NG_CISCO(4)

NAME
ng_cisco - Cisco HDLC protocol netgraph node type

SYNOPSIS
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <netinet/in.h>
#include <netgraph/ng_cisco.h>

DESCRIPTION
The cisco node type performs encapsulation and de-encapsulation of packets using the Cisco HDLC protocol. This is a fairly simple protocol for the transmission of packets across high speed synchronous lines. Each packet is prepended with an Ethertype, indicating the protocol. There is also a “keep alive” and an “inquire” capability.

The downstream hook should connect to the synchronous line. On the other side of the node are the inet, inet6, atalk, and ipx hooks, which transmit and receive raw IP, IPv6, AppleTalk, and IPX packets, respectively. Typically these hooks would connect to the corresponding hooks on an ng_iface(4) type node.

IP Configuration
In order to function properly for IP traffic, the node must be informed of the local IP address and netmask setting. This is because the protocol includes an “inquire” packet which we must be prepared to answer. There are two ways to accomplish this, manually and automatically.

Whenever such an inquire packet is received, the node sends a NGM_CISCO_GET_IPADDR control message to the peer node connected to the inet hook (if any). If the peer responds, then that response is used. This is the automatic method.

If the peer does not respond, the node falls back on its cached value for the IP address and netmask. This cached value can be set at any time with a NGM_CISCO_SET_IPADDR message, and this is the manual method.

If the inet hook is connected to the inet hook of an ng_iface(4) node, as is usually the case, then configuration is automatic as the ng_iface(4) understands the NGM_CISCO_GET_IPADDR message.

HOOKS
This node type supports the following hooks:

downstream
    The connection to the synchronous line.

inet
    IP hook.

inet6
    IPv6 hook.

atalk
    AppleTalk hook.

ipx IPX hook

CONTROL MESSAGES
This node type supports the generic control messages, plus the following:

NGM_CISCO_SET_IPADDR
    This command takes an array of two struct in_addr arguments. The first is the IP address of the corresponding interface and the second is the netmask.

NGM_CISCO_GET_IPADDR
    This command returns the IP configuration in the same format used by NGM_CISCO_SET_IPADDR. This command is also sent by this node type to the inet peer whenever an IP address inquiry packet is received.

NGM_CISCO_GET_STATUS
    Returns a struct ngciscostat:

        struct ngciscostat {
          u_int32_t   seq_retries;       /* # unack'd retries */
          u_int32_t   keepalive_period;  /* in seconds */
        };

SHUTDOWN
This node shuts down upon receipt of a NGM_SHUTDOWN control message, or when all hooks have been disconnected.

SEE ALSO
netgraph(4), ng_iface(4), ngctl(8) D. Perkins, Requirements for an Internet Standard Point-to-Point Protocol, RFC 1547.

LEGAL
Cisco is a trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc.

HISTORY
The ng_cisco node type was implemented in FreeBSD 4.0.

AUTHORS
Julian Elischer <julian@FreeBSD.org>, Archie Cobbs <archie@FreeBSD.org>

BUGS
Not all of the functionality has been implemented. For example, the node does not support querying the remote end for its IP address and netmask.