| A network element must have a level of trust with any node wanting to connect to it. The remote node could be a host device requiring a layer 2 connection to the network, or a router wanting to peer as a neighbor and establish a connection to exchange control plane and forwarding plane traffic. A network control plane is comprised of routing, signaling, and link management protocols, all used to establish the forwarding paths required by the data plane. Disrupting the flow of this information or injecting false information breaks down the integrity or believability of path information. To safeguard these connections it is imperative the connecting device authenticate itself prior to granting access. In the case of peering neighbors, the authentication must be bidirectional. Regardless of the paradigm, authentication must use a form of cryptography to ensure a high level of trust and authenticity. This requirement is applicable to network device management and is not applicable to the routing function. |
