Multiple Registration Protocol
Encyclopedia
Multiple Registration Protocol (MRP), which replaced Generic Attribute Registration Protocol (GARP), is a generic registration framework defined by the IEEE 802.1ak amendment to the IEEE 802.1Q
standard. MRP allows bridges, switches
or other similar devices to be able to register and de-register attribute values, such as VLAN identifiers and multicast group membership across a large LAN
. MRP operates at the Data Link Layer
.
.
MRP was introduced as a replacement for GARP with the IEEE 802.1ak amendment in 2007. The two GARP applications were also modified to use MRP. GMRP was replaced with Multiple MAC Registration Protocol (MMRP) and GVRP was replaced with Multiple VLAN Registration Protocol (MVRP). The change essentially moved the definition of GARP, GVRP, and GMRP into 802.1Q based environment, implying that they were already VLAN aware. This also allowed for significant streamlining of the underlying protocol without much change to the interface of the applications themselves.
The impetus for the change was that a simple registration or a failover under the old GARP based GVRP based system could take an extremely long time — with significant bandwidth degradation — to converge on a large network. This was fixed with the new protocol and applications.
It is expected GARP will be removed from IEEE 802.1D at some point in the future.
network protocol
, for automatic configuration of VLAN information on switches
. It was defined in the 802.1ak amendment to 802.1Q-2005.
Within a layer 2 network, MVRP provides a method to dynamically share VLAN information and configure the needed VLANs. For example, in order to add a switch port to a VLAN, only the end port, or the VLAN-supporting network device connected to the switchport, need be reconfigured, and all necessary VLAN trunks are dynamically created on the other MVRP-enabled switches. Without using MVRP, either a manual configuration of VLAN trunks or use of a manufacturer's proprietary method is necessary.
It is through MVRP that Dynamic VLAN entries will be updated in the Filtering Database. In short, MVRP helps to maintain VLAN configuration dynamically based on current network configurations.
802.1Q allows for:
The Multiple VLAN Registration Protocol (MVRP) defines a MRP Application that provides the VLAN registration service. MVRP makes use of MRP Attribute Declaration (MAD) and MRP Attribute Propagation (MAP), which provide the common state machine descriptions and the common information propagation mechanisms defined for use in MRP-based applications. MVRP provides a mechanism for dynamic maintenance of the contents of Dynamic VLAN Registration Entries for each VLAN, and for propagating the information they contain to other Bridges. This information allows MVRP-aware devices to dynamically establish and update their knowledge of the set of VLANs that currently have active members, and through which Ports those members can be reached. The main purpose of MVRP is to allow switches to automatically discover some of the VLAN information that would otherwise need to be manually configured.
It was replaced because the non-VLAN aware GARP had serious deficiencies when operating in large VLAN networks.
IEEE 802.1Q
IEEE 802.1Q is the networking standard that supports Virtual LANs on an Ethernet network. The standard defines a system of VLAN tagging for Ethernet frames and the accompanying procedures to be used by bridges and switches in handling such frames...
standard. MRP allows bridges, switches
Network switch
A network switch or switching hub is a computer networking device that connects network segments.The term commonly refers to a multi-port network bridge that processes and routes data at the data link layer of the OSI model...
or other similar devices to be able to register and de-register attribute values, such as VLAN identifiers and multicast group membership across a large LAN
Län
Län and lääni refer to the administrative divisions used in Sweden and previously in Finland. The provinces of Finland were abolished on January 1, 2010....
. MRP operates at the Data Link Layer
Data link layer
The data link layer is layer 2 of the seven-layer OSI model of computer networking. It corresponds to, or is part of the link layer of the TCP/IP reference model....
.
History
GARP was defined by the IEEE 802.1 working group to provide a generic framework so bridges (or other devices like switches) could register and de-register attribute values, such as VLAN identifiers and multicast group membership. GARP defines the architecture, rules of operation, state machines and variables for the registration and de-registration of attribute values. GARP was used by two applications: GARP VLAN Registration Protocol (GVRP) for registering VLAN trunking between multilayer switches, and by the GARP Multicast Registration Protocol (GMRP). The latter two were both mostly enhancements for VLAN-aware switches as defined in IEEE 802.1QIEEE 802.1Q
IEEE 802.1Q is the networking standard that supports Virtual LANs on an Ethernet network. The standard defines a system of VLAN tagging for Ethernet frames and the accompanying procedures to be used by bridges and switches in handling such frames...
.
MRP was introduced as a replacement for GARP with the IEEE 802.1ak amendment in 2007. The two GARP applications were also modified to use MRP. GMRP was replaced with Multiple MAC Registration Protocol (MMRP) and GVRP was replaced with Multiple VLAN Registration Protocol (MVRP). The change essentially moved the definition of GARP, GVRP, and GMRP into 802.1Q based environment, implying that they were already VLAN aware. This also allowed for significant streamlining of the underlying protocol without much change to the interface of the applications themselves.
The impetus for the change was that a simple registration or a failover under the old GARP based GVRP based system could take an extremely long time — with significant bandwidth degradation — to converge on a large network. This was fixed with the new protocol and applications.
It is expected GARP will be removed from IEEE 802.1D at some point in the future.
Multiple MAC Registration Protocol (MMRP)
Multiple MAC Registration Protocol is a Data Link Layer (Layer 2) protocol to register group MAC addresses (i.e. multicast) on multiple switches. It as an MRP application, originally defined in IEEE 802.1ak-2007 and subsequently included in 802.1Q. It replaced the 802.1D based GMRP (GARP Multicast Registration Protocol). The purpose of MMRP is to allow multicast traffic in bridged LANs to be confined to areas of the network where it is required.Multiple VLAN Registration Protocol (MVRP)
Multiple VLAN Registration Protocol (MVRP), which replaced GARP VLAN Registration Protocol (GVRP), is a standards-based Layer 2Data link layer
The data link layer is layer 2 of the seven-layer OSI model of computer networking. It corresponds to, or is part of the link layer of the TCP/IP reference model....
network protocol
Communications protocol
A communications protocol is a system of digital message formats and rules for exchanging those messages in or between computing systems and in telecommunications...
, for automatic configuration of VLAN information on switches
Network switch
A network switch or switching hub is a computer networking device that connects network segments.The term commonly refers to a multi-port network bridge that processes and routes data at the data link layer of the OSI model...
. It was defined in the 802.1ak amendment to 802.1Q-2005.
Within a layer 2 network, MVRP provides a method to dynamically share VLAN information and configure the needed VLANs. For example, in order to add a switch port to a VLAN, only the end port, or the VLAN-supporting network device connected to the switchport, need be reconfigured, and all necessary VLAN trunks are dynamically created on the other MVRP-enabled switches. Without using MVRP, either a manual configuration of VLAN trunks or use of a manufacturer's proprietary method is necessary.
It is through MVRP that Dynamic VLAN entries will be updated in the Filtering Database. In short, MVRP helps to maintain VLAN configuration dynamically based on current network configurations.
802.1Q allows for:
- Dynamic configuration and distribution of VLAN membership information by means of the MVRP
- Static configuration of VLAN membership information via Management mechanisms, which allow configuration of Static VLAN Registration Entries.
- Combined static and dynamic configuration, in which some VLANs are configured via Management mechanisms and for other VLANs, MVRP is relied on to establish the configuration.
The Multiple VLAN Registration Protocol (MVRP) defines a MRP Application that provides the VLAN registration service. MVRP makes use of MRP Attribute Declaration (MAD) and MRP Attribute Propagation (MAP), which provide the common state machine descriptions and the common information propagation mechanisms defined for use in MRP-based applications. MVRP provides a mechanism for dynamic maintenance of the contents of Dynamic VLAN Registration Entries for each VLAN, and for propagating the information they contain to other Bridges. This information allows MVRP-aware devices to dynamically establish and update their knowledge of the set of VLANs that currently have active members, and through which Ports those members can be reached. The main purpose of MVRP is to allow switches to automatically discover some of the VLAN information that would otherwise need to be manually configured.
Legacy GVRP details
The replaced GARP VLAN Registration Protocol (GVRP) was essentially the same thing, but it used the services of the 802.1D based GARP Application. GVRP made use of GARP Information Declaration (GID) and GARP Information Propagation (GIP), which correspond to the MAP and MID in MRP. It was defined in the original release of 802.1Q-1998 until it was replaced by MVRP.It was replaced because the non-VLAN aware GARP had serious deficiencies when operating in large VLAN networks.