NetJoin

Network Joining Protocol

The Network Joining Protocol used by XIA devices for joining networks is built with extensibility in mind. It allows for a network access point, router or SDN controller to advertise their network and allow devices to join the advertised network.

The protocol is comprised of two distinct protocols - NDAP and JACP

Network Discovery and Advertisement Protocol

This protocol allows a network entity such as access point, router or SDN controller to announce the available networks that clients can join. These announcements describe the available networks (XIA and others) and the credentials needed to join each of them in the form of a directed acyclic graph. The announcement beacons are broadcast periodically.

For a very detailed description of the NDAP Protocol please visit NDAP Message Spec. Link only available to developers.

Join Auth and Configuration Protocol

After a client receives a JACP beacon described above, it can review its capabilities and user-defined policy to decide if it can join the network. Once a decision to join is made, the JACP is used to establish all necessary connectivity between the joining client and the network advertiser. We typically complete client authentication, layer-2 association and configuration and layer-3 configuration within four handshake messages in two round-trip time.

For a very detailed specification please visit JACP Message Spec. Link only available to developers.

Impact on Mobility

TODO: Describe speed of joining, migration of existing sessions, notification to rendezvous service

Impact on Security

TODO: Describe ephemeral keys, client and router credentials, security protocol and type.

Impact on Multihoming and support for it

TODO: Describe how different interfaces can join different networks and have different dags

Routers joining Routers or Controller

TODO: Describe router network joining differences.