Content Distribution Internetworking (CDI) BOF

Tuesday, March 20, 2001
50th IETF meeting
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Co-chairs: Mark Day and Phil Rzewski

Description

Problem to be solved

There are a number of Content Networks (CNs) deployed and/or planned, including Content Distribution Networks (CDNs) and cache clusters. Consistent with the general history of internetworking, people are starting to think about ways to interconnect these different CNs, and talking about "peering at the content level", "CDN peering," or "content peering." Regardless of name, the goal is to allow different CNs — implemented using differing technology or under different administrative domains — to cooperate with each other, forming a larger "virtual CN."

Background of proposed solution

At the first CDI BOF in San Diego (December 12, 2000), rough consensus was formed around the statement of the problem and need to work toward creation of protocols to provide a solution. Since the BOF, the group has continued its original focus of considering the problem in terms of the three component systems of a Content Network: request-routing, distribution, and accounting. The proposed approach to CN interoperation has been to support the transfer of information between the corresponding systems of two peered networks.

There are 4 internet-drafts of a "background" nature that were available prior to the previous CDI BOF in San Diego and have since been revised. Summaries of these drafts will be presented at the BOF and discussion will focus around whether there is rough consensus within the group for them to proceed toward becoming RFCs:

• A Model for Content Internetworking: An introduction to the problem area and proposed vocabulary
  
• Content Internetworking Scenarios
  
• Content Internetworking Architectural Overview: A description of a proposed architecture for interoperation
  
• Known CDN Request-Routing Mechanisms
  

There are 3 internet-drafts of a "requirements" nature that have been largely created in the time since the previous CDI BOF in San Diego. Summaries of these drafts will be presented at the BOF and discussion will focus around whether there is rough consensus within the group for them to be used as the foundation to begin drafting protocol specifications:

• Request-Routing Requirements for Content Distribution Internetworking (CDI)
  
• Distribution Peering Requirements for CDI
  
• CDI Peering Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting Requirements

Agenda

• Agenda bashing (2 min)
• Summary of charter / group activity since prior BOF (5 min)
• Summary & discussion of "background" drafts (20 min)
• Summary & discussion of "requirements" drafts (25 min)
• Discussion of timelines for protocols (8 min)
• Thumbs up/down