1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1343
1344
1345
1346
1347
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383
1384
1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391
1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418
1419
1420
1421
1422
1423
1424
1425
1426
1427
1428
1429
1430
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445
1446
1447
1448
1449
1450
1451
1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
1478
1479
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484
1485
1486
1487
1488
1489
1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496
1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505
1506
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
1543
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
1556
1557
1558
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1564
1565
1566
1567
1568
1569
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575
1576
1577
1578
1579
1580
1581
1582
1583
1584
1585
1586
1587
1588
1589
1590
1591
1592
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622
1623
1624
1625
1626
1627
1628
1629
1630
1631
1632
1633
1634
1635
1636
1637
1638
1639
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644
1645
1646
1647
1648
1649
1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
1657
1658
1659
1660
1661
1662
1663
1664
1665
1666
1667
1668
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673
1674
1675
1676
1677
1678
1679
1680
1681
1682
1683
1684
1685
1686
1687
1688
1689
1690
1691
1692
1693
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
1700
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1710
1711
1712
1713
1714
1715
1716
1717
1718
1719
1720
1721
1722
1723
1724
1725
1726
1727
1728
1729
1730
1731
1732
1733
1734
1735
1736
1737
1738
1739
1740
1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758
1759
1760
1761
1762
1763
1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
2037
2038
2039
2040
2041
2042
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2048
2049
2050
2051
2052
2053
2054
2055
2056
2057
2058
2059
2060
2061
2062
2063
2064
2065
2066
2067
2068
2069
2070
2071
2072
2073
2074
2075
2076
2077
2078
2079
2080
2081
2082
2083
2084
2085
2086
2087
2088
2089
2090
2091
2092
2093
2094
2095
2096
2097
2098
2099
2100
2101
2102
2103
2104
2105
2106
2107
2108
2109
2110
2111
2112
2113
2114
2115
2116
2117
2118
2119
2120
2121
2122
2123
2124
2125
2126
2127
2128
2129
2130
2131
2132
2133
2134
2135
2136
2137
2138
2139
2140
2141
2142
2143
2144
2145
2146
2147
2148
2149
2150
2151
2152
2153
2154
2155
2156
2157
2158
2159
2160
2161
2162
2163
2164
2165
2166
2167
2168
2169
2170
2171
2172
2173
2174
2175
2176
2177
2178
2179
2180
2181
2182
2183
2184
2185
2186
2187
2188
2189
2190
2191
2192
2193
2194
2195
2196
2197
2198
2199
2200
2201
2202
2203
2204
2205
2206
2207
2208
2209
2210
2211
2212
2213
2214
2215
2216
2217
2218
2219
2220
2221
2222
2223
2224
2225
2226
2227
2228
2229
2230
2231
2232
2233
2234
2235
2236
2237
2238
2239
2240
2241
2242
2243
2244
2245
2246
2247
2248
2249
2250
2251
2252
2253
2254
2255
2256
2257
2258
2259
2260
2261
2262
2263
2264
2265
2266
2267
2268
2269
2270
2271
2272
2273
2274
2275
2276
2277
2278
2279
2280
2281
2282
2283
2284
2285
2286
2287
2288
2289
2290
2291
2292
2293
2294
2295
2296
2297
2298
2299
2300
2301
2302
2303
2304
2305
2306
2307
2308
2309
2310
2311
2312
2313
2314
2315
2316
2317
2318
2319
2320
2321
2322
2323
2324
2325
2326
2327
2328
2329
2330
2331
2332
2333
2334
2335
2336
2337
2338
2339
2340
2341
2342
2343
2344
2345
2346
2347
2348
2349
2350
2351
2352
2353
2354
2355
2356
2357
2358
2359
2360
2361
2362
2363
2364
2365
2366
2367
2368
2369
2370
2371
2372
2373
2374
2375
2376
2377
2378
2379
2380
2381
2382
2383
2384
2385
2386
2387
2388
2389
2390
2391
2392
2393
2394
2395
2396
2397
2398
2399
2400
2401
2402
2403
2404
2405
2406
2407
2408
2409
2410
2411
2412
2413
2414
2415
2416
2417
2418
2419
2420
2421
2422
2423
2424
2425
2426
2427
2428
2429
2430
2431
2432
2433
2434
2435
2436
2437
2438
2439
2440
2441
2442
2443
2444
2445
2446
2447
2448
2449
2450
2451
2452
2453
2454
2455
2456
2457
2458
2459
2460
2461
2462
2463
2464
2465
2466
2467
|
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) M. Bjorklund
Request for Comments: 8342 Tail-f Systems
Updates: 7950 J. Schoenwaelder
Category: Standards Track Jacobs University
ISSN: 2070-1721 P. Shafer
K. Watsen
Juniper Networks
R. Wilton
Cisco Systems
March 2018
Network Management Datastore Architecture (NMDA)
Abstract
Datastores are a fundamental concept binding the data models written
in the YANG data modeling language to network management protocols
such as the Network Configuration Protocol (NETCONF) and RESTCONF.
This document defines an architectural framework for datastores based
on the experience gained with the initial simpler model, addressing
requirements that were not well supported in the initial model. This
document updates RFC 7950.
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 7841.
Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8342.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 1]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
Copyright Notice
Copyright (c) 2018 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
(https://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.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ....................................................3
2. Objectives ......................................................4
3. Terminology .....................................................5
4. Background ......................................................8
4.1. Original Model of Datastores ...............................9
5. Architectural Model of Datastores ..............................11
5.1. Conventional Configuration Datastores .....................12
5.1.1. The Startup Configuration Datastore (<startup>) ....12
5.1.2. The Candidate Configuration Datastore
(<candidate>) ......................................13
5.1.3. The Running Configuration Datastore (<running>) ....13
5.1.4. The Intended Configuration Datastore (<intended>) ..13
5.2. Dynamic Configuration Datastores ..........................14
5.3. The Operational State Datastore (<operational>) ...........14
5.3.1. Remnant Configuration ..............................16
5.3.2. Missing Resources ..................................16
5.3.3. System-Controlled Resources ........................16
5.3.4. Origin Metadata Annotation .........................17
6. Implications on YANG ...........................................18
6.1. XPath Context .............................................18
6.2. Invocation of Actions and RPCs ............................19
7. YANG Modules ...................................................20
8. IANA Considerations ............................................26
8.1. Updates to the IETF XML Registry ..........................26
8.2. Updates to the YANG Module Names Registry .................27
9. Security Considerations ........................................27
10. References ....................................................28
10.1. Normative References .....................................28
10.2. Informative References ...................................29
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 2]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
Appendix A. Guidelines for Defining Datastores ....................31
A.1. Define Which YANG Modules Can Be Used in the Datastore .....31
A.2. Define Which Subset of YANG-Modeled Data Applies ...........31
A.3. Define How Data Is Actualized ..............................31
A.4. Define Which Protocols Can Be Used .........................31
A.5. Define YANG Identities for the Datastore ...................32
Appendix B. Example of an Ephemeral Dynamic Configuration
Datastore .............................................32
Appendix C. Example Data ..........................................33
C.1. System Example .............................................34
C.2. BGP Example ................................................37
C.2.1. Datastores .............................................38
C.2.2. Adding a Peer ..........................................38
C.2.3. Removing a Peer ........................................39
C.3. Interface Example ..........................................40
C.3.1. Pre-provisioned Interfaces .............................41
C.3.2. System-Provided Interface ..............................42
Acknowledgments ...................................................43
Authors' Addresses ................................................44
1. Introduction
This document provides an architectural framework for datastores as
they are used by network management protocols such as the Network
Configuration Protocol (NETCONF) [RFC6241], RESTCONF [RFC8040], and
the YANG data modeling language [RFC7950]. Datastores are a
fundamental concept binding network management data models to network
management protocols. Agreement on a common architectural model of
datastores ensures that data models can be written in a way that is
network management protocol agnostic. This architectural framework
identifies a set of conceptual datastores, but it does not mandate
that all network management protocols expose all these conceptual
datastores. This architecture is agnostic with regard to the
encoding used by network management protocols.
This document updates RFC 7950 by refining the definition of the
accessible tree for some XML Path Language (XPath) context (see
Section 6.1) and the invocation context of operations (see
Section 6.2).
The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
"SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "NOT RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and
"OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in
BCP 14 [RFC2119] [RFC8174] when, and only when, they appear in all
capitals, as shown here.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 3]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
2. Objectives
Network management data objects can often take two different values:
the value configured by the user or an application (configuration)
and the value that the device is actually using (operational state).
These two values may be different for a number of reasons, e.g.,
system internal interactions with hardware, interaction with
protocols or other devices, or simply the time it takes to propagate
a configuration change to the software and hardware components of a
system. Furthermore, configuration and operational state data
objects may have different lifetimes.
The original model of datastores required these data objects to be
modeled twice in the YANG schema -- as "config true" objects and as
"config false" objects. The convention adopted by the interfaces
data model [RFC8343] and the IP data model [RFC8344] was to use two
separate branches rooted at the root of the data tree: one branch for
configuration data objects and one branch for operational state data
objects.
The duplication of definitions and the ad hoc separation of
operational state data from configuration data lead to a number of
problems. Having configuration and operational state data in
separate branches in the data model is operationally complicated and
impacts the readability of module definitions. Furthermore, the
relationship between the branches is not machine readable, and filter
expressions operating on configuration and on related operational
state are different.
With the revised architectural model of datastores defined in this
document, the data objects are defined only once in the YANG schema
but independent instantiations can appear in different datastores,
e.g., one for a configured value and another for an operationally
used value. This provides a more elegant and simpler solution to the
problem.
The revised architectural model of datastores supports additional
datastores for systems that support more advanced processing chains
converting configuration to operational state. For example, some
systems support configuration that is not currently used (so-called
"inactive configuration") or they support configuration templates
that are used to expand configuration data via a common template.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 4]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
3. Terminology
This document defines the following terminology. Some of the terms
are revised definitions of terms originally defined in [RFC6241] and
[RFC7950] (see also Section 4). The revised definitions are
semantically equivalent to the definitions found in [RFC6241] and
[RFC7950]. It is expected that the revised definitions provided in
this section will replace the definitions in [RFC6241] and [RFC7950]
when these documents are revised.
o datastore: A conceptual place to store and access information. A
datastore might be implemented, for example, using files, a
database, flash memory locations, or combinations thereof. A
datastore maps to an instantiated YANG data tree.
o schema node: A node in the schema tree. The formal definition is
provided in RFC 7950.
o datastore schema: The combined set of schema nodes for all modules
supported by a particular datastore, taking into consideration any
deviations and enabled features for that datastore.
o configuration: Data that is required to get a device from its
initial default state into a desired operational state. This data
is modeled in YANG using "config true" nodes. Configuration can
originate from different sources.
o configuration datastore: A datastore holding configuration.
o running configuration datastore: A configuration datastore holding
the current configuration of the device. It may include
configuration that requires further transformations before it can
be applied. This datastore is referred to as "<running>".
o candidate configuration datastore: A configuration datastore that
can be manipulated without impacting the device's running
configuration datastore and that can be committed to the running
configuration datastore. This datastore is referred to as
"<candidate>".
o startup configuration datastore: A configuration datastore holding
the configuration loaded by the device into the running
configuration datastore when it boots. This datastore is referred
to as "<startup>".
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 5]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
o intended configuration: Configuration that is intended to be used
by the device. It represents the configuration after all
configuration transformations to <running> have been performed and
is the configuration that the system attempts to apply.
o intended configuration datastore: A configuration datastore
holding the complete intended configuration of the device. This
datastore is referred to as "<intended>".
o configuration transformation: The addition, modification, or
removal of configuration between the <running> and <intended>
datastores. Examples of configuration transformations include the
removal of inactive configuration and the configuration produced
through the expansion of templates.
o conventional configuration datastore: One of the following set of
configuration datastores: <running>, <startup>, <candidate>, and
<intended>. These datastores share a common datastore schema, and
protocol operations allow copying data between these datastores.
The term "conventional" is chosen as a generic umbrella term for
these datastores.
o conventional configuration: Configuration that is stored in any of
the conventional configuration datastores.
o dynamic configuration datastore: A configuration datastore holding
configuration obtained dynamically during the operation of a
device through interaction with other systems, rather than through
one of the conventional configuration datastores.
o dynamic configuration: Configuration obtained via a dynamic
configuration datastore.
o learned configuration: Configuration that has been learned via
protocol interactions with other systems and that is neither
conventional nor dynamic configuration.
o system configuration: Configuration that is supplied by the device
itself.
o default configuration: Configuration that is not explicitly
provided but for which a value defined in the data model is used.
o applied configuration: Configuration that is actively in use by a
device. Applied configuration originates from conventional,
dynamic, learned, system, and default configuration.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 6]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
o system state: The additional data on a system that is not
configuration, such as read-only status information and collected
statistics. System state is transient and modified by
interactions with internal components or other systems. System
state is modeled in YANG using "config false" nodes.
o operational state: The combination of applied configuration and
system state.
o operational state datastore: A datastore holding the complete
operational state of the device. This datastore is referred to as
"<operational>".
o origin: A metadata annotation indicating the origin of a
data item.
o remnant configuration: Configuration that remains part of the
applied configuration for a period of time after it has been
removed from the intended configuration or dynamic configuration.
The time period may be minimal or may last until all resources
used by the newly deleted configuration (e.g., network
connections, memory allocations, file handles) have been
deallocated.
The following additional terms are not datastore specific, but they
are commonly used and are thus defined here as well:
o client: An entity that can access YANG-defined data on a server,
over some network management protocol.
o server: An entity that provides access to YANG-defined data to a
client, over some network management protocol.
o notification: A server-initiated message indicating that a certain
event has been recognized by the server.
o remote procedure call: An operation that can be invoked by a
client on a server.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 7]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
4. Background
NETCONF [RFC6241] provides the following definitions:
o datastore: A conceptual place to store and access information. A
datastore might be implemented, for example, using files, a
database, flash memory locations, or combinations thereof.
o configuration datastore: The datastore holding the complete set of
configuration that is required to get a device from its initial
default state into a desired operational state.
YANG 1.1 [RFC7950] provides the following refinements when NETCONF is
used with YANG (which is the usual case, but note that NETCONF was
defined before YANG existed):
o datastore: When modeled with YANG, a datastore is realized as an
instantiated data tree.
o configuration datastore: When modeled with YANG, a configuration
datastore is realized as an instantiated data tree with
configuration.
[RFC6244] defined operational state data as follows:
o Operational state data is a set of data that has been obtained by
the system at runtime and influences the system's behavior similar
to configuration data. In contrast to configuration data,
operational state is transient and modified by interactions with
internal components or other systems via specialized protocols.
Section 4.3.3 of [RFC6244] discusses operational state and mentions,
among other things, the option to consider operational state as being
stored in another datastore. Section 4.4 of [RFC6244] then concludes
that, at the time of its writing, modeling state as distinct leafs
and distinct branches is the recommended approach.
Implementation experience and requests from operators [OpState-Reqs]
[OpState-Modeling] indicate that the datastore model initially
designed for NETCONF and refined by YANG needs to be extended. In
particular, the notion of intended configuration and applied
configuration has developed.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 8]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
4.1. Original Model of Datastores
The following drawing shows the original model of datastores as it is
currently used by NETCONF [RFC6241]:
+-------------+ +-----------+
| <candidate> | | <startup> |
| (ct, rw) |<---+ +--->| (ct, rw) |
+-------------+ | | +-----------+
| | | |
| +-----------+ |
+-------->| <running> |<--------+
| (ct, rw) |
+-----------+
|
v
operational state <--- control plane
(cf, ro)
ct = config true; cf = config false
rw = read-write; ro = read-only
boxes denote datastores
Figure 1
Note that this diagram simplifies the model: "read-only" (ro) and
"read-write" (rw) are to be understood from the client's perspective,
at a conceptual level. In NETCONF, for example, support for
<candidate> and <startup> is optional, and <running> does not have to
be writable. Furthermore, <startup> can only be modified by copying
<running> to <startup> in the standardized NETCONF datastore editing
model. The RESTCONF protocol does not expose these differences and
instead provides only a writable unified datastore, which hides
whether edits are done through <candidate>, by directly modifying
<running>, or via some other implementation-specific mechanism.
RESTCONF also hides how configuration is made persistent. Note that
implementations may also have additional datastores that can
propagate changes to <running>. NETCONF explicitly mentions
so-called "named datastores".
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 9]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
Some observations:
o Operational state has not been defined as a datastore, although
there were proposals in the past to introduce an operational state
datastore.
o The NETCONF <get> operation returns the contents of <running>
together with the operational state. It is therefore necessary
that "config false" data be in a different branch than the
"config true" data if the operational state can have a different
lifetime compared to configuration or if configuration is not
immediately or successfully applied.
o Several implementations have proprietary mechanisms that allow
clients to store inactive data in <running>. Inactive data is
conceptually removed before validation.
o Some implementations have proprietary mechanisms that allow
clients to define configuration templates in <running>. These
templates are expanded automatically by the system, and the
resulting configuration is applied internally.
o Some operators have reported that it is essential for them to be
able to retrieve the configuration that has actually been
successfully applied, which may be a subset or a superset of the
<running> configuration.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 10]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
5. Architectural Model of Datastores
Below is a new conceptual model of datastores, extending the original
model in order to reflect the experience gained with the original
model.
+-------------+ +-----------+
| <candidate> | | <startup> |
| (ct, rw) |<---+ +--->| (ct, rw) |
+-------------+ | | +-----------+
| | | |
| +-----------+ |
+-------->| <running> |<--------+
| (ct, rw) |
+-----------+
|
| // configuration transformations,
| // e.g., removal of nodes marked as
| // "inactive", expansion of
| // templates
v
+------------+
| <intended> | // subject to validation
| (ct, ro) |
+------------+
| // changes applied, subject to
| // local factors, e.g., missing
| // resources, delays
|
dynamic | +-------- learned configuration
configuration | +-------- system configuration
datastores -----+ | +-------- default configuration
| | |
v v v
+---------------+
| <operational> | <-- system state
| (ct + cf, ro) |
+---------------+
ct = config true; cf = config false
rw = read-write; ro = read-only
boxes denote named datastores
Figure 2
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 11]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
5.1. Conventional Configuration Datastores
The conventional configuration datastores are a set of configuration
datastores that share exactly the same datastore schema, allowing
data to be copied between them. The term is meant as a generic
umbrella description of these datastores. If a module does not
contain any configuration data nodes and it is not needed to satisfy
any imports, then it MAY be omitted from the datastore schema for the
conventional configuration datastores. The set of datastores
include:
o <running>
o <candidate>
o <startup>
o <intended>
Other conventional configuration datastores may be defined in future
documents.
The flow of data between these datastores is depicted in Section 5.
The specific protocols may define explicit operations to copy between
these datastores, e.g., NETCONF defines the <copy-config> operation.
5.1.1. The Startup Configuration Datastore (<startup>)
The startup configuration datastore (<startup>) is a configuration
datastore holding the configuration loaded by the device when it
boots. <startup> is only present on devices that separate the
startup configuration from the running configuration datastore.
The startup configuration datastore may not be supported by all
protocols or implementations.
On devices that support non-volatile storage, the contents of
<startup> will typically persist across reboots via that storage. At
boot time, the device loads the saved startup configuration into
<running>. To save a new startup configuration, data is copied to
<startup> via either implicit or explicit protocol operations.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 12]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
5.1.2. The Candidate Configuration Datastore (<candidate>)
The candidate configuration datastore (<candidate>) is a
configuration datastore that can be manipulated without impacting the
device's current configuration and that can be committed to
<running>.
The candidate configuration datastore may not be supported by all
protocols or implementations.
<candidate> does not typically persist across reboots, even in the
presence of non-volatile storage. If <candidate> is stored using
non-volatile storage, it is reset at boot time to the contents of
<running>.
5.1.3. The Running Configuration Datastore (<running>)
The running configuration datastore (<running>) is a configuration
datastore that holds the current configuration of the device. It MAY
include configuration that requires further transformation before it
can be applied, e.g., inactive configuration, or template-mechanism-
oriented configuration that needs further expansion. However,
<running> MUST always be a valid configuration data tree, as defined
in Section 8.1 of [RFC7950].
<running> MUST be supported if the device can be configured via
conventional configuration datastores.
If a device does not have a distinct <startup> and non-volatile
storage is available, the device will typically use that non-volatile
storage to allow <running> to persist across reboots.
5.1.4. The Intended Configuration Datastore (<intended>)
The intended configuration datastore (<intended>) is a read-only
configuration datastore. It represents the configuration after all
configuration transformations to <running> are performed (e.g.,
template expansion, removal of inactive configuration) and is the
configuration that the system attempts to apply.
<intended> is tightly coupled to <running>. Whenever data is written
to <running>, the server MUST also immediately update and validate
<intended>.
<intended> MAY also be updated independently of <running> if the
effect of a configuration transformation changes, but <intended> MUST
always be a valid configuration data tree, as defined in Section 8.1
of [RFC7950].
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 13]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
For simple implementations, <running> and <intended> are identical.
The contents of <intended> are also related to the "config true"
subset of <operational>; hence, a client can determine to what extent
the intended configuration is currently in use by checking to see
whether the contents of <intended> also appear in <operational>.
<intended> does not persist across reboots; its relationship with
<running> makes that unnecessary.
Currently, there are no standard mechanisms defined that affect
<intended> so that it would have different content than <running>,
but this architecture allows for such mechanisms to be defined.
One example of such a mechanism is support for marking nodes as
inactive in <running>. Inactive nodes are not copied to <intended>.
A second example is support for templates, which can perform
transformations on the configuration from <running> to the
configuration written to <intended>.
5.2. Dynamic Configuration Datastores
The model recognizes the need for dynamic configuration datastores
that are, by definition, not part of the persistent configuration of
a device. In some contexts, these have been termed "ephemeral
datastores", since the information is ephemeral, i.e., lost upon
reboot. The dynamic configuration datastores interact with the rest
of the system through <operational>.
The datastore schema for a dynamic configuration datastore MAY differ
from the datastore schema used for conventional configuration
datastores. If a module does not contain any configuration data
nodes and it is not needed to satisfy any imports, then it MAY be
omitted from the datastore schema for the dynamic configuration
datastore.
5.3. The Operational State Datastore (<operational>)
The operational state datastore (<operational>) is a read-only
datastore that consists of all "config true" and "config false" nodes
defined in the datastore's schema. In the original NETCONF model,
the operational state only had "config false" nodes. The reason for
incorporating "config true" nodes here is to be able to expose all
operational settings without having to replicate definitions in the
data models.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 14]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
<operational> contains system state and all configuration actually
used by the system. This includes all applied configuration from
<intended>, learned configuration, system-provided configuration, and
default values defined by any supported data models. In addition,
<operational> also contains applied configuration from dynamic
configuration datastores.
The datastore schema for <operational> MUST be a superset of the
combined datastore schema used in all configuration datastores,
except that configuration data nodes supported in a configuration
datastore MAY be omitted from <operational> if a server is not able
to accurately report them.
Requests to retrieve nodes from <operational> always return the value
in use if the node exists, regardless of any default value specified
in the YANG module. If no value is returned for a given node, then
this implies that the node is not used by the device.
The interpretation of what constitutes being "in use" by the system
is dependent on both the schema definition and the device
implementation. Generally, functionality that is enabled and
operational on the system would be considered to be "in use".
Conversely, functionality that is neither enabled nor operational on
the system is considered not to be "in use"; hence, it SHOULD be
omitted from <operational>.
<operational> SHOULD conform to any constraints specified in the data
model, but given the principal aim of returning "in use" values, it
is possible that constraints MAY be violated under some circumstances
(e.g., an abnormal value is "in use", the structure of a list is
being modified, or remnant configuration (see Section 5.3.1) still
exists). Note that deviations SHOULD be used when it is known in
advance that a device does not fully conform to the <operational>
schema.
Only semantic constraints MAY be violated. These are the YANG
"when", "must", "mandatory", "unique", "min-elements", and
"max-elements" statements; and the uniqueness of key values.
Syntactic constraints MUST NOT be violated, including hierarchical
organization, identifiers, and type-based constraints. If a node in
<operational> does not meet the syntactic constraints, then it
MUST NOT be returned, and some other mechanism should be used to flag
the error.
<operational> does not persist across reboots.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 15]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
5.3.1. Remnant Configuration
Changes to configuration may take time to percolate through to
<operational>. During this period, <operational> may contain nodes
for both the previous and current configuration, as closely as
possible tracking the current operation of the device. Such remnant
configuration from the previous configuration persists until the
system has released resources used by the newly deleted configuration
(e.g., network connections, memory allocations, file handles).
Remnant configuration is a common example of where the semantic
constraints defined in the data model cannot be relied upon for
<operational>, since the system may have remnant configuration whose
constraints were valid with the previous configuration and that are
not valid with the current configuration. Since constraints on
"config false" nodes may refer to "config true" nodes, remnant
configuration may force the violation of those constraints.
5.3.2. Missing Resources
Configuration in <intended> can refer to resources that are not
available or otherwise not physically present. In these situations,
these parts of <intended> are not applied. The data appears in
<intended> but does not appear in <operational>.
A typical example is an interface configuration that refers to an
interface that is not currently present. In such a situation, the
interface configuration remains in <intended> but the interface
configuration will not appear in <operational>.
Note that configuration validity cannot depend on the current state
of such resources, since that would imply that removing a resource
might render the configuration invalid. This is unacceptable,
especially given that rebooting such a device would cause it to
restart with an invalid configuration. Instead, we allow
configuration for missing resources to exist in <running> and
<intended>, but it will not appear in <operational>.
5.3.3. System-Controlled Resources
Sometimes, resources are controlled by the device and the
corresponding system-controlled data appears in (and disappears from)
<operational> dynamically. If a system-controlled resource has
matching configuration in <intended> when it appears, the system will
try to apply the configuration; this causes the configuration to
appear in <operational> eventually (if application of the
configuration was successful).
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 16]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
5.3.4. Origin Metadata Annotation
As configuration flows into <operational>, it is conceptually marked
with a metadata annotation [RFC7952] that indicates its origin. The
origin applies to all configuration nodes except non-presence
containers. The "origin" metadata annotation is defined in
Section 7. The values are YANG identities. The following identities
are defined:
o origin: abstract base identity from which the other origin
identities are derived.
o intended: represents configuration provided by <intended>.
o dynamic: represents configuration provided by a dynamic
configuration datastore.
o system: represents configuration provided by the system itself.
Examples of system configuration include applied configuration for
an always-existing loopback interface, or interface configuration
that is auto-created due to the hardware currently present in the
device.
o learned: represents configuration that has been learned via
protocol interactions with other systems, including such protocols
as link-layer negotiations, routing protocols, and DHCP.
o default: represents configuration using a default value specified
in the data model, using either values in the "default" statement
or any values described in the "description" statement. The
default origin is only used when the configuration has not been
provided by any other source.
o unknown: represents configuration for which the system cannot
identify the origin.
These identities can be further refined, e.g., there could be
separate identities for particular types or instances of dynamic
configuration datastores derived from "dynamic".
For all configuration data nodes in <operational>, the device SHOULD
report the origin that most accurately reflects the source of the
configuration that is in use by the system.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 17]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
In cases where it could be ambiguous as to which origin should be
used, i.e., where the same data node value has originated from
multiple sources, the "description" statement in the YANG module
SHOULD be used as guidance for choosing the appropriate origin. For
example:
If, for a particular configuration node, the associated YANG
"description" statement indicates that a protocol-negotiated value
overrides any configured value, then the origin would be reported as
"learned", even when a learned value is the same as the configured
value.
Conversely, if, for a particular configuration node, the associated
YANG "description" statement indicates that a protocol-negotiated
value does not override an explicitly configured value, then the
origin would be reported as "intended", even when a learned value is
the same as the configured value.
In the case that a device cannot provide an accurate origin for a
particular configuration data node, it SHOULD use the origin
"unknown".
6. Implications on YANG
6.1. XPath Context
This section updates Section 6.4.1 of RFC 7950.
If a server implements the architecture defined in this document, the
accessible trees for some XPath contexts are refined as follows:
o If the XPath expression is defined in a substatement to a data
node that represents system state, the accessible tree is all
operational state in the server. The root node has all top-level
data nodes in all modules as children.
o If the XPath expression is defined in a substatement to a
"notification" statement, the accessible tree is the notification
instance and all operational state in the server. If the
notification is defined on the top level in a module, then the
root node has the node representing the notification being defined
and all top-level data nodes in all modules as children.
Otherwise, the root node has all top-level data nodes in all
modules as children.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 18]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
o If the XPath expression is defined in a substatement to an "input"
statement in an "rpc" or "action" statement, the accessible tree
is the RPC or action operation instance and all operational state
in the server. The root node has top-level data nodes in all
modules as children. Additionally, for an RPC, the root node also
has the node representing the RPC operation being defined as a
child. The node representing the operation being defined has the
operation's input parameters as children.
o If the XPath expression is defined in a substatement to an
"output" statement in an "rpc" or "action" statement, the
accessible tree is the RPC or action operation instance and all
operational state in the server. The root node has top-level data
nodes in all modules as children. Additionally, for an RPC, the
root node also has the node representing the RPC operation being
defined as a child. The node representing the operation being
defined has the operation's output parameters as children.
6.2. Invocation of Actions and RPCs
This section updates Section 7.15 of RFC 7950.
Actions are always invoked in the context of the operational state
datastore. The node for which the action is invoked MUST exist in
the operational state datastore.
Note that this document does not constrain the result of invoking an
RPC or action in any way. For example, an RPC might be defined to
modify the contents of some datastore.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 19]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
7. YANG Modules
<CODE BEGINS> file "ietf-datastores@2018-02-14.yang"
module ietf-datastores {
yang-version 1.1;
namespace "urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-datastores";
prefix ds;
organization
"IETF Network Modeling (NETMOD) Working Group";
contact
"WG Web: <https://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/netmod/>
WG List: <mailto:netmod@ietf.org>
Author: Martin Bjorklund
<mailto:mbj@tail-f.com>
Author: Juergen Schoenwaelder
<mailto:j.schoenwaelder@jacobs-university.de>
Author: Phil Shafer
<mailto:phil@juniper.net>
Author: Kent Watsen
<mailto:kwatsen@juniper.net>
Author: Rob Wilton
<rwilton@cisco.com>";
description
"This YANG module defines a set of identities for identifying
datastores.
Copyright (c) 2018 IETF Trust and the persons identified as
authors of the code. All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or
without modification, is permitted pursuant to, and subject to
the license terms contained in, the Simplified BSD License set
forth in Section 4.c of the IETF Trust's Legal Provisions
Relating to IETF Documents
(https://trustee.ietf.org/license-info).
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 20]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
This version of this YANG module is part of RFC 8342
(https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8342); see the RFC itself
for full legal notices.";
revision 2018-02-14 {
description
"Initial revision.";
reference
"RFC 8342: Network Management Datastore Architecture (NMDA)";
}
/*
* Identities
*/
identity datastore {
description
"Abstract base identity for datastore identities.";
}
identity conventional {
base datastore;
description
"Abstract base identity for conventional configuration
datastores.";
}
identity running {
base conventional;
description
"The running configuration datastore.";
}
identity candidate {
base conventional;
description
"The candidate configuration datastore.";
}
identity startup {
base conventional;
description
"The startup configuration datastore.";
}
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 21]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
identity intended {
base conventional;
description
"The intended configuration datastore.";
}
identity dynamic {
base datastore;
description
"Abstract base identity for dynamic configuration datastores.";
}
identity operational {
base datastore;
description
"The operational state datastore.";
}
/*
* Type definitions
*/
typedef datastore-ref {
type identityref {
base datastore;
}
description
"A datastore identity reference.";
}
}
<CODE ENDS>
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 22]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
<CODE BEGINS> file "ietf-origin@2018-02-14.yang"
module ietf-origin {
yang-version 1.1;
namespace "urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-origin";
prefix or;
import ietf-yang-metadata {
prefix md;
}
organization
"IETF Network Modeling (NETMOD) Working Group";
contact
"WG Web: <https://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/netmod/>
WG List: <mailto:netmod@ietf.org>
Author: Martin Bjorklund
<mailto:mbj@tail-f.com>
Author: Juergen Schoenwaelder
<mailto:j.schoenwaelder@jacobs-university.de>
Author: Phil Shafer
<mailto:phil@juniper.net>
Author: Kent Watsen
<mailto:kwatsen@juniper.net>
Author: Rob Wilton
<rwilton@cisco.com>";
description
"This YANG module defines an 'origin' metadata annotation and a
set of identities for the origin value.
Copyright (c) 2018 IETF Trust and the persons identified as
authors of the code. All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or
without modification, is permitted pursuant to, and subject to
the license terms contained in, the Simplified BSD License set
forth in Section 4.c of the IETF Trust's Legal Provisions
Relating to IETF Documents
(https://trustee.ietf.org/license-info).
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 23]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
This version of this YANG module is part of RFC 8342
(https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8342); see the RFC itself
for full legal notices.";
revision 2018-02-14 {
description
"Initial revision.";
reference
"RFC 8342: Network Management Datastore Architecture (NMDA)";
}
/*
* Identities
*/
identity origin {
description
"Abstract base identity for the origin annotation.";
}
identity intended {
base origin;
description
"Denotes configuration from the intended configuration
datastore.";
}
identity dynamic {
base origin;
description
"Denotes configuration from a dynamic configuration
datastore.";
}
identity system {
base origin;
description
"Denotes configuration originated by the system itself.
Examples of system configuration include applied configuration
for an always-existing loopback interface, or interface
configuration that is auto-created due to the hardware
currently present in the device.";
}
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 24]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
identity learned {
base origin;
description
"Denotes configuration learned from protocol interactions with
other devices, instead of via either the intended
configuration datastore or any dynamic configuration
datastore.
Examples of protocols that provide learned configuration
include link-layer negotiations, routing protocols, and
DHCP.";
}
identity default {
base origin;
description
"Denotes configuration that does not have a configured or
learned value but has a default value in use. Covers both
values defined in a 'default' statement and values defined
via an explanation in a 'description' statement.";
}
identity unknown {
base origin;
description
"Denotes configuration for which the system cannot identify the
origin.";
}
/*
* Type definitions
*/
typedef origin-ref {
type identityref {
base origin;
}
description
"An origin identity reference.";
}
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 25]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
/*
* Metadata annotations
*/
md:annotation origin {
type origin-ref;
description
"The 'origin' annotation can be present on any configuration
data node in the operational state datastore. It specifies
from where the node originated. If not specified for a given
configuration data node, then the origin is the same as the
origin of its parent node in the data tree. The origin for
any top-level configuration data nodes must be specified.";
}
}
<CODE ENDS>
8. IANA Considerations
8.1. Updates to the IETF XML Registry
This document registers two URIs in the "IETF XML Registry"
[RFC3688]. Following the format in [RFC3688], the following
registrations have been made:
URI: urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-datastores
Registrant Contact: The IESG.
XML: N/A; the requested URI is an XML namespace.
URI: urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-origin
Registrant Contact: The IESG.
XML: N/A; the requested URI is an XML namespace.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 26]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
8.2. Updates to the YANG Module Names Registry
This document registers two YANG modules in the "YANG Module Names"
registry [RFC6020]. Following the format in [RFC6020], the following
registrations have been made:
name: ietf-datastores
namespace: urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-datastores
prefix: ds
reference: RFC 8342
name: ietf-origin
namespace: urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-origin
prefix: or
reference: RFC 8342
9. Security Considerations
This document discusses an architectural model of datastores for
network management using NETCONF/RESTCONF and YANG. It has no
security impact on the Internet.
Although this document specifies several YANG modules, these modules
only define identities and a metadata annotation; hence, the "YANG
module security guidelines" [YANG-SEC] do not apply.
The origin metadata annotation exposes the origin of values in the
applied configuration. Origin information may provide hints that
certain control-plane protocols are active on a device. Since origin
information is tied to applied configuration values, it is only
accessible to clients that have the permissions to read the applied
configuration values. Security administrators should consider the
sensitivity of origin information while defining access control
rules.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 27]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
10. References
10.1. 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,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>.
[RFC6241] Enns, R., Ed., Bjorklund, M., Ed., Schoenwaelder, J., Ed.,
and A. Bierman, Ed., "Network Configuration Protocol
(NETCONF)", RFC 6241, DOI 10.17487/RFC6241, June 2011,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6241>.
[RFC7950] Bjorklund, M., Ed., "The YANG 1.1 Data Modeling Language",
RFC 7950, DOI 10.17487/RFC7950, August 2016,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7950>.
[RFC7952] Lhotka, L., "Defining and Using Metadata with YANG",
RFC 7952, DOI 10.17487/RFC7952, August 2016,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7952>.
[RFC8040] Bierman, A., Bjorklund, M., and K. Watsen, "RESTCONF
Protocol", RFC 8040, DOI 10.17487/RFC8040, January 2017,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8040>.
[RFC8174] Leiba, B., "Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in
RFC 2119 Key Words", BCP 14, RFC 8174,
DOI 10.17487/RFC8174, May 2017,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8174>.
[W3C.REC-xml-20081126]
Bray, T., Paoli, J., Sperberg-McQueen, M., Maler, E., and
F. Yergeau, "Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.0
(Fifth Edition)", World Wide Web Consortium Recommendation
REC-xml-20081126, November 2008,
<https://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-xml-20081126>.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 28]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
10.2. Informative References
[NETMOD-Operational]
Bjorklund, M. and L. Lhotka, "Operational Data in NETCONF
and YANG", Work in Progress, draft-bjorklund-netmod-
operational-00, October 2012.
[OpState-Enhance]
Watsen, K., Bierman, A., Bjorklund, M., and J.
Schoenwaelder, "Operational State Enhancements for YANG,
NETCONF, and RESTCONF", Work in Progress, draft-kwatsen-
netmod-opstate-02, February 2016.
[OpState-Modeling]
Shakir, R., Shaikh, A., and M. Hines, "Consistent Modeling
of Operational State Data in YANG", Work in Progress,
draft-openconfig-netmod-opstate-01, July 2015.
[OpState-Reqs]
Watsen, K. and T. Nadeau, "Terminology and Requirements
for Enhanced Handling of Operational State", Work in
Progress, draft-ietf-netmod-opstate-reqs-04, January 2016.
[RFC3688] Mealling, M., "The IETF XML Registry", BCP 81, RFC 3688,
DOI 10.17487/RFC3688, January 2004,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc3688>.
[RFC6020] Bjorklund, M., Ed., "YANG - A Data Modeling Language for
the Network Configuration Protocol (NETCONF)", RFC 6020,
DOI 10.17487/RFC6020, October 2010,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6020>.
[RFC6244] Shafer, P., "An Architecture for Network Management Using
NETCONF and YANG", RFC 6244, DOI 10.17487/RFC6244,
June 2011, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6244>.
[RFC8343] Bjorklund, M., "A YANG Data Model for Interface
Management", RFC 8343, DOI 10.17487/RFC8343, March 2018,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8343>.
[RFC8344] Bjorklund, M., "A YANG Data Model for IP Management",
RFC 8344, DOI 10.17487/RFC8344, March 2018,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8344>.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 29]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
[With-config-state]
Wilton, R., ""With-config-state" Capability for
NETCONF/RESTCONF", Work in Progress, draft-wilton-netmod-
opstate-yang-02, December 2015.
[YANG-SEC] IETF, "YANG Security Guidelines", <https://trac.ietf.org/
trac/ops/wiki/yang-security-guidelines>.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 30]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
Appendix A. Guidelines for Defining Datastores
The definition of a new datastore in this architecture should be
provided in a document (e.g., an RFC) purposed for defining the
datastore. When it makes sense, more than one datastore may be
defined in the same document (e.g., when the datastores are logically
connected). Each datastore's definition should address the points
specified in the subsections below.
A.1. Define Which YANG Modules Can Be Used in the Datastore
Not all YANG modules may be used in all datastores. Some datastores
may constrain which data models can be used in them. If it is
desirable that a subset of all modules can be targeted to the
datastore, then the documentation defining the datastore must
indicate this.
A.2. Define Which Subset of YANG-Modeled Data Applies
By default, the data in a datastore is modeled by all YANG statements
in the available YANG modules. However, it is possible to specify
criteria that YANG statements must satisfy in order to be present in
a datastore. For instance, maybe only "config true" nodes, or
"config false" nodes that also have a specific YANG extension, are
present in the datastore.
A.3. Define How Data Is Actualized
The new datastore must specify how it interacts with other
datastores.
For example, the diagram in Section 5 depicts dynamic configuration
datastores feeding into <operational>. How this interaction occurs
has to be defined by the particular dynamic configuration datastores.
In some cases, it may occur implicitly, as soon as the data is put
into the dynamic configuration datastore, while in other cases an
explicit action (e.g., an RPC) may be required to trigger the
application of the datastore's data.
A.4. Define Which Protocols Can Be Used
By default, it is assumed that both the NETCONF and RESTCONF
protocols can be used to interact with a datastore. However, it may
be that only a specific protocol can be used (e.g., Forwarding and
Control Element Separation (ForCES)) or that a subset of all protocol
operations or capabilities are available (e.g., no locking or no
XPath-based filtering).
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 31]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
A.5. Define YANG Identities for the Datastore
The datastore must be defined with a YANG identity that uses the
"ds:datastore" identity, or one of its derived identities, as its
base. This identity is necessary, so that the datastore can be
referenced in protocol operations (e.g., <get-data>).
The datastore may also be defined with an identity that uses the
"or:origin" identity, or one of its derived identities, as its base.
This identity is needed if the datastore interacts with
<operational>, so that data originating from the datastore can be
identified as such via the "origin" metadata attribute defined in
Section 7.
An example of these guidelines in use is provided in Appendix B.
Appendix B. Example of an Ephemeral Dynamic Configuration Datastore
This section defines documentation for an example dynamic
configuration datastore using the guidelines provided in Appendix A.
For brevity, only a terse example is provided; it is expected that a
standalone RFC would be written when this type of scenario is fully
considered.
This example defines a dynamic configuration datastore called
"ephemeral", which is loosely modeled after the work done in the I2RS
Working Group.
+--------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| Name | Value |
+--------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| Name | ephemeral |
| | |
| YANG modules | all (default) |
| | |
| YANG nodes | all "config true" data nodes |
| | |
| How applied | changes automatically propagated to |
| | <operational> |
| | |
| Protocols | NETCONF/RESTCONF (default) |
| | |
| Defining YANG | "example-ds-ephemeral" |
| module | |
+--------------------+----------------------------------------------+
Properties of the Example "ephemeral" Datastore
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 32]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
module example-ds-ephemeral {
yang-version 1.1;
namespace "urn:example:ds-ephemeral";
prefix eph;
import ietf-datastores {
prefix ds;
}
import ietf-origin {
prefix or;
}
// datastore identity
identity ds-ephemeral {
base ds:dynamic;
description
"The ephemeral dynamic configuration datastore.";
}
// origin identity
identity or-ephemeral {
base or:dynamic;
description
"Denotes data from the ephemeral dynamic configuration
datastore.";
}
}
Appendix C. Example Data
The use of datastores is complex, and many of the subtle effects are
more easily presented using examples. This section presents a series
of example data models with some sample contents of the various
datastores.
The XML [W3C.REC-xml-20081126] snippets that follow are provided as
examples only.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 33]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
C.1. System Example
In this example, the following fictional module is used:
module example-system {
yang-version 1.1;
namespace urn:example:system;
prefix sys;
import ietf-inet-types {
prefix inet;
}
container system {
leaf hostname {
type string;
}
list interface {
key name;
leaf name {
type string;
}
container auto-negotiation {
leaf enabled {
type boolean;
default true;
}
leaf speed {
type uint32;
units mbps;
description
"The advertised speed, in Mbps.";
}
}
leaf speed {
type uint32;
units mbps;
config false;
description
"The speed of the interface, in Mbps.";
}
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 34]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
list address {
key ip;
leaf ip {
type inet:ip-address;
}
leaf prefix-length {
type uint8;
}
}
}
}
}
The operator has configured the hostname and two interfaces, so the
contents of <intended> are:
<system xmlns="urn:example:system">
<hostname>foo.example.com</hostname>
<interface>
<name>eth0</name>
<auto-negotiation>
<speed>1000</speed>
</auto-negotiation>
<address>
<ip>2001:db8::10</ip>
<prefix-length>64</prefix-length>
</address>
</interface>
<interface>
<name>eth1</name>
<address>
<ip>2001:db8::20</ip>
<prefix-length>64</prefix-length>
</address>
</interface>
</system>
The system has detected that the hardware for one of the configured
interfaces ("eth1") is not yet present, so the configuration for that
interface is not applied. Further, the system has received a
hostname and an additional IP address for "eth0" over DHCP. In
addition to filling in the default value for the auto-negotiation
enabled leaf, a loopback interface entry is also automatically
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 35]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
instantiated by the system. All of this is reflected in
<operational>. Note how the "origin" metadata attribute for several
"config true" data nodes is inherited from their parent data nodes.
<system
xmlns="urn:example:system"
xmlns:or="urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-origin">
<hostname or:origin="or:learned">bar.example.com</hostname>
<interface or:origin="or:intended">
<name>eth0</name>
<auto-negotiation>
<enabled or:origin="or:default">true</enabled>
<speed>1000</speed>
</auto-negotiation>
<speed>100</speed>
<address>
<ip>2001:db8::10</ip>
<prefix-length>64</prefix-length>
</address>
<address or:origin="or:learned">
<ip>2001:db8::1:100</ip>
<prefix-length>64</prefix-length>
</address>
</interface>
<interface or:origin="or:system">
<name>lo0</name>
<address>
<ip>::1</ip>
<prefix-length>128</prefix-length>
</address>
</interface>
</system>
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 36]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
C.2. BGP Example
Consider the following fragment of a fictional BGP module:
container bgp {
leaf local-as {
type uint32;
}
leaf peer-as {
type uint32;
}
list peer {
key name;
leaf name {
type inet:ip-address;
}
leaf local-as {
type uint32;
description
"... Defaults to ../local-as.";
}
leaf peer-as {
type uint32;
description
"... Defaults to ../peer-as.";
}
leaf local-port {
type inet:port;
}
leaf remote-port {
type inet:port;
default 179;
}
leaf state {
config false;
type enumeration {
enum init;
enum established;
enum closing;
}
}
}
}
In this example model, both bgp/peer/local-as and bgp/peer/peer-as
have complex hierarchical values, allowing the user to specify
default values for all peers in a single location.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 37]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
The model also follows the pattern of fully integrating state
("config false") nodes with configuration ("config true") nodes.
There is no separate "bgp-state" hierarchy, with the accompanying
repetition of containment and naming nodes. This makes the model
simpler and more readable.
C.2.1. Datastores
Each datastore represents differing views of these nodes. <running>
will hold the configuration provided by the operator -- for example,
a single BGP peer. <intended> will conceptually hold the data as
validated, after the removal of data not intended for validation and
after any local template mechanisms are performed. <operational>
will show data from <intended> as well as any "config false" nodes.
C.2.2. Adding a Peer
If the user configures a single BGP peer, then that peer will be
visible in both <running> and <intended>. It may also appear in
<candidate> if the server supports the candidate configuration
datastore. Retrieving the peer will return only the user-specified
values.
No time delay should exist between the appearance of the peer in
<running> and <intended>.
In this scenario, we've added the following to <running>:
<bgp>
<local-as>64501</local-as>
<peer-as>64502</peer-as>
<peer>
<name>2001:db8::2:3</name>
</peer>
</bgp>
C.2.2.1. <operational>
The operational datastore will contain the fully expanded peer data,
including "config false" nodes. In our example, this means that the
"state" node will appear.
In addition, <operational> will contain the "currently in use" values
for all nodes. This means that local-as and peer-as will be
populated even if they are not given values in <intended>. The value
of bgp/local-as will be used if bgp/peer/local-as is not provided;
bgp/peer-as and bgp/peer/peer-as will have the same relationship. In
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 38]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
the operational view, this means that every peer will have values for
their local-as and peer-as, even if those values are not explicitly
configured but are provided by bgp/local-as and bgp/peer-as.
Each BGP peer has a TCP connection associated with it, using the
values of local-port and remote-port from <intended>. If those
values are not supplied, the system will select values. When the
connection is established, <operational> will contain the current
values for the local-port and remote-port nodes regardless of the
origin. If the system has chosen the values, the "origin" attribute
will be set to "system". Before the connection is established, one
or both of the nodes may not appear, since the system may not yet
have their values.
<bgp xmlns:or="urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-origin"
or:origin="or:intended">
<local-as>64501</local-as>
<peer-as>64502</peer-as>
<peer>
<name>2001:db8::2:3</name>
<local-as or:origin="or:default">64501</local-as>
<peer-as or:origin="or:default">64502</peer-as>
<local-port or:origin="or:system">60794</local-port>
<remote-port or:origin="or:default">179</remote-port>
<state>established</state>
</peer>
</bgp>
C.2.3. Removing a Peer
Changes to configuration may take time to percolate through the
various software components involved. During this period, it is
imperative to continue to give an accurate view of the working of the
device. <operational> will contain nodes for both the previous and
current configuration, as closely as possible tracking the current
operation of the device.
Consider the scenario where a client removes a BGP peer. When a peer
is removed, the operational state will continue to reflect the
existence of that peer until the peer's resources are released,
including closing the peer's connection. During this period, the
current data values will continue to be visible in <operational>,
with the "origin" attribute set to indicate the origin of the
original data.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 39]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
<bgp xmlns:or="urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-origin"
or:origin="or:intended">
<local-as>64501</local-as>
<peer-as>64502</peer-as>
<peer>
<name>2001:db8::2:3</name>
<local-as or:origin="or:default">64501</local-as>
<peer-as or:origin="or:default">64502</peer-as>
<local-port or:origin="or:system">60794</local-port>
<remote-port or:origin="or:default">179</remote-port>
<state>closing</state>
</peer>
</bgp>
Once resources are released and the connection is closed, the peer's
data is removed from <operational>.
C.3. Interface Example
In this section, we will use this simple interface data model:
container interfaces {
list interface {
key name;
leaf name {
type string;
}
leaf description {
type string;
}
leaf mtu {
type uint16;
}
leaf-list ip-address {
type inet:ip-address;
}
}
}
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 40]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
C.3.1. Pre-provisioned Interfaces
One common issue in networking devices is the support of Field
Replaceable Units (FRUs) that can be inserted and removed from the
device without requiring a reboot or interfering with normal
operation. These FRUs are typically interface cards, and the devices
support pre-provisioning of these interfaces.
If a client creates an interface "et-0/0/0" but the interface does
not physically exist at this point, then <intended> might contain the
following:
<interfaces>
<interface>
<name>et-0/0/0</name>
<description>Test interface</description>
</interface>
</interfaces>
Since the interface does not exist, this data does not appear in
<operational>.
When a FRU containing this interface is inserted, the system will
detect it and process the associated configuration. <operational>
will contain the data from <intended>, as well as nodes added by the
system, such as the current value of the interface's MTU.
<interfaces xmlns:or="urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-origin"
or:origin="or:intended">
<interface>
<name>et-0/0/0</name>
<description>Test interface</description>
<mtu or:origin="or:system">1500</mtu>
</interface>
</interfaces>
If the FRU is removed, the interface data is removed from
<operational>.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 41]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
C.3.2. System-Provided Interface
Imagine that the system provides a loopback interface (named "lo0")
with a default IPv4 address of "127.0.0.1" and a default IPv6 address
of "::1". The system will only provide configuration for this
interface if there is no data for it in <intended>.
When no configuration for "lo0" appears in <intended>, <operational>
will show the system-provided data:
<interfaces xmlns:or="urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-origin"
or:origin="or:intended">
<interface or:origin="or:system">
<name>lo0</name>
<ip-address>127.0.0.1</ip-address>
<ip-address>::1</ip-address>
</interface>
</interfaces>
When configuration for "lo0" does appear in <intended>, <operational>
will show that data with the origin set to "intended". If the
"ip-address" is not provided, then the system-provided value will
appear as follows:
<interfaces xmlns:or="urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-origin"
or:origin="or:intended">
<interface>
<name>lo0</name>
<description>loopback</description>
<ip-address or:origin="or:system">127.0.0.1</ip-address>
<ip-address>::1</ip-address>
</interface>
</interfaces>
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 42]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
Acknowledgments
This document grew out of many discussions that took place since
2010. Several documents ([NETMOD-Operational] [With-config-state]
[OpState-Reqs] [OpState-Enhance] [OpState-Modeling], as well as
[RFC6244]), touched on some of the problems of the original datastore
model. The following people were authors of these works in progress
or were otherwise actively involved in the discussions that led to
this document:
o Lou Berger, LabN Consulting, L.L.C., <lberger@labn.net>
o Andy Bierman, YumaWorks, <andy@yumaworks.com>
o Marcus Hines, Google, <hines@google.com>
o Christian Hopps, Deutsche Telekom, <chopps@chopps.org>
o Balazs Lengyel, Ericsson, <balazs.lengyel@ericsson.com>
o Ladislav Lhotka, CZ.NIC, <lhotka@nic.cz>
o Acee Lindem, Cisco Systems, <acee@cisco.com>
o Thomas Nadeau, Brocade Networks, <tnadeau@lucidvision.com>
o Tom Petch, Engineering Networks Ltd, <ietfc@btconnect.com>
o Anees Shaikh, Google, <aashaikh@google.com>
o Rob Shakir, Google, <robjs@google.com>
o Jason Sterne, Nokia, <jason.sterne@nokia.com>
Juergen Schoenwaelder was partly funded by Flamingo, a Network of
Excellence project (ICT-318488) supported by the European Commission
under its Seventh Framework Programme.
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 43]
^L
RFC 8342 NMDA March 2018
Authors' Addresses
Martin Bjorklund
Tail-f Systems
Email: mbj@tail-f.com
Juergen Schoenwaelder
Jacobs University
Email: j.schoenwaelder@jacobs-university.de
Phil Shafer
Juniper Networks
Email: phil@juniper.net
Kent Watsen
Juniper Networks
Email: kwatsen@juniper.net
Robert Wilton
Cisco Systems
Email: rwilton@cisco.com
Bjorklund, et al. Standards Track [Page 44]
^L
|