Isbgp-rpki-client
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| Isbgp-rpki-client | |
|---|---|
| Name | Isbgp-rpki-client |
| Developer | Isbgp Project |
| Released | 2016 |
| Operating system | Linux |
| License | ISC |
| Website | Isbgp Project |
Isbgp-rpki-client
Isbgp-rpki-client is a lightweight RPKI (Resource Public Key Infrastructure) validation client designed for use with BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) routers and route servers. It integrates with routing software to provide origin validation and route filtering, supporting secure routing policies for service providers and research networks. The project aims to be minimal, fast, and interoperable with common networking stacks used by operators and institutions in Internet infrastructure.
Overview
Isbgp-rpki-client was created to address route origin validation needs encountered by network operators, IXPs, and research networks, complementing efforts by organizations such as RIPE NCC, ARIN, APNIC, AFRINIC, and LACNIC. It operates alongside routing daemons like BIRD (Internet routing daemon), FRRouting, and OpenBGPD, and was influenced by deployment experiences from LINX, AMS-IX, DE-CIX, and large content providers such as Google, Facebook, and Cloudflare. The client implements the core validation logic specified by the IETF's RPKI working group and aligns with practices described in operational documents from MANRS and the Internet Society.
Features and Functionality
Isbgp-rpki-client provides a set of capabilities focused on route origin validation, ROA (Route Origin Authorization) handling, and RTR (RPKI-to-Router) protocol interactions. Feature highlights include: - RTR client support for communicating with routers such as Cisco Systems platforms, Juniper Networks devices, and software routers like OpenBSD's OpenBGPD. - Local ROA caching and automatic refresh based on publication points maintained by Regional Internet Registries including RIPE NCC and ARIN. - Support for RPKI validation states (valid, invalid, not found) used by operators including those at NTT Communications, AT&T, Verizon, and CenturyLink. - Operational tooling for exporting validation results to route servers and policy engines common at exchanges including PacketExchange and research infrastructures like GEANT.
Architecture and Components
The architecture centers on a small daemon that performs RPKI object retrieval, cryptographic validation, and RTR session management. Core components include: - A repository fetcher that mirrors publication points hosted by RIRs and mirrors such as Krill and academic mirrors at UC Berkeley and RIPE NCC. - A validator implementing cryptographic checks conforming to standards from RFC 6480 and subsequent IETF work items. - An RTR server/client module that speaks the RTR protocol to peers, interoperable with implementations used by vendors like Cisco and open-source projects including FRRouting. - Configuration and logging interfaces compatible with systemd units common in distributions like Debian, Ubuntu, and CentOS deployments in service provider networks such as Level 3 Communications.
Configuration and Usage
Deployment requires configuring repository URLs, local cache directories, and RTR listener endpoints. Typical usage patterns mirror operational guides from exchanges and carriers: - Run as a system service on hosts colocated in data centers operated by companies like Equinix, Digital Realty, or within cloud regions run by Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure for hybrid operator setups. - Integrate with route servers at IXPs such as LINX and DECIX by exporting RTR sessions or using route filters in BIRD (Internet routing daemon) or OpenBGPD. - Use command-line options and configuration files similar to other networking daemons maintained by projects like OpenBSD and NetBSD to control cache lifetime, logging, and RPKI trust anchor selection recommended by IETF documents.
Security and RPKI Integration
Security is central: Isbgp-rpki-client implements certificate chain validation, CRL (Certificate Revocation List) processing, and origin validation consistent with practices advocated by IETF, Internet Society, and operational communities such as MANRS. It handles trust anchor management similar to approaches used by RPKI CA implementations and supports automated updates to reflect revocations and ROA changes. Deployments often mirror validation policies recommended by registries like RIPE NCC and ARIN and coordinate with security teams at operators such as Sprint and T-Mobile when applying reject/accept policies for invalid routes.
Performance and Scalability
Designed for minimal footprint, the client emphasizes low CPU and memory usage to suit both carrier-grade routers and small edge hosts. Benchmarks in production-like setups show scalable behavior when serving multiple RTR sessions to routers in large networks including Telia Company and NTT. Scaling strategies include distributing multiple instances across points-of-presence (PoPs) in regions served by Equinix and using local caches to reduce load on RPKI publication points maintained by RIRs.
Development and Community
Development is driven by a small team of contributors and operators, engaging with broader communities at IETF meetings, mailing lists, and forums frequented by engineers from IX-Denver, APNIC, RIPE NCC, and research groups at CNIT and ETH Zurich. The project accepts patches, issues, and feature requests from network operators, exchange fabric engineers, and academic partners including UCSD and University of Ljubljana. Community practices follow norms from open-source projects such as OpenSSL and BIRD (Internet routing daemon), and contributors often collaborate with vendor teams from Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, and cloud providers to ensure interoperability.