Identifier-Locator Network Protocol

The Identifier/Locator Network Protocol (ILNP) (RFCs) is a network protocol designed to separate the two functions of network addresses, the identification of network endpoints, and assisting routing by separating topological information from node identity. ILNP is backwards-compatible with existing IP, and is incrementally-deployable.

ILNP itself is an architecture with two different instantiations at present. ILNPv4 is ILNP engineered to work as a set of IPv4 extensions, while ILNPv6 is ILNP engineered as a set of IPv6 extensions.

At least 3 independent open-source implementations of ILNPv6 exist. University of St Andrews (Scotland) has a prototype in Linux/x86 and FreeBSD/x86, while Tsinghua U. (China) has a prototype in Linux/x86.

In February 2011, IRTF Routing Research Group (RRG) Chairs recommended that the IETF standardise ILNP (RFC 6115) as the preferred evolutionary direction for IPv6.

ILNP Specifications (RFCs)

• ILNP Architectural Description (RFC 6740)
• ILNP Engineering Considerations (RFC 6741)
• DNS Resource Records for ILNP (RFC 6742)
• ICMPv6 Locator Update Message for ILNPv6 (RFC 6743)
• IPv6 Nonce Destination Option for ILNPv6 (RFC 6744)
• ICMP Locator Update for IPv4 (RFC 6745)
• IPv4 Options for ILNPv4 (RFC 6746)
• Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) for ILNPv4 (RFC 6747)
• Optional Advanced Deployment Scenarios for ILNP (RFC 6748)

See also

• Host Identity Protocol (HIP)
• Locator/Identifier Separation Protocol (LISP)
• Mobile IP (MIP)
• Proxy Mobile IPv6 (PMIPv6)

External links

• Recommendations for a Routing Architecture (RFC 6115)
• IRTF Routing Research Group (RRG)
• ILNP Project at University of St Andrews (Scotland)