCS entries include the following
+ information (the actual information stored is an implementation
+ decision):
+
+ o Sequence number (as received in OC-OLR; see Section 7.3)
+
+ o Time of expiry (derived from OC-Validity-Duration AVP received in
+ the OC-OLR AVP and time of reception of the message carrying
+ OC-OLR AVP)
+
+ o Selected abatement algorithm (as received in the OC-Supported-
+ Features AVP)
+
+ o Input data that is abatement algorithm specific (as received in
+ the OC-OLR AVP -- for example, OC-Reduction-Percentage for the
+ loss abatement algorithm)
+
+5.2.1.2. Overload Control State for Reporting Nodes
+
+ A reporting node maintains OCS entries per supported Diameter
+ application, per supported (and eventually selected) abatement
+ algorithm, and per report type.
+
+ An OCS entry is identified by the tuple of Application-ID, report
+ type, and abatement algorithm, and it includes the following
+ information (the actual information stored is an implementation
+ decision):
+
+ o Sequence number
+
+ o Validity duration
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 16]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ o Expiration time
+
+ o Input data that is algorithm specific (for example, the reduction
+ percentage for the loss abatement algorithm)
+
+5.2.1.3. Reacting Node's Maintenance of Overload Control State
+
+ When a reacting node receives an OC-OLR AVP, it MUST determine if it
+ is for an existing or new overload condition.
+
+ Note: For the remainder of this section, the term "OLR" refers to
+ the combination of the contents of the received OC-OLR AVP and the
+ abatement algorithm indicated in the received OC-Supported-
+ Features AVP.
+
+ When receiving an answer message with multiple OLRs of different
+ supported report types, a reacting node MUST process each received
+ OLR.
+
+ The OLR is for an existing overload condition if a reacting node has
+ an OCS that matches the received OLR.
+
+ For a host report, this means it matches the Application-ID and the
+ host's DiameterIdentity in an existing host OCS entry.
+
+ For a realm report, this means it matches the Application-ID and the
+ realm in an existing realm OCS entry.
+
+ If the OLR is for an existing overload condition, then a reacting
+ node MUST determine if the OLR is a retransmission or an update to
+ the existing OLR.
+
+ If the sequence number for the received OLR is greater than the
+ sequence number stored in the matching OCS entry, then a reacting
+ node MUST update the matching OCS entry.
+
+ If the sequence number for the received OLR is less than or equal to
+ the sequence number in the matching OCS entry, then a reacting node
+ MUST silently ignore the received OLR. The matching OCS MUST NOT be
+ updated in this case.
+
+ If the reacting node determines that the sequence number has rolled
+ over, then the reacting node MUST update the matching OCS entry.
+ This can be determined by recognizing that the number has changed
+ from a value within 1% of the maximum value in the OC-Sequence-Number
+ AVP to a value within 1% of the minimum value in the OC-Sequence-
+ Number AVP.
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 17]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ If the received OLR is for a new overload condition, then a reacting
+ node MUST generate a new OCS entry for the overload condition.
+
+ For a host report, this means a reacting node creates an OCS entry
+ with the Application-ID in the received message and DiameterIdentity
+ of the Origin-Host in the received message.
+
+ Note: This solution assumes that the Origin-Host AVP in the answer
+ message included by the reporting node is not changed along the
+ path to the reacting node.
+
+ For a realm report, this means a reacting node creates an OCS entry
+ with the Application-ID in the received message and realm of the
+ Origin-Realm in the received message.
+
+ If the received OLR contains a validity duration of zero ("0"), then
+ a reacting node MUST update the OCS entry as being expired.
+
+ Note: It is not necessarily appropriate to delete the OCS entry,
+ as the recommended behavior is that the reacting node slowly
+ returns to full traffic when ending an overload abatement period.
+
+ The reacting node does not delete an OCS when receiving an answer
+ message that does not contain an OC-OLR AVP (i.e., absence of OLR
+ means "no change").
+
+5.2.1.4. Reporting Node's Maintenance of Overload Control State
+
+ A reporting node SHOULD create a new OCS entry when entering an
+ overload condition.
+
+ Note: If a reporting node knows through absence of the
+ OC-Supported-Features AVP in received messages that there are no
+ reacting nodes supporting DOIC, then the reporting node can choose
+ to not create OCS entries.
+
+ When generating a new OCS entry, the sequence number SHOULD be set to
+ zero ("0").
+
+ When generating sequence numbers for new overload conditions, the new
+ sequence number MUST be greater than any sequence number in an active
+ (unexpired) overload report for the same application and report type
+ previously sent by the reporting node. This property MUST hold over
+ a reboot of the reporting node.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 18]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ Note: One way of addressing this over a reboot of a reporting node
+ is to use a timestamp for the first overload condition that occurs
+ after the report and to start using sequences beginning with zero
+ for subsequent overload conditions.
+
+ A reporting node MUST update an OCS entry when it needs to adjust the
+ validity duration of the overload condition at reacting nodes.
+
+ Example: If a reporting node wishes to instruct reacting nodes to
+ continue overload abatement for a longer period of time than
+ originally communicated. This also applies if the reporting node
+ wishes to shorten the period of time that overload abatement is to
+ continue.
+
+ A reporting node MUST update an OCS entry when it wishes to adjust
+ any parameters specific to the abatement algorithm, including, for
+ example, the reduction percentage used for the loss abatement
+ algorithm.
+
+ Example: If a reporting node wishes to change the reduction
+ percentage either higher (if the overload condition has worsened)
+ or lower (if the overload condition has improved), then the
+ reporting node would update the appropriate OCS entry.
+
+ A reporting node MUST increment the sequence number associated with
+ the OCS entry anytime the contents of the OCS entry are changed.
+ This will result in a new sequence number being sent to reacting
+ nodes, instructing them to process the OC-OLR AVP.
+
+ A reporting node SHOULD update an OCS entry with a validity duration
+ of zero ("0") when the overload condition ends.
+
+ Note: If a reporting node knows that the OCS entries in the
+ reacting nodes are near expiration, then the reporting node might
+ decide not to send an OLR with a validity duration of zero.
+
+ A reporting node MUST keep an OCS entry with a validity duration of
+ zero ("0") for a period of time long enough to ensure that any
+ unexpired reacting node's OCS entry created as a result of the
+ overload condition in the reporting node is deleted.
+
+5.2.2. Reacting Node Behavior
+
+ When a reacting node sends a request, it MUST determine if that
+ request matches an active OCS.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 19]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ If the request matches an active OCS, then the reacting node MUST use
+ the overload abatement algorithm indicated in the OCS to determine if
+ the request is to receive overload abatement treatment.
+
+ For the loss abatement algorithm defined in this specification, see
+ Section 6 for the overload abatement algorithm logic applied.
+
+ If the overload abatement algorithm selects the request for overload
+ abatement treatment, then the reacting node MUST apply overload
+ abatement treatment on the request. The abatement treatment applied
+ depends on the context of the request.
+
+ If diversion abatement treatment is possible (i.e., a different path
+ for the request can be selected where the overloaded node is not part
+ of the different path), then the reacting node SHOULD apply diversion
+ abatement treatment to the request. The reacting node MUST apply
+ throttling abatement treatment to requests identified for abatement
+ treatment when diversion treatment is not possible or was not
+ applied.
+
+ Note: This only addresses the case where there are two defined
+ abatement treatments, diversion and throttling. Any extension
+ that defines a new abatement treatment must also define its
+ interaction with existing treatments.
+
+ If the overload abatement treatment results in throttling of the
+ request and if the reacting node is an agent, then the agent MUST
+ send an appropriate error as defined in Section 8.
+
+ Diameter endpoints that throttle requests need to do so according to
+ the rules of the client application. Those rules will vary by
+ application and are beyond the scope of this document.
+
+ In the case that the OCS entry indicated no traffic was to be sent to
+ the overloaded entity and the validity duration expires, then
+ overload abatement associated with the overload report MUST be ended
+ in a controlled fashion.
+
+5.2.3. Reporting Node Behavior
+
+ If there is an active OCS entry, then a reporting node SHOULD include
+ the OC-OLR AVP in all answers to requests that contain the
+ OC-Supported-Features AVP and that match the active OCS entry.
+
+ Note: A request matches 1) if the Application-ID in the request
+ matches the Application-ID in any active OCS entry and 2) if the
+ report type in the OCS entry matches a report type supported by
+ the reporting node as indicated in the OC-Supported-Features AVP.
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 20]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ The contents of the OC-OLR AVP depend on the selected algorithm.
+
+ A reporting node MAY choose to not resend an overload report to a
+ reacting node if it can guarantee that this overload report is
+ already active in the reacting node.
+
+ Note: In some cases (e.g., when there are one or more agents in
+ the path between reporting and reacting nodes, or when overload
+ reports are discarded by reacting nodes), a reporting node may not
+ be able to guarantee that the reacting node has received the
+ report.
+
+ A reporting node MUST NOT send overload reports of a type that has
+ not been advertised as supported by the reacting node.
+
+ Note: A reacting node implicitly advertises support for the host
+ and realm report types by including the OC-Supported-Features AVP
+ in the request. Support for other report types will be explicitly
+ indicated by new feature bits in the OC-Feature-Vector AVP.
+
+ A reporting node SHOULD explicitly indicate the end of an overload
+ occurrence by sending a new OLR with OC-Validity-Duration set to a
+ value of zero ("0"). The reporting node SHOULD ensure that all
+ reacting nodes receive the updated overload report.
+
+ A reporting node MAY rely on the OC-Validity-Duration AVP values for
+ the implicit cleanup of overload control state on the reacting node.
+
+ Note: All OLRs sent have an expiration time calculated by adding
+ the validity duration contained in the OLR to the time the message
+ was sent. Transit time for the OLR can be safely ignored. The
+ reporting node can ensure that all reacting nodes have received
+ the OLR by continuing to send it in answer messages until the
+ expiration time for all OLRs sent for that overload condition have
+ expired.
+
+ When a reporting node sends an OLR, it effectively delegates any
+ necessary throttling to downstream nodes. If the reporting node also
+ locally throttles the same set of messages, the overall number of
+ throttled requests may be higher than intended. Therefore, before
+ applying local message throttling, a reporting node needs to check if
+ these messages match existing OCS entries, indicating that these
+ messages have survived throttling applied by downstream nodes that
+ have received the related OLR.
+
+ However, even if the set of messages match existing OCS entries, the
+ reporting node can still apply other abatement methods such as
+ diversion. The reporting node might also need to throttle requests
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 21]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ for reasons other than overload. For example, an agent or server
+ might have a configured rate limit for each client and might throttle
+ requests that exceed that limit, even if such requests had already
+ been candidates for throttling by downstream nodes. The reporting
+ node also has the option to send new OLRs requesting greater
+ reductions in traffic, reducing the need for local throttling.
+
+ A reporting node SHOULD decrease requested overload abatement
+ treatment in a controlled fashion to avoid oscillations in traffic.
+
+ Example: A reporting node might wait some period of time after
+ overload ends before terminating the OLR, or it might send a
+ series of OLRs indicating progressively less overload severity.
+
+5.3. Protocol Extensibility
+
+ The DOIC solution can be extended. Types of potential extensions
+ include new traffic abatement algorithms, new report types, or other
+ new functionality.
+
+ When defining a new extension that requires new normative behavior,
+ the specification must define a new feature for the OC-Feature-Vector
+ AVP. This feature bit is used to communicate support for the new
+ feature.
+
+ The extension may define new AVPs for use in the DOIC Capability
+ Announcement and for use in DOIC overload reporting. These new AVPs
+ SHOULD be defined to be extensions to the OC-Supported-Features or
+ OC-OLR AVPs defined in this document.
+
+ The Grouped AVP extension mechanisms defined in [RFC6733] apply.
+ This allows, for example, defining a new feature that is mandatory to
+ be understood even when piggybacked on an existing application.
+
+ When defining new report type values, the corresponding specification
+ must define the semantics of the new report types and how they affect
+ the OC-OLR AVP handling.
+
+ The OC-Supported-Feature and OC-OLR AVPs can be expanded with
+ optional sub-AVPs only if a legacy DOIC implementation can safely
+ ignore them without breaking backward compatibility for the given
+ OC-Report-Type AVP value. Any new sub-AVPs must not require that the
+ M-bit be set.
+
+ Documents that introduce new report types must describe any
+ limitations on their use across non-supporting agents.
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 22]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ As with any Diameter specification, RFC 6733 requires all new AVPs to
+ be registered with IANA. See Section 9 for the required procedures.
+ New features (feature bits in the OC-Feature-Vector AVP) and report
+ types (in the OC-Report-Type AVP) MUST be registered with IANA.
+
+6. Loss Algorithm
+
+ This section documents the Diameter overload loss abatement
+ algorithm.
+
+6.1. Overview
+
+ The DOIC specification supports the ability for multiple overload
+ abatement algorithms to be specified. The abatement algorithm used
+ for any instance of overload is determined by the DOIC Capability
+ Announcement process documented in Section 5.1.
+
+ The loss algorithm described in this section is the default algorithm
+ that must be supported by all Diameter nodes that support DOIC.
+
+ The loss algorithm is designed to be a straightforward and stateless
+ overload abatement algorithm. It is used by reporting nodes to
+ request a percentage reduction in the amount of traffic sent. The
+ traffic impacted by the requested reduction depends on the type of
+ overload report.
+
+ Reporting nodes request the stateless reduction of the number of
+ requests by an indicated percentage. This percentage reduction is in
+ comparison to the number of messages the node otherwise would send,
+ regardless of how many requests the node might have sent in the past.
+
+ From a conceptual level, the logic at the reacting node could be
+ outlined as follows.
+
+ 1. An overload report is received, and the associated OCS is either
+ saved or updated (if required) by the reacting node.
+
+ 2. A new Diameter request is generated by the application running on
+ the reacting node.
+
+ 3. The reacting node determines that an active overload report
+ applies to the request, as indicated by the corresponding OCS
+ entry.
+
+ 4. The reacting node determines if overload abatement treatment
+ should be applied to the request. One approach that could be
+ taken for each request is to select a uniformly selected random
+ number between 1 and 100. If the random number is less than or
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 23]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ equal to the indicated reduction percentage, then the request is
+ given abatement treatment; otherwise, the request is given normal
+ routing treatment.
+
+6.2. Reporting Node Behavior
+
+ The method a reporting node uses to determine the amount of traffic
+ reduction required to address an overload condition is an
+ implementation decision.
+
+ When a reporting node that has selected the loss abatement algorithm
+ determines the need to request a reduction in traffic, it includes an
+ OC-OLR AVP in answer messages as described in Section 5.2.3.
+
+ When sending the OC-OLR AVP, the reporting node MUST indicate a
+ percentage reduction in the OC-Reduction-Percentage AVP.
+
+ The reporting node MAY change the reduction percentage in subsequent
+ overload reports. When doing so, the reporting node must conform to
+ overload report handling specified in Section 5.2.3.
+
+6.3. Reacting Node Behavior
+
+ The method a reacting node uses to determine which request messages
+ are given abatement treatment is an implementation decision.
+
+ When receiving an OC-OLR in an answer message where the algorithm
+ indicated in the OC-Supported-Features AVP is the loss algorithm, the
+ reacting node MUST apply abatement treatment to the requested
+ percentage of request messages sent.
+
+ Note: The loss algorithm is a stateless algorithm. As a result,
+ the reacting node does not guarantee that there will be an
+ absolute reduction in traffic sent. Rather, it guarantees that
+ the requested percentage of new requests will be given abatement
+ treatment.
+
+ If the reacting node comes out of the 100% traffic reduction
+ (meaning, it has received an OLR indicating that no traffic should be
+ sent, as a result of the overload report timing out), the reacting
+ node sending the traffic SHOULD be conservative and, for example,
+ first send "probe" messages to learn the overload condition of the
+ overloaded node before converging to any traffic amount/rate decided
+ by the sender. Similar concerns apply in all cases when the overload
+ report times out, unless the previous overload report stated 0%
+ reduction.
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 24]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ Note: The goal of this behavior is to reduce the probability of
+ overload condition thrashing where an immediate transition from
+ 100% reduction to 0% reduction results in the reporting node
+ moving quickly back into an overload condition.
+
+7. Attribute Value Pairs
+
+ This section describes the encoding and semantics of the Diameter
+ Overload Indication Attribute Value Pairs (AVPs) defined in this
+ document.
+
+ Refer to Section 4 of [RFC6733] for more information on AVPs and AVP
+ data types.
+
+7.1. OC-Supported-Features AVP
+
+ The OC-Supported-Features AVP (AVP Code 621) is of type Grouped and
+ serves two purposes. First, it announces a node's support for the
+ DOIC solution in general. Second, it contains the description of the
+ supported DOIC features of the sending node. The OC-Supported-
+ Features AVP MUST be included in every Diameter request message a
+ DOIC supporting node sends.
+
+ OC-Supported-Features ::= < AVP Header: 621 >
+ [ OC-Feature-Vector ]
+ * [ AVP ]
+
+7.2. OC-Feature-Vector AVP
+
+ The OC-Feature-Vector AVP (AVP Code 622) is of type Unsigned64 and
+ contains a 64-bit flags field of announced capabilities of a DOIC
+ node. The value of zero (0) is reserved.
+
+ The OC-Feature-Vector sub-AVP is used to announce the DOIC features
+ supported by the DOIC node, in the form of a flag-bits field in which
+ each bit announces one feature or capability supported by the node.
+ The absence of the OC-Feature-Vector AVP in request messages
+ indicates that only the default traffic abatement algorithm described
+ in this specification is supported. The absence of the OC-Feature-
+ Vector AVP in answer messages indicates that the default traffic
+ abatement algorithm described in this specification is selected
+ (while other traffic abatement algorithms may be supported), and no
+ features other than abatement algorithms are supported.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
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+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ The following capability is defined in this document:
+
+ OLR_DEFAULT_ALGO (0x0000000000000001)
+
+ When this flag is set by the a DOIC reacting node, it means that
+ the default traffic abatement (loss) algorithm is supported. When
+ this flag is set by a DOIC reporting node, it means that the loss
+ algorithm will be used for requested overload abatement.
+
+7.3. OC-OLR AVP
+
+ The OC-OLR AVP (AVP Code 623) is of type Grouped and contains the
+ information necessary to convey an overload report on an overload
+ condition at the reporting node. The application the OC-OLR AVP
+ applies to is identified by the Application-ID found in the Diameter
+ message header. The host or realm the OC-OLR AVP concerns is
+ determined from the Origin-Host AVP and/or Origin-Realm AVP found in
+ the encapsulating Diameter command. The OC-OLR AVP is intended to be
+ sent only by a reporting node.
+
+ OC-OLR ::= < AVP Header: 623 >
+ < OC-Sequence-Number >
+ < OC-Report-Type >
+ [ OC-Reduction-Percentage ]
+ [ OC-Validity-Duration ]
+ * [ AVP ]
+
+7.4. OC-Sequence-Number AVP
+
+ The OC-Sequence-Number AVP (AVP Code 624) is of type Unsigned64. Its
+ usage in the context of overload control is described in Section 5.2.
+
+ From the functionality point of view, the OC-Sequence-Number AVP is
+ used as a nonvolatile increasing counter for a sequence of overload
+ reports between two DOIC nodes for the same overload occurrence.
+ Sequence numbers are treated in a unidirectional manner, i.e., two
+ sequence numbers in each direction between two DOIC nodes are not
+ related or correlated.
+
+7.5. OC-Validity-Duration AVP
+
+ The OC-Validity-Duration AVP (AVP Code 625) is of type Unsigned32 and
+ indicates in seconds the validity time of the overload report. The
+ number of seconds is measured after reception of the first OC-OLR AVP
+ with a given value of OC-Sequence-Number AVP. The default value for
+ the OC-Validity-Duration AVP is 30 seconds. When the OC-Validity-
+ Duration AVP is not present in the OC-OLR AVP, the default value
+ applies. The maximum value for the OC-Validity-Duration AVP is
+
+
+
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+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ 86,400 seconds (24 hours). If the value received in the OC-Validity-
+ Duration is greater than the maximum value, then the default value
+ applies.
+
+7.6. OC-Report-Type AVP
+
+ The OC-Report-Type AVP (AVP Code 626) is of type Enumerated. The
+ value of the AVP describes what the overload report concerns. The
+ following values are initially defined:
+
+ HOST_REPORT 0
+ The overload report is for a host. Overload abatement treatment
+ applies to host-routed requests.
+
+ REALM_REPORT 1
+ The overload report is for a realm. Overload abatement treatment
+ applies to realm-routed requests.
+
+ The values 2-4294967295 are unassigned.
+
+7.7. OC-Reduction-Percentage AVP
+
+ The OC-Reduction-Percentage AVP (AVP Code 627) is of type Unsigned32
+ and describes the percentage of the traffic that the sender is
+ requested to reduce, compared to what it otherwise would send. The
+ OC-Reduction-Percentage AVP applies to the default (loss) algorithm
+ specified in this specification. However, the AVP can be reused for
+ future abatement algorithms, if its semantics fit into the new
+ algorithm.
+
+ The value of the Reduction-Percentage AVP is between zero (0) and one
+ hundred (100). Values greater than 100 are ignored. The value of
+ 100 means that all traffic is to be throttled, i.e., the reporting
+ node is under a severe load and ceases to process any new messages.
+ The value of 0 means that the reporting node is in a stable state and
+ has no need for the reacting node to apply any traffic abatement.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
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+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+7.8. AVP Flag Rules
+
+ +---------+
+ |AVP flag |
+ |rules |
+ +----+----+
+ AVP Section | |MUST|
+ Attribute Name Code Defined Value Type |MUST| NOT|
+ +--------------------------------------------------+----+----+
+ |OC-Supported-Features 621 7.1 Grouped | | V |
+ +--------------------------------------------------+----+----+
+ |OC-Feature-Vector 622 7.2 Unsigned64 | | V |
+ +--------------------------------------------------+----+----+
+ |OC-OLR 623 7.3 Grouped | | V |
+ +--------------------------------------------------+----+----+
+ |OC-Sequence-Number 624 7.4 Unsigned64 | | V |
+ +--------------------------------------------------+----+----+
+ |OC-Validity-Duration 625 7.5 Unsigned32 | | V |
+ +--------------------------------------------------+----+----+
+ |OC-Report-Type 626 7.6 Enumerated | | V |
+ +--------------------------------------------------+----+----+
+ |OC-Reduction | | |
+ | -Percentage 627 7.7 Unsigned32 | | V |
+ +--------------------------------------------------+----+----+
+
+ As described in the Diameter base protocol [RFC6733], the M-bit usage
+ for a given AVP in a given command may be defined by the application.
+
+8. Error Response Codes
+
+ When a DOIC node rejects a Diameter request due to overload, the DOIC
+ node MUST select an appropriate error response code. This
+ determination is made based on the probability of the request
+ succeeding if retried on a different path.
+
+ Note: This only applies for DOIC nodes that are not the originator
+ of the request.
+
+ A reporting node rejecting a Diameter request due to an overload
+ condition SHOULD send a DIAMETER_TOO_BUSY error response, if it can
+ assume that the same request may succeed on a different path.
+
+ If a reporting node knows or assumes that the same request will not
+ succeed on a different path, the DIAMETER_UNABLE_TO_COMPLY error
+ response SHOULD be used. Retrying would consume valuable resources
+ during an occurrence of overload.
+
+
+
+
+
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+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ For instance, if the request arrived at the reporting node without
+ a Destination-Host AVP, then the reporting node might determine
+ that there is an alternative Diameter node that could successfully
+ process the request and that retrying the transaction would not
+ negatively impact the reporting node. DIAMETER_TOO_BUSY would be
+ sent in this case.
+
+ If the request arrived at the reporting node with a Destination-
+ Host AVP populated with its own Diameter identity, then the
+ reporting node can assume that retrying the request would result
+ in it coming to the same reporting node.
+ DIAMETER_UNABLE_TO_COMPLY would be sent in this case.
+
+ A second example is when an agent that supports the DOIC solution
+ is performing the role of a reacting node for a non-supporting
+ client. Requests that are rejected as a result of DOIC throttling
+ by the agent in this scenario would generally be rejected with a
+ DIAMETER_UNABLE_TO_COMPLY response code.
+
+9. IANA Considerations
+
+9.1. AVP Codes
+
+ New AVPs defined by this specification are listed in Section 7. All
+ AVP codes are allocated from the "AVP Codes" sub-registry under the
+ "Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) Parameters"
+ registry.
+
+9.2. New Registries
+
+ Two new registries have been created in the "AVP Specific Values"
+ sub-registry under the "Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting
+ (AAA) Parameters" registry.
+
+ A new "OC-Feature-Vector AVP Values (code 622)" registry has been
+ created. This registry contains the following:
+
+ Feature Vector Value Name
+
+ Feature Vector Value
+
+ Specification defining the new value
+
+ See Section 7.2 for the initial Feature Vector Value in the registry.
+ This specification defines the value. New values can be added to the
+ registry using the Specification Required policy [RFC5226].
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 29]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ A new "OC-Report-Type AVP Values (code 626)" registry has been
+ created. This registry contains the following:
+
+ Report Type Value Name
+
+ Report Type Value
+
+ Specification defining the new value
+
+ See Section 7.6 for the initial assignment in the registry. New
+ types can be added using the Specification Required policy [RFC5226].
+
+10. Security Considerations
+
+ DOIC gives Diameter nodes the ability to request that downstream
+ nodes send fewer Diameter requests. Nodes do this by exchanging
+ overload reports that directly effect this reduction. This exchange
+ is potentially subject to multiple methods of attack and has the
+ potential to be used as a denial-of-service (DoS) attack vector. For
+ instance, a series of injected realm OLRs with a requested reduction
+ percentage of 100% could be used to completely eliminate any traffic
+ from being sent to that realm.
+
+ Overload reports may contain information about the topology and
+ current status of a Diameter network. This information is
+ potentially sensitive. Network operators may wish to control
+ disclosure of overload reports to unauthorized parties to avoid their
+ use for competitive intelligence or to target attacks.
+
+ Diameter does not include features to provide end-to-end
+ authentication, integrity protection, or confidentiality. This may
+ cause complications when sending overload reports between non-
+ adjacent nodes.
+
+10.1. Potential Threat Modes
+
+ The Diameter protocol involves transactions in the form of requests
+ and answers exchanged between clients and servers. These clients and
+ servers may be peers, that is, they may share a direct transport
+ (e.g., TCP or SCTP) connection, or the messages may traverse one or
+ more intermediaries, known as Diameter Agents. Diameter nodes use
+ TLS, DTLS, or IPsec to authenticate peers and to provide
+ confidentiality and integrity protection of traffic between peers.
+ Nodes can make authorization decisions based on the peer identities
+ authenticated at the transport layer.
+
+
+
+
+
+
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+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ When agents are involved, this presents an effectively transitive
+ trust model. That is, a Diameter client or server can authorize an
+ agent for certain actions, but it must trust that agent to make
+ appropriate authorization decisions about its peers, and so on.
+ Since confidentiality and integrity protection occur at the transport
+ layer, agents can read, and perhaps modify, any part of a Diameter
+ message, including an overload report.
+
+ There are several ways an attacker might attempt to exploit the
+ overload control mechanism. An unauthorized third party might inject
+ an overload report into the network. If this third party is upstream
+ of an agent, and that agent fails to apply proper authorization
+ policies, downstream nodes may mistakenly trust the report. This
+ attack is at least partially mitigated by the assumption that nodes
+ include overload reports in Diameter answers but not in requests.
+ This requires an attacker to have knowledge of the original request
+ in order to construct an answer. Such an answer would also need to
+ arrive at a Diameter node via a protected transport connection.
+ Therefore, implementations MUST validate that an answer containing an
+ overload report is a properly constructed response to a pending
+ request prior to acting on the overload report, and that the answer
+ was received via an appropriate transport connection.
+
+ A similar attack involves a compromised but otherwise authorized node
+ that sends an inappropriate overload report. For example, a server
+ for the realm "example.com" might send an overload report indicating
+ that a competitor's realm "example.net" is overloaded. If other
+ nodes act on the report, they may falsely believe that "example.net"
+ is overloaded, effectively reducing that realm's capacity.
+ Therefore, it's critical that nodes validate that an overload report
+ received from a peer actually falls within that peer's responsibility
+ before acting on the report or forwarding the report to other peers.
+ For example, an overload report from a peer that applies to a realm
+ not handled by that peer is suspect. This may require out-of-band,
+ non-Diameter agreements and/or mechanisms.
+
+ This attack is partially mitigated by the fact that the
+ application, as well as host and realm, for a given OLR is
+ determined implicitly by respective AVPs in the enclosing answer.
+ If a reporting node modifies any of those AVPs, the enclosing
+ transaction will also be affected.
+
+10.2. Denial-of-Service Attacks
+
+ Diameter overload reports, especially realm reports, can cause a node
+ to cease sending some or all Diameter requests for an extended
+ period. This makes them a tempting vector for DoS attacks.
+ Furthermore, since Diameter is almost always used in support of other
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 31]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ protocols, a DoS attack on Diameter is likely to impact those
+ protocols as well. In the worst case, where the Diameter application
+ is being used for access control into an IP network, a coordinated
+ DoS attack could result in the blockage of all traffic into that
+ network. Therefore, Diameter nodes MUST NOT honor or forward OLRs
+ received from peers that are not trusted to send them.
+
+ An attacker might use the information in an OLR to assist in DoS
+ attacks. For example, an attacker could use information about
+ current overload conditions to time an attack for maximum effect, or
+ use subsequent overload reports as a feedback mechanism to learn the
+ results of a previous or ongoing attack. Operators need the ability
+ to ensure that OLRs are not leaked to untrusted parties.
+
+10.3. Noncompliant Nodes
+
+ In the absence of an overload control mechanism, Diameter nodes need
+ to implement strategies to protect themselves from floods of
+ requests, and to make sure that a disproportionate load from one
+ source does not prevent other sources from receiving service. For
+ example, a Diameter server might throttle a certain percentage of
+ requests from sources that exceed certain limits. Overload control
+ can be thought of as an optimization for such strategies, where
+ downstream nodes never send the excess requests in the first place.
+ However, the presence of an overload control mechanism does not
+ remove the need for these other protection strategies.
+
+ When a Diameter node sends an overload report, it cannot assume that
+ all nodes will comply, even if they indicate support for DOIC. A
+ noncompliant node might continue to send requests with no reduction
+ in load. Such noncompliance could be done accidentally or
+ maliciously to gain an unfair advantage over compliant nodes.
+ Requirement 28 in [RFC7068] indicates that the overload control
+ solution cannot assume that all Diameter nodes in a network are
+ trusted. It also requires that malicious nodes not be allowed to
+ take advantage of the overload control mechanism to get more than
+ their fair share of service.
+
+10.4. End-to-End Security Issues
+
+ The lack of end-to-end integrity features makes it difficult to
+ establish trust in overload reports received from non-adjacent nodes.
+ Any agents in the message path may insert or modify overload reports.
+ Nodes must trust that their adjacent peers perform proper checks on
+ overload reports from their peers, and so on, creating a transitive-
+ trust requirement extending for potentially long chains of nodes.
+ Network operators must determine if this transitive trust requirement
+ is acceptable for their deployments. Nodes supporting Diameter
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 32]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ overload control MUST give operators the ability to select which
+ peers are trusted to deliver overload reports and whether they are
+ trusted to forward overload reports from non-adjacent nodes. DOIC
+ nodes MUST strip DOIC AVPs from messages received from peers that are
+ not trusted for DOIC purposes.
+
+ The lack of end-to-end confidentiality protection means that any
+ Diameter Agent in the path of an overload report can view the
+ contents of that report. In addition to the requirement to select
+ which peers are trusted to send overload reports, operators MUST be
+ able to select which peers are authorized to receive reports. A node
+ MUST NOT send an overload report to a peer not authorized to receive
+ it. Furthermore, an agent MUST remove any overload reports that
+ might have been inserted by other nodes before forwarding a Diameter
+ message to a peer that is not authorized to receive overload reports.
+
+ A DOIC node cannot always automatically detect that a peer also
+ supports DOIC. For example, a node might have a peer that is a
+ non-supporting agent. If nodes on the other side of that agent
+ send OC-Supported-Features AVPs, the agent is likely to forward
+ them as unknown AVPs. Messages received across the non-supporting
+ agent may be indistinguishable from messages received across a
+ DOIC supporting agent, giving the false impression that the non-
+ supporting agent actually supports DOIC. This complicates the
+ transitive-trust nature of DOIC. Operators need to be careful to
+ avoid situations where a non-supporting agent is mistakenly
+ trusted to enforce DOIC-related authorization policies.
+
+ It is expected that work on end-to-end Diameter security might make
+ it easier to establish trust in non-adjacent nodes for overload
+ control purposes. Readers should be reminded, however, that the
+ overload control mechanism allows Diameter Agents to modify AVPs in,
+ or insert additional AVPs into, existing messages that are originated
+ by other nodes. If end-to-end security is enabled, there is a risk
+ that such modification could violate integrity protection. The
+ details of using any future Diameter end-to-end security mechanism
+ with overload control will require careful consideration, and are
+ beyond the scope of this document.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 33]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+11. References
+
+11.1. Normative References
+
+ [RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
+ Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119,
+ DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997,
+ <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>.
+
+ [RFC5226] Narten, T. and H. Alvestrand, "Guidelines for Writing an
+ IANA Considerations Section in RFCs", BCP 26, RFC 5226,
+ DOI 10.17487/RFC5226, May 2008,
+ <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5226>.
+
+ [RFC6733] Fajardo, V., Ed., Arkko, J., Loughney, J., and G. Zorn,
+ Ed., "Diameter Base Protocol", RFC 6733,
+ DOI 10.17487/RFC6733, October 2012,
+ <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6733>.
+
+11.2. Informative References
+
+ [Cx] 3GPP, "Cx and Dx interfaces based on the Diameter
+ protocol; Protocol details", 3GPP TS 29.229 12.7.0,
+ September 2015.
+
+ [PCC] 3GPP, "Policy and charging control architecture", 3GPP
+ TS 23.203 12.10.0, September 2015.
+
+ [RFC4006] Hakala, H., Mattila, L., Koskinen, J-P., Stura, M., and J.
+ Loughney, "Diameter Credit-Control Application", RFC 4006,
+ DOI 10.17487/RFC4006, August 2005,
+ <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4006>.
+
+ [RFC7068] McMurry, E. and B. Campbell, "Diameter Overload Control
+ Requirements", RFC 7068, DOI 10.17487/RFC7068, November
+ 2013, <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7068>.
+
+ [S13] 3GPP, "Evolved Packet System (EPS); Mobility Management
+ Entity (MME) and Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) related
+ interfaces based on Diameter protocol", 3GPP TS 29.272
+ 12.8.0, September 2015.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
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+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+Appendix A. Issues Left for Future Specifications
+
+ The base solution for overload control does not cover all possible
+ use cases. A number of solution aspects were intentionally left for
+ future specification and protocol work. The following subsections
+ define some of the potential extensions to the DOIC solution.
+
+A.1. Additional Traffic Abatement Algorithms
+
+ This specification describes only means for a simple loss-based
+ algorithm. Future algorithms can be added using the designed
+ solution extension mechanism. The new algorithms need to be
+ registered with IANA. See Sections 7.2 and 9 for the required IANA
+ steps.
+
+A.2. Agent Overload
+
+ This specification focuses on Diameter endpoint (server or client)
+ overload. A separate extension will be required to outline the
+ handling of the case of agent overload.
+
+A.3. New Error Diagnostic AVP
+
+ This specification indicates the use of existing error messages when
+ nodes reject requests due to overload. There is an expectation that
+ additional error codes or AVPs will be defined in a separate
+ specification to indicate that overload was the reason for the
+ rejection of the message.
+
+Appendix B. Deployment Considerations
+
+ Non-supporting Agents
+
+ Due to the way that realm-routed requests are handled in Diameter
+ networks with the server selection for the request done by an
+ agent, network operators should enable DOIC at agents that perform
+ server selection first.
+
+ Topology-Hiding Interactions
+
+ There exist proxies that implement what is referred to as Topology
+ Hiding. This can include cases where the agent modifies the
+ Origin-Host in answer messages. The behavior of the DOIC solution
+ is not well understood when this happens. As such, the DOIC
+ solution does not address this scenario.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 35]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ Inter-Realm/Administrative Domain Considerations
+
+ There are likely to be special considerations for handling DOIC
+ signaling across administrative boundaries. This includes
+ considerations for whether or not information included in the DOIC
+ signaling should be sent across those boundaries. In addition,
+ consideration should be taken as to whether or not a reacting node
+ in one realm can be trusted to implement the requested overload
+ abatement handling for overload reports received from a separately
+ administered realm.
+
+Appendix C. Considerations for Applications Integrating the DOIC
+ Solution
+
+ This section outlines considerations to be taken into account when
+ integrating the DOIC solution into Diameter applications.
+
+C.1. Application Classification
+
+ The following is a classification of Diameter applications and
+ request types. This discussion is meant to document factors that
+ play into decisions made by the Diameter entity responsible for
+ handling overload reports.
+
+ Section 8.1 of [RFC6733] defines two state machines that imply two
+ types of applications, session-less and session-based applications.
+ The primary difference between these types of applications is the
+ lifetime of Session-Ids.
+
+ For session-based applications, the Session-Id is used to tie
+ multiple requests into a single session.
+
+ The Credit-Control application defined in [RFC4006] is an example of
+ a Diameter session-based application.
+
+ In session-less applications, the lifetime of the Session-Id is a
+ single Diameter transaction, i.e., the session is implicitly
+ terminated after a single Diameter transaction and a new Session-Id
+ is generated for each Diameter request.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
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+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ For the purposes of this discussion, session-less applications are
+ further divided into two types of applications:
+
+ Stateless Applications:
+
+ Requests within a stateless application have no relationship to
+ each other. The 3GPP-defined S13 application is an example of a
+ stateless application [S13], where only a Diameter command is
+ defined between a client and a server and no state is maintained
+ between two consecutive transactions.
+
+ Pseudo-Session Applications:
+
+ Applications that do not rely on the Session-Id AVP for
+ correlation of application messages related to the same session
+ but use other session-related information in the Diameter requests
+ for this purpose. The 3GPP-defined Cx application [Cx] is an
+ example of a pseudo-session application.
+
+ The handling of overload reports must take the type of application
+ into consideration, as discussed in Appendix C.2.
+
+C.2. Implications of Application Type Overload
+
+ This section discusses considerations for mitigating overload
+ reported by a Diameter entity. This discussion focuses on the type
+ of application. Appendix C.3 discusses considerations for handling
+ various request types when the target server is known to be in an
+ overloaded state.
+
+ These discussions assume that the strategy for mitigating the
+ reported overload is to reduce the overall workload sent to the
+ overloaded entity. The concept of applying overload treatment to
+ requests targeted for an overloaded Diameter entity is inherent to
+ this discussion. The method used to reduce offered load is not
+ specified here, but it could include routing requests to another
+ Diameter entity known to be able to handle them, or it could mean
+ rejecting certain requests. For a Diameter Agent, rejecting requests
+ will usually mean generating appropriate Diameter error responses.
+ For a Diameter client, rejecting requests will depend upon the
+ application. For example, it could mean giving an indication to the
+ entity requesting the Diameter service that the network is busy and
+ to try again later.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 37]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ Stateless Applications:
+
+ By definition, there is no relationship between individual
+ requests in a stateless application. As a result, when a request
+ is sent or relayed to an overloaded Diameter entity -- either a
+ Diameter Server or a Diameter Agent -- the sending or relaying
+ entity can choose to apply the overload treatment to any request
+ targeted for the overloaded entity.
+
+ Pseudo-session Applications:
+
+ For pseudo-session applications, there is an implied ordering of
+ requests. As a result, decisions about which requests towards an
+ overloaded entity to reject could take the command code of the
+ request into consideration. This generally means that
+ transactions later in the sequence of transactions should be given
+ more favorable treatment than messages earlier in the sequence.
+ This is because more work has already been done by the Diameter
+ network for those transactions that occur later in the sequence.
+ Rejecting them could result in increasing the load on the network
+ as the transactions earlier in the sequence might also need to be
+ repeated.
+
+ Session-Based Applications:
+
+ Overload handling for session-based applications must take into
+ consideration the work load associated with setting up and
+ maintaining a session. As such, the entity sending requests
+ towards an overloaded Diameter entity for a session-based
+ application might tend to reject new session requests prior to
+ rejecting intra-session requests. In addition, session-ending
+ requests might be given a lower probability of being rejected, as
+ rejecting session-ending requests could result in session status
+ being out of sync between the Diameter clients and servers.
+ Application designers that would decide to reject mid-session
+ requests will need to consider whether the rejection invalidates
+ the session and any resulting session cleanup procedures.
+
+C.3. Request Transaction Classification
+
+ Independent Request:
+
+ An independent request is not correlated to any other requests,
+ and, as such, the lifetime of the Session-Id is constrained to an
+ individual transaction.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 38]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ Session-Initiating Request:
+
+ A session-initiating request is the initial message that
+ establishes a Diameter session. The ACR message defined in
+ [RFC6733] is an example of a session-initiating request.
+
+ Correlated Session-Initiating Request:
+
+ There are cases when multiple session-initiated requests must be
+ correlated and managed by the same Diameter server. It is notably
+ the case in the 3GPP Policy and Charging Control (PCC)
+ architecture [PCC], where multiple apparently independent Diameter
+ application sessions are actually correlated and must be handled
+ by the same Diameter server.
+
+ Intra-session Request:
+
+ An intra-session request is a request that uses the same Session-
+ Id as the one used in a previous request. An intra-session
+ request generally needs to be delivered to the server that handled
+ the session-creating request for the session. The STR message
+ defined in [RFC6733] is an example of an intra-session request.
+
+ Pseudo-session Requests:
+
+ Pseudo-session requests are independent requests and do not use
+ the same Session-Id but are correlated by other session-related
+ information contained in the request. There exist Diameter
+ applications that define an expected ordering of transactions.
+ This sequencing of independent transactions results in a pseudo-
+ session. The AIR, MAR, and SAR requests in the 3GPP-defined Cx
+ [Cx] application are examples of pseudo-session requests.
+
+C.4. Request Type Overload Implications
+
+ The request classes identified in Appendix C.3 have implications on
+ decisions about which requests should be throttled first. The
+ following list of request treatments regarding throttling is provided
+ as guidelines for application designers when implementing the
+ Diameter overload control mechanism described in this document. The
+ exact behavior regarding throttling is a matter of local policy,
+ unless specifically defined for the application.
+
+ Independent Requests:
+
+ Independent requests can generally be given equal treatment when
+ making throttling decisions, unless otherwise indicated by
+ application requirements or local policy.
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 39]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+ Session-Initiating Requests:
+
+ Session-initiating requests often represent more work than
+ independent or intra-session requests. Moreover, session-
+ initiating requests are typically followed by other session-
+ related requests. Since the main objective of overload control is
+ to reduce the total number of requests sent to the overloaded
+ entity, throttling decisions might favor allowing intra-session
+ requests over session-initiating requests. In the absence of
+ local policies or application-specific requirements to the
+ contrary, individual session-initiating requests can be given
+ equal treatment when making throttling decisions.
+
+ Correlated Session-Initiating Requests:
+
+ A request that results in a new binding; where the binding is used
+ for routing of subsequent session-initiating requests to the same
+ server, it represents more work load than other requests. As
+ such, these requests might be throttled more frequently than other
+ request types.
+
+ Pseudo-session Requests:
+
+ Throttling decisions for pseudo-session requests can take into
+ consideration where individual requests fit into the overall
+ sequence of requests within the pseudo-session. Requests that are
+ earlier in the sequence might be throttled more aggressively than
+ requests that occur later in the sequence.
+
+ Intra-session Requests:
+
+ There are two types of intra-sessions requests, requests that
+ terminate a session and the remainder of intra-session requests.
+ Implementers and operators may choose to throttle session-
+ terminating requests less aggressively in order to gracefully
+ terminate sessions, allow cleanup of the related resources (e.g.,
+ session state), and avoid the need for additional intra-session
+ requests. Favoring session termination requests may reduce the
+ session management impact on the overloaded entity. The default
+ handling of other intra-session requests might be to treat them
+ equally when making throttling decisions. There might also be
+ application-level considerations whether some request types are
+ favored over others.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 40]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+Contributors
+
+ The following people contributed substantial ideas, feedback, and
+ discussion to this document:
+
+ o Eric McMurry
+
+ o Hannes Tschofenig
+
+ o Ulrich Wiehe
+
+ o Jean-Jacques Trottin
+
+ o Maria Cruz Bartolome
+
+ o Martin Dolly
+
+ o Nirav Salot
+
+ o Susan Shishufeng
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 41]
+
+RFC 7683 DOIC October 2015
+
+
+Authors' Addresses
+
+ Jouni Korhonen (editor)
+ Broadcom Corporation
+ 3151 Zanker Road
+ San Jose, CA 95134
+ United States
+
+
+
+ Steve Donovan (editor)
+ Oracle
+ 7460 Warren Parkway
+ Frisco, Texas 75034
+ United States
+
+
+
+ Ben Campbell
+ Oracle
+ 7460 Warren Parkway
+ Frisco, Texas 75034
+ United States
+
+
+
+ Lionel Morand
+ Orange Labs
+ 38/40 rue du General Leclerc
+ Issy-Les-Moulineaux Cedex 9 92794
+ France
+
+ Phone: +33145296257
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Korhonen, et al. Standards Track [Page 42]
+