Network Working Group                                            X. Geng
Internet-Draft                                                   J. Dong
Intended status: Informational                       Huawei Technologies
Expires: August 26, 2021 28 April 2022                                           R. Pang
                                                            China Unicom
                                                                  L. Han
                                                            China Mobile
                                                                R. Rokui
                                                                   Nokia
                                                                 T. Niwa
                                                              Individual
                                                                  J. Jin
                                                                   LG U+
                                                                  C. Liu
                                                            China Unicom
                                                             N. Nageshar
                                                              Individual
                                                       February 22,
                                                         25 October 2021

 5G End-to-end Network Slice Mapping from the view of Transport Network
                draft-geng-teas-network-slice-mapping-03
                draft-geng-teas-network-slice-mapping-04

Abstract

   Network Slicing is one of the core featrures features in 5G.  End-to-end
   network slice consists of 3 major types of network segments: Access
   Network (AN), Mobile Core Network (CN) and Transport Network (TN).
   This draft describes the procedure of mapping 5G end-to-end network
   slice to transport network slice defined in IETF.  This draft also
   intends to expose some gaps in the existing network management plane
   and data plane technologies to support inter-domain network slice
   mapping.  Further work may require cooperation collaboration between IETF and
   3GPP (or other standard organizations).  Data model specification,
   signaling protocol extension and new encapsulation definition are out
   of the scope of this draft.

Requirements Language

   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].

Status of This Memo

   This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the
   provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.

   Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering
   Task Force (IETF).  Note that other groups may also distribute
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   Drafts is at https://datatracker.ietf.org/drafts/current/.

   Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months
   and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any
   time.  It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference
   material or to cite them other than as "work in progress."

   This Internet-Draft will expire on August 26, 2021. 28 April 2022.

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Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   2.  Terminologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   3.  5G End-to-End Network Slice Mapping Structure . . . . . . Identification  . . . . . . . . .   4
     3.1.  Requirements Profile  . . .
   4.  Network Slice Mapping Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     3.2.  Identifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     3.3.  Relevant functions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
   4.
   5.  Network Slice Mapping Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
     4.1.   8
     5.1.  Network Slice Mapping in Management Plane . . . . . . . .   8
     4.2.   9
     5.2.  Network Slice Mapping in Control Plane  . . . . . . . . .   9
     4.3.  10
     5.3.  Network Slice Mapping in Data Plane . . . . . . . . . . .  10
       4.3.1.
       5.3.1.  Data Plane Mapping Considerations . . . . . . . . . .  10
       4.3.2.
       5.3.2.  Data Plane Mapping Options  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
   5.  11
   6.  Network Slice Mapping Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
   6.
   7.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
   7.  16
   8.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
   8.  16
   9.  Acknowledgements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
   9.  16
   10. Normative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
   Authors' Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17  18

1.  Introduction

   Driven by the new applications of 5G, the concept of network slicing
   is defined to provide a logical network with specific capabilities
   and characteristics.  Network slice contains a set of network
   functions and allocated resources(e.g. computation, storage and
   network resources).  According to [TS28530], a 5G end-to-end network
   slice is composed of three major types network segments: Radio Access
   Network (RAN), Transport Network (TN) and Mobile Core Network (CN).
   Transport network is supposed to provide the required connectivity
   between AN and CN, with specific performance commitment.  For each
   end-to-end network slice, the topology and performance requirement
   for transport network can be very different, which requests transport
   network to have the capability of supporting multiple different
   transport network slices.

   A transport

   The concept of IETF network slice is discussed in
   [I-D.ietf-teas-ietf-network-slices].  In summary, an IETF Network
   Slice is a virtual (logical) network with a
   particular logical network topology and connecting a number of endpoints
   using a set of shared or dedicated network
   resources, which resources that are used to provide the network slice consumer with
   the required connectivity, appropriate isolation and
   satisfy specific Service Level Agreement (SLA).  A transport Objectives SLOs) and Service Level
   Expectations (SLEs).

   The realization of an IETF network slice slices in Transport network (TN)
   could span multiple technology (IP, (e.g., IP/MPLS, Optical) and multiple
   administrative domains.  Depending on the consumer's requirement, a transport an
   IETF network slice could be isolated from other concurrent transport IETF
   network slices, in terms of data plane, control plane and management
   plane.  Transport
   network slice is being defined and discussed in IETF.

   Editor's Note: The definition of transport network slice will align
   with [I-D.ietf-teas-ietf-network-slice-definition].  The procedure for lifecycle of an end-to-end network slice
   instance (i.e., creation, network
   slice subnet instance creation and network slice instance deletion, modificatinon, termination
   in management plane etc.)
   is defined in [TS28531].  The end-to-end  End-to-end network
   slice allocation slicing provisioning is defined
   specified in ETSI [ZSM003].  But there is no specifications about how
   to map end-to-end network slice in 5G system to transport IETF network slice. slices in Transport
   Network (TN).  This draft describes the procedure of mapping the 5G
   end-to-end network slice into transport to IETF network slice slices in management plane,
   control plane and user data plane.

   5G end-to-end network slice mapping is treated as an independent
   mechanism from 5G end-to-end QoS mapping.  The latter is not covered
   by this version.

2.  Terminologies

   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 [RFC2119].

   The following terms are used in this document:

   NS:

   NSC: IETF Network Slice Controller

   NSI: Network Slice Instance
   NSSI: Network Slice Subnet Instance

   NSSAI: Network Slice Selection Assistance Information

   S-NSSAI: Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information

   AN: Access Network

   RAN: Radio Access Network

   TN: Transport Network

   CN: Mobile Core Network

   DSCP: Differentiated Services Code Point

   CSMF: Communication Service Management Function

   NSMF: Network Slice Management Function

   NSSMF: Network Slice Subnet Management Function

   GST: General Slice Template

   TNSII: Transport

3.  5G End-to-End Network Slice Interworking Identifier

   TNSI: Transport Network Identification

   The following figure illustrates a typical mobile network with three
   5G e2e network slices.  Each e2e network slice contains AN slice, CN
   slice and one or more IETF network Slices. 3GPP identifies each e2e
   network slice using an integer called S-NSSAI.  In Figure-1 there are
   three instances of e2e network slices which are identified by S-NSSAI
   01111111, 02222222 and 02333333, respectively.  Each instance of e2e
   network slice contains AN slice, CN Slice Identifier

   PDU: Protocol Data Unit

   Editor's Note: Terminologies defined in 3GPP, e.g.,Network and one or more IETF
   network slices.  For example, e2e network slice 01111111 has AN Slice
   Subnet Management Function(NSSMF), Network
   instance 4, CN Slice Subnet
   Instance(NSSI) instance 1 and Network Slice Selection Assistance
   Information(NSSAI), are used in the end-to-end IETF network slice mapping,
   which may 6.  Note that
   3GPP does not be used necessarily within cover the transport network.

3.  Network Slice Mapping Structure

   The following figure shows the necessary elements for mapping end-to-
   end network slice into transport IETF network slice.  All these  See [I-D.ietf-teas-ietf-
   network-slices] for details of IETF network
   slice elements slice.

   Note that 3GPP uses the terms NSI and NSSI which are classified into three groups: requirements/
   capabilities, identifiers a set of network
   function and relevant functions.

                   +-----------------+ required resources (e.g. compute, storage and networking
   resources) which corresponds to network slice Instance, whereas
   S-NSSAI is an integer that identifies the e2e network slice.

               +-----------+ +-----------+  +-----------+
               |       CSMF  S-NSSAI  |
                   +--------+--------+ |
                   +--------V--------+  S-NSSAI  |       NSMF  |
                   +-----------------+
        +----------|  NSI Identifier |----------+  S-NSSAI  |
               | Service Profile  01111111 | |  02222222 |  |  TN  Network-  03333333 |
               +---|-------+ +---|---|---+  +----|------+
                   |  +----------+   |           | -Slice Profile
                   V  V              V           V
                 *******       ********      ********
   Core         * NSSI 1 *    * NSSI 2 *    * NSSI 3 *
   Network       ********      ********      ********
                     \              \             /
                      \              \           /
                      +-----+       +-----+    +-----+
   Transport          | IETF|       | IETF|    | IETF|
   Network            | NS 6|       | NS 7|    | NS 8|
                      +-----+       +-----+    +-----+
                          \              \   /
                           \              \ /
                           ********     ********
    Access                * NSSI 4 *   * NSSI 5 *
    Network                ********     ********

   Figure 1 5G End-to-End Network Slice and its components

4.  Network Slice Mapping Structure

   Referring to 3GPP TR 28.801, the management of 5G e2e network slices
   from 3GPP view is shown in Figure-2(A).  Figure-2(B) illustrates the
   view of IETF and how it maps to 3GPP network slice management.  In
   particular, the IETF network slice controller (NSC) is equivalent to
   3GPP TN NSSMF and functional block "Consumer" at IETF is equivalent
   to 3GPP NSMF.

                   +-----------------+
                   |       NSMF      |
                   +-----------------+
        +----------|     S-NSSAI     |----------+
        |          |(e.g. 011111111) |          |
        |          +-----------------+          |
        |                   |                   |
 +------V------+ +----------V----------+ +------V------+
        V                   V                   V
 +-------------+ +---------------------+ +-------------+
 |  AN NSSMF   | |      TN NSSMF       IETF NSC      | |   CN NSSMF  |
 +-------------+ +---------------------+ +-------------+
 |   AN-NSSI-   AN Slice  | |  TN-NSSI Identifier IETF Network Slice  | |   CN-NSSI-   CN Slice  |
 | -Identifier Identifier  | |  Function Management|     Identifier      | | -Identifier  Identifier |
 |     ... (e.g., 4)   | |         ...     (e.g., 6)       | |     ...  (e.g., 1)  |    Management
 +-------------+ +---------------------+ +-------------+      Plane
      |           |                   |           |      -----------------
      |<----------PDU session (S-NSSAI)---------->|           Control
      |           |                   |           |            Plane
      V           V                   V           V      -----------------
      /\       +-----+             +-----+    +-------+        Data
     /AN\ -----|  PE |-----...-----| PE  |----|  UPF  CN   |        Plane
    /____\     +-----+             +-----+    +-------+
      |-->TNSII<--|------>TNSI<-------|-->TNSII<--|

3.1.  Requirements Profile

   In order

Note: Refer to satisfy a tenant's request Figure-1 for a network slice with
   certain characteristics, creating a new network slice or using
   existing network slice instance is constrained by the requirement
   profile S-NSSAI 01111111, AN, CN and the capability of the network slices.

   o  Service Profile: represents the properties of network slice
      related requirement that should be supported by the network slice
      instance in 5G network.  Service profile is defined in [TS28541]
      6.3.3.

   o  TN IETF networks slices 4,6 and 1

Figure-2 Relation between IETF and 3GPP Network Slice Profile: represents management

   The following figure shows the properties of transport necessary elements for mapping end-to-
   end network slice related requirement that should be supported by the
      transport into IETF network slice in a slices.

        +---------------------+
        |         CSMF        |
        +----------|----------+
                   |                    +------------------------+
        +---------------------+         |  5G network. E2E Network Slice Profile is defined
      in [TS28541] 6.3.4.  |
        |         NSMF        |         |      Orchestrator      |
        +---------------------+         +------------------------+
              /    |    \                            |
             /     |     \                  NSC NBI  |
            /      |      \                          |
   +---------++---------++---------+    +------------------------+
   |    AN   ||    TN   ||   CN    |    |   IETF Network slice profile is newly defined in
      this draft.

3.2.  Identifiers Slice   |
   |   NSSMF ||   NSSMF ||  NSSMF  |    |     Controller (NSC)   |
   |         ||         ||         |    +------------------------+
   +---------++---------++---------+         NSC SBI |
        |          |          |                      |
        |          |          |         +------------------------+
        |          |          |         |    Network Controllers |
        |          |          |         +------------------------+
        |          |          |                      |
        |          |          |                      |
      ******      ******     ******               ******
     *  5G  *    * IETF *   *  5G  *             * IETF *
    *   RAN  *  * Network* *  Core  *           * Network*
     *      *    *      *   *      *             *      *
      ******      ******     ******               ******

   Figure-3 5G E2E Network Slice Mapping Structure

   The following network slice related identifiers in management plane,
   control plane and data(user) plane play an important role in end-to-end end-to-
   end network slice mapping.

   o

   *  Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information(S-NSSAI):
      The end-to-end network slice identifier in control plane, identifier, which is defined in
      [TS23501];

   o  Network Slice Instance(NSI) Identifier:end-to-end S-NSSAI is used during 3GPP network slice
      identifier in management plane, which is created in NSMF; NSI is
      is set of Network Function instances and the required resources
      (e.g. computing, storage and networking resources) which form a
      deployed Network Slice, which is defined in [TS23501]; ;

   o  Transport signalling
      process.

   *  IETF Network Slice Instance(TN-NSSI) Identifier: transport
      network slice An identifier allocated by IETF
      Neetwork Slice Controller (NSC) in management plane.  In data
      plane, which is created in
      TN NSSMF; TN-NSSI is newly defined in this draft.

   o  Transport IETF Network Slice Interworking Identifier (TNSII): may be instantiated with
      existing data plane identifiers and doesn't necessarily require
      new encapsulation.

   *  IETF Network Slice Interworking Identifier: Data-plane network
      slice identifier which is used for mapping the end-to-end network
      slice into transport traffic to specific IETF network slice in data plane.  TNSII slice.  The IETF Network
      Slice Interworking Identifier is a new concept introduced by this
      draft, which can may be instantiated with existing data plane
      identifiers and doesn't necessarilly request necessarily require new encapsulation.  TNSII could be pre-allocated as a global
      identifier.

   o  Transport Network Slice Identifier(TNSI): transport network slice
      identifier in data plane(user plane).  TNSI is newly defined in
      this draft.

   The relationship between these identifiers are specifies in the
   following sections.

3.3.  Relevant functions

   There are a set of slice relevant functions that are necessary for
   transport network slice management:

   o  Topology management

   o  QoS management

   o  Resource management

   o  Measurement management
   o  ...

   Some of these functions are implemented inside the transport network
   and independent from the end-to-end network slice, e.g., topology
   management, QoS management, resource management; Some of the
   functions are related to the end-to-end network slice and should
   cooperate with other network elements from other domain, e.g.,
   Measurement management.

4.

5.  Network Slice Mapping Procedure

   This section provides a general procedure of network slice mapping:

           +--------------------------------+
           |       Requirement Matching     |
           +---------------+----------------+
                           |
                           V
           +--------------------------------+
           |       NSI<->TN NSSI  Mapping   |
           +---------------+----------------+
                           |
                           V
           +--------------------------------+
           |       S-NSSAI Selection        |
           +---------------+----------------+
                           |
                           V
           +--------------------------------+
           |S-NSSAI<---------->TNSII Mapping|
           |      (NSI<->TN NSSI)           |
           +---------------+----------------+
                           |
                           V
           +--------------------------------+
           |       TNSII<->TNSI  Mapping    |
           +--------------------------------+

   1.  NSMF receives the request from CSMF for allocation of a network
   slice instance with certain characteristics.

   2.  Based on the service requirement , NSMF acquires requirements for
   the end-to-end network slice instance , which is defined in Service
   Profile([TS28541] section 6.3.3).

   3.  Based on Service Profile, NSMF derives transport network slice related requirements from identified the Service profile, network function
   and maintains them the required resources in Transport Network Slice
   Profile, So as to AN, CN Slice Profile and AN Slice Profile, in order to
   decide on TN networks.  It also
   assigns the constituent NSSIs(including unique ID S-NSSAI.

   4.  NSMF sends a request to AN NSSMF for creation of AN NSSI, Slice.

   5.  NSMF sends a request to CN NSSI and TN
   NSSI) NSSMF for creation of the NSI, based on the service profile and the endpoint
   information(AN/CN edge nodes).

   4. CN Slice.

   6.  NSMF sends the Transport a request to IETF Network Slice Profile, endpoint
   information, Controller (NSC) for
   creation of IETF Network Slice.  The request contains such attribute
   such as endpoints, required SLA/SLO along with other TS NBI attributes to TN NSSMF IETF network
   slice attributes.  It also cotains mapping informatin for TN
   NSSI allocation.

   5.  TN NSSMF allocates TN NSSI IETF
   Network Slice Interworking Identifier.

   7.  NSC realizes the IETF network slice which could satisfy satisfies the
   requirement of
   Transport Network Slice Profile IETF network slice between the specified endpoints
   (AN/ CN edge nodes) nodes).  It assigns sliceID and sends the TN NSSI Identifier send it to NSMF.

   6.  NSMF acquires the mapping relationship between NSI and TN NSSI.

   7.

   8.  NSMF matains has the mapping relationship between NSI and S-NSSAI and IETF
   Network Slice ID;

   9.  When the mapping relationship between TN NSSI User Equipment (UE) appears, and TNSII, which could during the 5G
   signalling, it requests to be
   used connected to set up mapping relationship between S-NSSAI and TNSII.

   8.  When specific e2e network slice
   identified by S-NASSI.  Then a PDU session is set up between AN and CN, an S-NSSAI GTP tunnel (which is
   selected UDP/IP) will be
   created.

   10.  UE starts sending traffic in context of e2e network slice for
   specific S-NASSI.

   11.  In context of GTP tunnel, the PDU session.

   9.  AN/CN AN edge nodes encapsulates the
   packet using TNSII, with sliceIID according to the selected S-NSSAI.  Network Slice could also be differentiated
   by physical interface, if different network slices are transported
   through different interface;

   10. S-NSSAI ans send it to
   the transport network.

   12.  The edge node of transport network edge node receives the IP packet and
   parses the TNSII sliceIID from the packet and maps the packet to the
   corresponding transport IETF network slice.  It may encapsulate packet with TNSI.  The nodes
   sliceID if needed (for example for enforcing QoS in transport
   network transit the packet inside the corresponding transport network
   slice according to TNSI.

   The procedure of end-to-end network slice mapping involves the
   mapping in three network planes: management plane, control plane and
   data plane.

4.1.
   network).

5.1.  Network Slice Mapping in Management Plane

   The transport network management Plane maintains the interface
   between NSMF and TN NSSMF, which 1) guarantees that transport IETF network
   slice could connect the AN and CN with specified characteristics that
   satisfy the requirements of communication; 2) builds up the mapping
   relationship between NSI identifier and TN NSSI identifier; 3)
   maintains the end-to-end slice relevant functions;

   Service Profile defined in[TS28541] represents the requirement of
   end-to-end network slice instance in 5G network.  Parameters defined
   in Service Profile include Latency, resource sharing level,
   availability and so on.  How to decompose the end-to-end requirement
   to the transport network requirement is one of the key issues in
   Network slice requirement mapping.  GSMA(Global System for Mobile
   Communications Association) defines the [GST] to indicate the network
   slice requirement from the view of service provider.
   [I-D.contreras-teas-slice-nbi] analysis the parameters of GST and
   categorize the parameters into three classes, including the
   attributes with direct impact on the transport IETF network slice definition.
   It is a good start for selecting the transport network relevant
   parameters in order to define Network Slice Profile for Transport
   Network.  Network slice requirement parameters are also necessary for
   the definition of transport network northbound interface.

   Inside the TN NSSMF, it is supposed to maintain the attributes of the
   transport
   IETF network slice.  If the attributes of an existing TN NSSI could
   satisfy the requirement from TN Network Slice Profile, the existing
   TN NSSI could be selected and the mapping is finished If there is no
   existing TN NSSI which could satisfy the requirement, a new TN NSSI
   is supposed to be created by the NSSMF with new attributes.

   TN NSSI resource reservation should be considered to avoid over
   allocation from multiple requests from NSMF (but the detailed
   mechanism should be out of scope in the draft)
   TN NSSMF sends the selected or newly allocated TN NSSI identifier to
   NSMF.  The mapping relationship between NSI identifier and TN NSSI
   identifier is maintained in both NSMF and TN NSSMF.

   YANG data model for the Transport Slice NBI, which could be used by a
   higher level system which is the Transport slice consumer of a
   Transport Slice Controller (TSC) to request, configure, and manage
   the components of a transport slices, is defined in
   [I-D.wd-teas-transport-slice-yang].  The northbound Interface of IETF
   network slice refers to [I-D.wd-teas-ietf-network-slice-nbi-yang].

4.2.

5.2.  Network Slice Mapping in Control Plane

   There is no explicit interaction between transport network and AN/CN
   in the control plane, but the S-NSSAI defined in [TS23501] is treated
   as the end-to-end network slice identifier in the control plane of AN
   and CN, which is used in UE registration and PDU session setup.  In
   this draft, we assume that there is mapping relationship between
   S-NSSAI and NSI in the management plane, thus it could be mapped to a
   transport
   IETF network slice .

   Editor's note: The mapping relationship between NSI defined in
   [TS23501] and S-NSSAI defined in [TS23501] is still in discussion.

4.3.

5.3.  Network Slice Mapping in Data Plane

   If multiple network slices are carried through one physical interface
   between AN/CN and TN, transport network slice interworking
   identifier(TNSII) IETF Network Slice Interworking ID in the data
   plane needs to be introduced.  If different network slices are
   transported through different physical interfaces, Network Slices
   could be distinguished by the interface directly.  Thus TNSII IETF Network
   Slice Interworking ID is not the only option for network slice
   mapping, while it may help in introducing new network slices.

4.3.1.

5.3.1.  Data Plane Mapping Considerations

   The mapping relationship between AN or CN network slice identifier
   (either S-NSSAI in control plane or NSI/NSSI in management plane) and
   TNSII
   IETF Network Slice Interworking ID needs to be maintained in AN/CN
   network nodes, and the mapping relationship between TNSII IETF Network
   Slice Interworking ID and TNSI IETF Network Slice is maintained in the
   edge node of transport network.  When the packet of a uplink flow
   goes from AN to TN, the packet is encapsulated based on the TNSII; IETF
   Network Slice Interworking ID; then the encapsulation of TNSII IETF Network
   Slice Interworking ID is read by the edge node of transport network,
   which maps the packet to the corresponding transport IETF network slice.

   Editor's Note: We have considered to add "Network Instance" defined
   in [TS23501]in the draft.  However, after the discussion with 3GPP
   people, we think the concept of "network instance" is a 'neither
   Necessary nor Sufficient Condition' for network slice.  Network
   Instance could be determined by S-NSSAI, it could also depends on
   other information; Network slice could also be allocated without
   network instance (in my understanding) And, TNSII IETF Network Slice
   Interworking ID is not a competitive concept with network instance.TNSII
   instance.IETF Network Slice Interworking ID is a concept for the data
   plane interconnection with transport network, network instance may be
   used by AN and CN nodes to associate a network slice with
   TNSII

4.3.2. IETF
   Network Slice Interworking ID

5.3.2.  Data Plane Mapping Options

   The following picture shows the end-to-end network slice in data
   plane:

   +--+       +-----+                           +----------------+
   |UE|- - - -|(R)AN|---------------------------|       UPF      |
   +--+       +-----+                           +----------------+
    |<----AN NS---->|<----------TN NS---------->|<----CN NS----->|

   The mapping between 3GPP slice and transport slice in user plane
   could happens in:

   (R)AN: User data goes from (radio) access network to transport
   network

   UPF: User data goes from core network functions to transport network

   Editor's Note: As figure 4.7.1. in [TS28530] describes, TN NS will
   not only exist between AN and CN but may also within AN NS and CN NS.
   However, here we just show the TN between AN and CN as an example to
   avoid unncessary complexity.

   The following picture shows the user plane protocol stack in end-to-
   end 5G system.

  +-----------+                    |                  |               |
  |Application+--------------------|------------------|---------------|
  +-----------+                    |                  | +-----------+ |
  | PDU Layer +--------------------|------------------|-| PDU Layer | |
  +-----------+   +-------------+  |  +-------------+ | +-----------+ |
  |           |   | ___Relay___ |--|--| ___Relay___ |-|-|           | |
  |           |   |     \/ GTP-U|--|--|GTP-U\/ GTP-U|-|-|   GTP-U   | |
  |   5G-AN   |   |5G-AN +------+  |  +------+------+ | +-----------+ |
  |  Protocol |   |Protoc|UDP/IP|--|--|UDP/IP|UDP/IP|-|-|   UDP/IP  | |
  |   Layers  |   |Layers+------+  |  +------+------+ | +-----------+ |
  |           |   |      |  L2  |--|--|  L2  |  L2  |-|-|     L2    | |
  |           |   |      +------+  |  +------+------+ | +-----------+ |
  |           |   |      |  L1  |--|--|  L1  |  L1  |-|-|     L1    | |
  +-----------+   +-------------+  |  +-------------+ | +-----------+ |
       UE              5G-AN       |        UPF       |      UPF      |
                                   N3                 N9              N6

   The following figure shows the typical encapsulation in N3 interface
   which could be used to carry the transport network slice interworking
   identifier (TNSII) IETF Network Slice Interworking ID
   between AN/CN and TN.

   +------------------------+
   | Application Protocols  |
   +------------------------+
   |       IP (User)        |
   +------------------------+
   |          GTP           |
   +------------------------+
   |          UDP           |
   +------------------------+
   |          IP            |
   +------------------------+
   |       Ethernet         |
   +------------------------+

4.3.2.1.

5.3.2.1.  Layer 3 and Layer 2 Encapsulations

   If the encapsulation above IP layer is not visible to Transport
   Network, it is not able to be used for network slice interworking
   with transport network.  In this case, IP header and Ethernet header
   could be considered to provide information of network slice
   interworking from AN or CN to TN.

   +------------------------+-----------
   | Application Protocols  |      ^
   +------------------------+      |
   |       IP (User)        |  Invisible
   +------------------------+     for
   |          GTP           |     TN
   +------------------------+      |
   |          UDP           |      V
   +------------------------+------------
   |          IP            |
   +------------------------+
   |       Ethernet         |
   +------------------------+

   The following field in IP header and Ethernet header could be
   considered :

   IP Header:

   o

   *  DSCP: It is traditionally used for the mapping of QoS identifier
      between AN/CN and TN network.  Although some values (e.g.  The
      unassigned code points) may be borrowed for the network slice
      interworking, it may cause confusion between QoS mapping and
      network slicing mapping.;

   o

   *  Destination Address: It is possible to allocate different IP
      addresses for entities in different network slice, then the
      destination IP address could be used as the network slice
      interworking identifier.  However, it brings additional
      requirement to IP address planning.  In addition, in some cases
      some AN or CN network slices may use duplicated IP addresses.

   o

   *  Option fields/headers: It requires that both AN and CN nodes can
      support the encapsulation and decapsulation of the options.

   Ethernet header

   o

   *  VLAN ID: It is widely used for the interconnection between AN/CN
      nodes and the edge nodes of transport network for the access to
      different VPNs.  One possible problem is that the number of VLAN
      ID can be supported by AN nodes is typically limited, which
      effects the number of transport IETF network slices a AN node can attach to.
      Another problem is the total amount of VLAN ID (4K) may not
      provide a comparable space as the network slice identifiers of
      mobile networks.

   Two or more options described above may also be used together as the
   TNSII,
   IETF Network Slice Interworking ID, while it would make the mapping
   relationship more complex to maintain.

   In some other case, when AN or CN could support more layer 3
   encapsulations, more options are available as follows:

   If the AN or CN could support MPLS, the protocol stack could be as
   follows:

   +------------------------+-----------
   | Application Protocols  |      ^
   +------------------------+      |
   |       IP (User)        |  Invisible
   +------------------------+     for
   |          GTP           |     TN
   +------------------------+      |
   |          UDP           |      V
   +------------------------+------------
   |         MPLS           |
   +------------------------+
   |          IP            |
   +------------------------+
   |       Ethernet         |
   +------------------------+

   A specified MPLS label could be used to as a TNSII. IETF Network Slice
   Interworking ID.

   If the AN or CN could support SRv6, the protocol stack is as follows:

   +------------------------+-----------
   | Application Protocols  |      ^
   +------------------------+      |
   |       IP (User)        |  Invisible
   +------------------------+     for
   |          GTP           |     TN
   +------------------------+      |
   |          UDP           |      V
   +------------------------+------------
   |          SRH           |
   +------------------------+
   |         IPv6           |
   +------------------------+
   |       Ethernet         |
   +------------------------+

   The following field could be considered to identify a network slice:

   SRH:

   o

   *  SRv6 functions: AN/CN is supposed to support the new function
      extension of SRv6.

   o

   *  Optional TLV: AN/CN is supposed to support the extension of
      optional TLV of SRH.

4.3.2.2.

5.3.2.2.  Above Layer 3 Encapsulations

   If the encapsulation above IP layer is visible to Transport Network,
   it is able to be used to identify a network slice.  In this case, UPD
   and GTP-U could be considered to provide information of network slice
   interworking between AN or CN and TN.

   +------------------------+----------
   | Application Protocols  |     |
   +------------------------+ Invisible
   |       IP (User)        |     for
   +------------------------+     TN
   |          GTP           |     |
   +------------------------+------------
   |          UDP           |
   +------------------------+
   |          IP            |
   +------------------------+
   |       Ethernet         |
   +------------------------+

   The following field in UDP header could be considered:

   UDP Header:

   o

   *  UDP Source port: The UDP source port is sometimes used for load
      balancing.  Using it for network slice mapping would require to
      disable the load-balancing behavior.

5.

6.  Network Slice Mapping Summary

   The following picture shows the mapping relationship between the
   network slice identifier in management plane, control plane and user
   plane.

                 AN/CN            |              TN
   Management +---------+         |        +---------+   +-----------------------+
     Plane    |   NSI   |<--------|------->| TN NSSI   |<--------|-->| IETF Network Slice ID |
              +---------+         |        +---------+   +-----------------------+
                   |              |             |
                   |              |             |
    Control  +-----V-----+        |  +----------+----------+
     Plane   |  S-NSSAI  |        |  |                     |
             +-----------+        |  |                     |
                   |            +----V----+           +----V----+           +----V-------+
                   +----------->|  TNSII  IETF   |<--------->|   TNSI IETF       |
     User
     Data                       |  /Port Network |<--------->| Network    |
     Plane                      | Slice   |           | Slice      |
                                | InterID |           |realization |
                                +---------+           +---------+

6.           +------------+

7.  IANA Considerations

   TBD

   Note to RFC Editor: this section may be removed on publication as an
   RFC.

7.

8.  Security Considerations

   TBD

8.

9.  Acknowledgements

   The authors would like to thank Shunsuke Homma for reviewing the
   draft and giving valuable comments.

9.

10.  Normative References

   [GST]      "Generic Network Slice Template",
              <https://www.gsma.com/newsroom/all-documents/generic-
              network-slice-template-v2-0/>.

   [I-D.contreras-teas-slice-nbi]
              Contreras, L., L. M., Homma, S., and J. Ordonez-Lucena, J. A.,
              Tantsura, J., and K. Szarkowicz, "IETF Network Slice use cases Use
              Cases and attributes Attributes for Northbound Interface of controller", draft-contreras-teas-slice-
              nbi-03 (work IETF
              Network Slice Controllers", Work in progress), October 2020. Progress, Internet-
              Draft, draft-contreras-teas-slice-nbi-05, 12 July 2021,
              <https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-contreras-teas-
              slice-nbi-05.txt>.

   [I-D.ietf-teas-ietf-network-slice-definition]
              Rokui, R., Homma, S., Makhijani, K., Contreras, L., L. M., and
              J. Tantsura, "Definition of IETF Network Slices", draft-ietf-
              teas-ietf-network-slice-definition-00 (work in progress),
              January 2021. Work in
              Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-teas-ietf-network-
              slice-definition-01, 22 February 2021,
              <https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-teas-ietf-
              network-slice-definition-01.txt>.

   [I-D.ietf-teas-ietf-network-slices]
              Farrel, A., Gray, E., Drake, J., Rokui, R., Homma, S.,
              Makhijani, K., Contreras, L. M., and J. Tantsura,
              "Framework for IETF Network Slices", Work in Progress,
              Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-teas-ietf-network-slices-04, 23
              August 2021, <https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-
              teas-ietf-network-slices-04.txt>.

   [I-D.wd-teas-ietf-network-slice-nbi-yang]
              Bo, W.,
              Wu, B., Dhody, D., Rokui, R., Saad, T., Han, L., and R. Rokui, "A Yang Data
              Model for IETF L. M.
              Contreras, "IETF Network Slice NBI", draft-wd-teas-ietf-
              network-slice-nbi-yang-01 (work in progress), November
              2020. Service YANG Model", Work
              in Progress, Internet-Draft, draft-wd-teas-ietf-network-
              slice-nbi-yang-05, 26 September 2021,
              <https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-wd-teas-ietf-
              network-slice-nbi-yang-05.txt>.

   [I-D.wd-teas-transport-slice-yang]
              Bo, W.,
              Wu, B., Dhody, D., Han, L., and R. Rokui, "A Yang Data
              Model for Transport Slice NBI", draft-wd-teas-transport-
              slice-yang-02 (work Work in progress), Progress,
              Internet-Draft, draft-wd-teas-transport-slice-yang-02, 12
              July 2020. 2020, <https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-wd-teas-
              transport-slice-yang-02.txt>.

   [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>.

   [TS23501]  "3GPP TS23.501",
              <https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/
              SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=3144>.

   [TS28530]  "3GPP TS28.530",
              <https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/
              SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=3273>.

   [TS28531]  "3GPP TS28.531",
              <https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/
              SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=3274>.

   [TS28541]  "3GPP TS 28.541",
              <https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/
              SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=3400>.

   [ZSM003]   "ETSI ZSM003",
              <https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/
              SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=3144>.

Authors' Addresses

   Xuesong Geng
   Huawei Technologies

   Email: gengxuesong@huawei.com

   Jie Dong
   Huawei Technologies

   Email: jie.dong@huawei.com

   Ran Pang
   China Unicom

   Email: pangran@chinaunicom.cn

   Liuyan Han
   China Mobile

   Email: hanliuyan@chinamobile.com

   Reza Rokui
   Nokia

   Email: reza.rokui@nokia.com

   Tomonobu Niwa
   Individual

   Email: tomonobu.niwa@gmail.com
   Jaehwan Jin
   LG U+

   Email: daenamu1@lguplus.co.kr

   Chang Liu
   China Unicom

   Email: liuc131@chinaunicom.cn

   Nikesh Nageshar
   Individual

   Email: nikesh.nageshar@gmail.com