RPL: IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks
RFC 6550, “RPL: IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks”, is a Proposed Standard document published in March 2012 by T. Winter, P. Thubert, A. Brandt, J. Hui, R. Kelsey, P. Levis, K. Pister, R. Struik, JP. Vasseur, R. Alexander. It has since been updated by RFC 9008, RFC 9010, RFC 9685, RFC 9914, RFC 9926. The canonical text is published by the RFC Editor.
Abstract
Low-Power and Lossy Networks (LLNs) are a class of network in which both the routers and their interconnect are constrained. LLN routers typically operate with constraints on processing power, memory, and energy (battery power). Their interconnects are characterized by high loss rates, low data rates, and instability. LLNs are comprised of anything from a few dozen to thousands of routers. Supported traffic flows include point-to-point (between devices inside the LLN), point-to-multipoint (from a central control point to a subset of devices inside the LLN), and multipoint-to-point (from devices inside the LLN towards a central control point). This document specifies the IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL), which provides a mechanism whereby multipoint-to-point traffic from devices inside the LLN towards a central control point as well as point-to-multipoint traffic from the central control point to the devices inside the LLN are supported. Support for point-to-point traffic is also available. [STANDARDS-TRACK]
What “Proposed Standard” means
An entry-level standards-track specification: stable, peer-reviewed and a solid basis for implementation, though it may still evolve before becoming an Internet Standard.
The canonical text of RFC 6550 is hosted at rfc-editor.org. Available in TXT,HTML.
- RFC 6549 OSPFv2 Multi-Instance Extensions
- RFC 6551 Routing Metrics Used for Path Calculation in Low-Power and Lossy Networks
- RFC 6548 Independent Submission Editor Model
- RFC 6552 Objective Function Zero for the Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks
- RFC 6547 RFC 3627 to Historic Status
- RFC 6553 The Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks Option for Carrying RPL Information in Data-Plane Datagrams
- RFC 6546 Transport of Real-time Inter-network Defense Messages over HTTP/TLS
- RFC 6554 An IPv6 Routing Header for Source Routes with the Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks