CoRE M. Veillette, Ed.
Internet-Draft Trilliant Networks Inc.
Intended status: Standards Track P. van der Stok, Ed.
Expires: November 16, 2019 consultant
A. Pelov
Acklio
A. Bierman
YumaWorks
May 15, 2019

CoAP Management Interface
draft-ietf-core-comi-05

Abstract

This document describes a network management interface for constrained devices and networks, called CoAP Management Interface (CoMI). The Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) is used to access datastore and data node resources specified in YANG, or SMIv2 converted to YANG. CoMI uses the YANG to CBOR mapping and converts YANG identifier strings to numeric identifiers for payload size reduction. The complete solution composed of CoMI, [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] and [I-D.ietf-core-sid] is called CORECONF. CORECONF extends the set of YANG based protocols, NETCONF and RESTCONF, with the capability to manage constrained devices and networks.

Note

Discussion and suggestions for improvement are requested, and should be sent to yot@ietf.org.

Status of This Memo

This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.

Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Note that other groups may also distribute working documents as Internet-Drafts. The list of current Internet-Drafts is at https://datatracker.ietf.org/drafts/current/.

Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any time. It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference material or to cite them other than as "work in progress."

This Internet-Draft will expire on November 16, 2019.

Copyright Notice

Copyright (c) 2019 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the document authors. All rights reserved.

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction

The Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) [RFC7252] is designed for Machine to Machine (M2M) applications such as smart energy, smart city and building control. Constrained devices need to be managed in an automatic fashion to handle the large quantities of devices that are expected in future installations. Messages between devices need to be as small and infrequent as possible. The implementation complexity and runtime resources need to be as small as possible.

This draft describes the CoAP Management Interface which uses CoAP methods to access structured data defined in YANG [RFC7950]. This draft is complementary to [RFC8040] which describes a REST-like interface called RESTCONF, which uses HTTP methods to access structured data defined in YANG.

The use of standardized data models specified in a standardized language, such as YANG, promotes interoperability between devices and applications from different manufacturers.

CoMI and RESTCONF are intended to work in a stateless client-server fashion. They use a single round-trip to complete a single editing transaction, where NETCONF needs multiple round trips.

To promote small messges, CoMI uses a YANG to CBOR mapping [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] and numeric identifiers [I-D.ietf-core-sid] to minimize CBOR payloads and URI length.

1.1. Terminology

The key words “MUST”, “MUST NOT”, “REQUIRED”, “SHALL”, “SHALL NOT”, “SHOULD”, “SHOULD NOT”, “RECOMMENDED”, “MAY”, and “OPTIONAL” in this document are to be interpreted as described in [RFC2119].

The following terms are defined in the YANG data modelling language [RFC7950]: action, anydata, anyxml, client, container, data model, data node, identity, instance identifier, leaf, leaf-list, list, module, RPC, schema node, server, submodule.

The following terms are defined in [RFC6241]: configuration data, datastore, state data

The following term is defined in [I-D.ietf-core-sid]: YANG schema item identifier (SID).

The following terms are defined in the CoAP protocol [RFC7252]: Confirmable Message, Content-Format, Endpoint.

The following terms are defined in this document:

data node resource:
a CoAP resource that models a YANG data node.
datastore resource:
a CoAP resource that models a YANG datastore.
event stream resource:
a CoAP resource used by clients to observe YANG notifications.
notification instance:
An instance of a schema node of type notification, specified in a YANG module implemented by the server. The instance is generated in the server at the occurrence of the corresponding event and reported by an event stream.
list instance identifier:
Handle used to identify a YANG data node that is an instance of a YANG “list” specified with the values of the key leaves of the list.
single instance identifier:
Handle used to identify a specific data node which can be instantiated only once. This includes data nodes defined at the root of a YANG module and data nodes defined within a container. This excludes data nodes defined within a list or any children of these data nodes.
instance-identifier:
List instance identifier or single instance identifier.
instance-value:
The value assigned to a schema node instance. Schema node values are serialized into the payload according to the rules defined in section 4 of [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor].

2. CoMI Architecture

This section describes the CoMI architecture to use CoAP for reading and modifying the content of datastore(s) used for the management of the instrumented node.

+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|                     SMIv2 specification (2)                    |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
                               |
                               V
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|                     YANG specification  (1)                    |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
         |                                            |
Client   V                               Server       V
+----------------+                       +-----------------------+
| Request        |--> CoAP request(3) -->| Indication            |
| Confirm        |<-- CoAP response(3)<--| Response          (4) |
|                |                       |                       |
|                |<==== Security (7) ===>|+---------------------+|
+----------------+                       || Datastore(s)    (5) ||
                                         |+---------------------+|
                                         |+---------------------+|
                                         || Event stream(s) (6) ||
                                         |+---------------------+|
                                         +-----------------------+

Figure 1: Abstract CoMI architecture

Figure 1 is a high-level representation of the main elements of the CoMI management architecture. The different numbered components of Figure 1 are discussed according to component number.

(1) YANG specification:
contains a set of named and versioned modules.
(2) SMIv2 specification:
A named module specifies a set of variables and “conceptual tables”. There is an algorithm to translate SMIv2 specifications to YANG specifications.
(3) CoAP request/response messages:
The CoMI client sends request messages to and receives response messages from the CoMI server.
(4) Request, Indication, Response, Confirm:
Processes performed by the CoMI clients and servers.
(5) Datastore:
A resource used to access configuration data, state data, RPCs and actions. A CoMI server may support a single unified datastore or multiple datastores as those defined by Network Management Datastore Architecture (NMDA) [RFC8342].
(6) Event stream:
A resource used to get real time notifications. A CoMI server may support multiple Event streams serving different purposes such as normal monitoring, diagnostic, syslog, security monitoring.
(7) Security:
The server MUST prevent unauthorized users from reading or writing any CoMI resources. CoMI relies on security protocols such as DTLS [RFC6347] to secure CoAP communications.

2.1. Major differences between RESTCONF and CoMI

CoMI is a RESTful protocol for small devices where saving bytes to transport counts. Contrary to RESTCONF, many design decisions are motivated by the saving of bytes. Consequently, CoMI is not a RESTCONF over CoAP protocol, but differs more significantly from RESTCONF. Some major differences are cited below:

2.2. Compression of YANG identifiers

In the YANG specification, items are identified with a name string. In order to significantly reduce the size of identifiers used in CoMI, numeric identifiers are used instead of these strings. YANG Schema Item iDentifier (SID) is defined in [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 2.1.

When used in a URI, SIDs are encoded in based64 using the URL and Filename safe alphabet as defined by [RFC4648] section 5. The last 6 bits encoded is always aligned with the least significant 6 bits of the SID represented using an unsigned integer. ‘A’ characters (value 0) at the start of the resulting string are removed.

SID in basae64 = URLsafeChar[SID >> 60 & 0x3F] |
                 URLsafeChar[SID >> 54 & 0x3F] | 
                 URLsafeChar[SID >> 48 & 0x3F] | 
                 URLsafeChar[SID >> 42 & 0x3F] |  
                 URLsafeChar[SID >> 36 & 0x3F] | 
                 URLsafeChar[SID >> 30 & 0x3F] | 
                 URLsafeChar[SID >> 24 & 0x3F] |  
                 URLsafeChar[SID >> 18 & 0x3F] | 
                 URLsafeChar[SID >> 12 & 0x3F] | 
                 URLsafeChar[SID >> 6 & 0x3F] | 
                 URLsafeChar[SID & 0x3F]

For example, SID 1721 is encoded as follow.

URLsafeChar[1721 >> 60 & 0x3F] = URLsafeChar[0] = 'A'
URLsafeChar[1721 >> 54 & 0x3F] = URLsafeChar[0] = 'A'
URLsafeChar[1721 >> 48 & 0x3F] = URLsafeChar[0] = 'A'
URLsafeChar[1721 >> 42 & 0x3F] = URLsafeChar[0] = 'A'
URLsafeChar[1721 >> 36 & 0x3F] = URLsafeChar[0] = 'A'
URLsafeChar[1721 >> 30 & 0x3F] = URLsafeChar[0] = 'A'
URLsafeChar[1721 >> 24 & 0x3F] = URLsafeChar[0] = 'A'
URLsafeChar[1721 >> 18 & 0x3F] = URLsafeChar[0] = 'A'
URLsafeChar[1721 >> 12 & 0x3F] = URLsafeChar[0] = 'A'
URLsafeChar[1721 >> 6 & 0x3F]  = URLsafeChar[26] = 'a' 
URLsafeChar[1721 & 0x3F]       = URLsafeChar[57] = '5'

The resulting base64 representation of SID 1721 is “a5”

2.3. Instance identifier

Instance identifiers are used to uniquely identify data node instances within a datastore. This YANG built-in type is defined in [RFC7950] section 9.13. An instance identifier is composed of the data node identifier (i.e. a SID) and for data nodes within list(s) the keys used to index within these list(s).

When part of a payload, instance identifiers are encoded in CBOR based on the rules defined in [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 6.13.1. When part of a URI, the SID is appended to the URI of the targeted datastore, the keys are specified using the ‘k’ URI-Query as defined in Section 4.1.

2.4. Content-Formats

ComI uses Content-Formats based on the YANG to CBOR mapping specified in [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor].

The following Content-formats are defined:

application/yang-data+cbor:
This Content-Format represents a CBOR YANG document containing one or multiple data node values. Each data node is identified by its associated SID.
FORMAT: CBOR map of SID, instance-value
The message payload of Content-Format ‘application/yang-data+cbor’ is encoded using a CBOR map. Each entry of this CBOR map is composed of a key and a value. CBOR map keys are set to the SID assigned to the data nodes, CBOR map values are set to the instance value as defined in [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 4.
application/yang-identifiers+cbor:
This Content-Format represents a CBOR YANG document containing a list of instance identifier used to target specific data node instances within a datastore.
FORMAT: CBOR array of instance-identifier
The message payload of Content-Format ‘application/yang-identifiers+cbor’ is encoded using a CBOR array. Each entry of this CBOR array contain an instance identifier encoded as defined in [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 6.13.1.
application/yang-instances+cbor:
This Content-Format represents a CBOR YANG document containing a list of data node instances. Each data node instance is identified by its associated instance identifier.
FORMAT: CBOR array of CBOR map of instance-identifier, instance-value
The message payload of Content-Format ‘application/yang-instances+cbor’ is encoded using a CBOR array. Each entry within this CBOR array contains a CBOR map carrying an instance identifier and associated instance value. Instance identifiers are encoded using the rules defined in [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 6.13.1, values are encoded using the rules defined in [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 4.
When present in an iPATCH request payload, this Content-Format carry a list of data node instances to be replaced, created, or deleted. For each data node instance D, for which the instance identifier is the same as a data node instance I, in the targeted datastore resource: the value of D replaces the value of I. When the value of D is null, the data node instance I is removed. When the targeted datastore resource does not contain a data node instance with the same instance identifier as D, a new instance is created with the same instance identifier and value as D.

The different Content-format usages are summarized in the table below:

Method Resource Content-Format
GET response data node /application/yang-data+cbor
PUT request data node /application/yang-data+cbor
POST request data node /application/yang-data+cbor
DELETE data node n/a
GET response datastore /application/yang-data+cbor
PUT request datastore /application/yang-data+cbor
POST request datastore /application/yang-data+cbor
FETCH request datastore /application/yang-identifiers+cbor
FETCH response datastore /application/yang-instances+cbor
iPATCH request datastore /application/yang-instances+cbor
GET response event stream /application/yang-instances+cbor
POST request rpc, action /application/yang-data+cbor
POST response rpc, action /application/yang-data+cbor

2.5. Unified datastore

CoMI supports a simple datastore model consisting of a single unified datastore. This datasore provides access to both configuration and operational data. Configuration updates performed on this datastore are reflected immediately or with a minimal delay as operational data.

Alternatively, CoMI servers MAY implement a more complex datastore model such as the Network Management Datastore Architecture (NMDA) as defined by [RFC8342]. Each datastore supported is implemented as a datastore resource.

Characteristics of the unified datastore are summarized in the table below:

Name Value
Name unified
YANG modules all modules
YANG nodes all data nodes (“config true” and “config false”)
Access read-write
How applied changes applied in place immediately or with a minimal delay
Protocols CORECONF
Defined in “ietf-comi”

3. Example syntax

CBOR is used to encode CoMI request and response payloads. The CBOR syntax of the YANG payloads is specified in [RFC7049]. The payload examples are notated in Diagnostic notation (defined in section 6 of [RFC7049]) that can be automatically converted to CBOR.

SIDs in URIs are represented as a base64 number, SIDs in the payload are represented as decimal numbers.

4. CoAP Interface

This note specifies a Management Interface. CoAP endpoints that implement the CoMI management protocol, support at least one discoverable management resource of resource type (rt): core.c.ds, with example path: /c, where c is short-hand for CoMI. The path /c is recommended, but not compulsory (see Section 6).

The mapping of YANG data node instances to CoMI resources is as follows. Every data node of the YANG modules loaded in the CoMI server represents a sub-resource of the datastore resource (e.g. /c/sid). When multiple instances of a list exist, instance selection is possible as described in Section 4.1, Section 4.2.3.1, and Section 4.2.4.

CoMI also supports event stream resourced used to observe notification instances. Event stream resources can be discovered using resource type (rt): core.c.ev.

The description of the CoMI management interface is shown in the table below:

Function Recommended path rt
Datastore /c core.c.ds
Data node /c/SID core.c.dn
Event steam /s core.c.ev

The path values are example values. On discovery, the server makes the actual path values known for these resources.

The methods used by CoMI are:

Operation Description
GET Retrieve the datastore resource or a data node resource
FETCH Retrieve specific data nodes within a datastore resource
POST Create a datastore resource or a data node resource, invoke an RPC or action
PUT Create or replace a datastore resource or a data node resource
iPATCH Idem-potently create, replace, and delete data node resource(s) within a datastore resource
DELETE Delete a datastore resource or a data node resource

There is one Uri-Query option for the GET, PUT, POST, and DELETE methods.

Uri-Query option Description
k Select an instance within YANG list(s)

This parameter is not used for FETCH and iPATCH, because their request payloads support list instance selection.

4.1. Using the ‘k’ Uri-Query option

The “k” (key) parameter specifies a specific instance of a data node. The SID in the URI is followed by the (?k=key1,key2,…). Where SID identifies a data node, and key1, key2 are the values of the key leaves that specify an instance. Lists can have multiple keys, and lists can be part of lists. The order of key value generation is given recursively by:

Key values are encoded using the rules defined in the following table.

YANG datatype Uri-Query text content
uint8,uint16,unit32, uint64 int2str(key)
int8, int16,int32, int64 urlSafeBase64(CBORencode(key))
decimal64 urlSafeBase64(CBOR key)
string key
boolean “0” or “1”
enumeration int2str(key)
bits urlSafeBase64(CBORencode(key))
binary urlSafeBase64(key)
identityref int2str(key)
union urlSafeBase64(CBORencode(key))
instance-identifier urlSafeBase64(CBORencode(key))

In this table:

The resulting key string is encoded in a Uri-Query as specified in [RFC7252] section 6.5.

4.2. Data Retrieval

One or more data nodes can be retrieved by the client. The operation is mapped to the GET method defined in section 5.8.1 of [RFC7252] and to the FETCH method defined in section 2 of [RFC8132].

There are two additional Uri-Query options for the GET and FETCH methods.

Uri-Query option Description
c Control selection of configuration and non-configuration data nodes (GET and FETCH)
d Control retrieval of default values.

4.2.1. Using the ‘c’ Uri-Query option

The ‘c’ (content) option controls how descendant nodes of the requested data nodes will be processed in the reply.

The allowed values are:

Value Description
c Return only configuration descendant data nodes
n Return only non-configuration descendant data nodes
a Return all descendant data nodes

This option is only allowed for GET and FETCH methods on datastore and data node resources. A 4.02 (Bad Option) error is returned if used for other methods or resource types.

If this Uri-Query option is not present, the default value is “a”.

4.2.2. Using the ‘d’ Uri-Query option

The “d” (with-defaults) option controls how the default values of the descendant nodes of the requested data nodes will be processed.

The allowed values are:

Value Description
a All data nodes are reported. Defined as ‘report-all’ in section 3.1 of [RFC6243].
t Data nodes set to the YANG default are not reported. Defined as ‘trim’ in section 3.2 of [RFC6243].

If the target of a GET or FETCH method is a data node that represents a leaf that has a default value, and the leaf has not been given a value by any client yet, the server MUST return the default value of the leaf.

If the target of a GET method is a data node that represents a container or list that has child resources with default values, and these have not been given value yet,

If this Uri-Query option is not present, the default value is ‘t’.

4.2.3. GET

A request to read the values of a data node instance is sent with a CoAP GET message. An instance identifier is specified in the URI path prefixed with the example path /c.

FORMAT:
  GET /c/instance-identifier

  2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/yang-data+cbor)
  CBOR map of SID, instance-value

The returned payload contains the CBOR encoding of the specified data node instance value.

4.2.3.1. GET Examples

Using for example the current-datetime leaf from module ietf-system [RFC7317], a request is sent to retrieve the value of ‘system-state/clock/current-datetime’ specified in container system-state. The SID of ‘system-state/clock/current-datetime’ is 1723, encoded in base64 according to Section 2.2, yields a7. The response to the request returns the CBOR map with the key set to the SID of the requested data node (i.e. 1723) and the value encoded using a ‘text string’ as defined in [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 6.4.

REQ: GET example.com/c/a7

RES: 2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/yang-data+cbor)
{
  1723 : "2014-10-26T12:16:31Z"
}

The next example represents the retrieval of a YANG container. In this case, the CoMI client performs a GET request on the clock container (SID = 1721; base64: a5). The container returned is encoded using a CBOR map as specified by [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 4.2.

REQ: GET example.com/c/a5

RES: 2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/yang-data+cbor)
{
  1721 : {
    +2 : "2014-10-26T12:16:51Z",   / current-datetime SID 1723 /
    +1 : "2014-10-21T03:00:00Z"    / boot-datetime SID 1722 /
  }
}

This example shows the retrieval of the /interfaces/interface YANG list accessed using SID 1533 (base64: X9). The return payload is encoded using a CBOR array as specified by [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 4.4.1 containing 2 instances.

REQ: GET example.com/c/X9

RES: 2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/yang-data+cbor)
{
  1533 : [
    {
      +4 : "eth0",                / name  (SID 1537) /
      +1 : "Ethernet adaptor",    / description (SID 1534) /
      +5 : 1880,                  / type, (SID 1538) identity /
                                  / ethernetCsmacd (SID 1880) /
      +2 : true                   / enabled ( SID 1535) /
    },
    {
      +4 : "eth1",                / name (SID 1537) /
      +1 : "Ethernet adaptor",    / description (SID 1534) /
      +5 : 1880,                  / type, (SID 1538) identity /
                                  / ethernetCsmacd (SID 1880) /
      +2 : false                  / enabled ( SID 1535) /
    }
  ]
}

To retrieve a specific instance within the /interfaces/interface YANG list, the CoMI client adds the key of the targeted instance in its CoAP request using the ‘k’ URI-Query. The return payload containing the instance requested is encoded using a CBOR array as specified by [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 4.4.1.

REQ: GET example.com/c/X9?k="eth0" 

RES: 2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/yang-data+cbor)
{
  1533 : [
    {
      +4 : "eth0",                / name  (SID 1537) /
      +1 : "Ethernet adaptor",    / description (SID 1534) /
      +5 : 1880,                  / type, (SID 1538) identity /
                                  / ethernetCsmacd (SID 1880) /
      +2 : true                   / enabled ( SID 1535) /
    }
  ]
}

It is equally possible to select a leaf of a specific instance of a list. The example below requests the description leaf (SID=1534, base64: X-) within the interface list corresponding to the interface name “eth0”. The returned value is encoded in CBOR based on the rules specified by [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 6.4.

REQ: GET example.com/c/X-?k="eth0"

RES: 2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/yang-data+cbor)
{
  1534 : "Ethernet adaptor"
}

4.2.4. FETCH

The FETCH is used to retrieve multiple data node instance values. The FETCH request payload contains the list of instance identifier of the data node instances requested.

The return response payload contains a list of data node instance values in the same order as requested. A CBOR null is returned for each data node requested by the client, not supported by the server or not currently instantiated.

For compactness, indexes of the list instance identifiers returned by the FETCH response SHOULD be elided, only the SID is provided. In this case, the format of each entry within the CBOR array of the FETCH response is identical to the format as a GET response.

FORMAT:
  FETCH /c (Content-Format: application/yang-identifiers+cbor)
  CBOR array of instance-identifier

  2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/yang-instances+cbor)
  CBOR array of CBOR map of instance-identifier, instance-value

4.2.4.1. FETCH examples

This example uses the current-datetime leaf from module ietf-system [RFC7317] and the interface list from module ietf-interfaces [RFC7223]. In this example the value of current-datetime (SID 1723) and the interface list (SID 1533) instance identified with name=”eth0” are queried.

REQ:  FETCH /c (Content-Format: application/yang-identifiers+cbor)
[
  1723,            / current-datetime (SID 1723) /
  [1533, "eth0"]   / interface (SID 1533) with name = "eth0" /
]

RES:  2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/yang-instances+cbor)
[
  {
    1723 : "2014-10-26T12:16:31Z" / current-datetime (SID 1723) /
  },
  {
    1533 : {
      +4 : "eth0",                / name (SID 1537) /
      +1 : "Ethernet adaptor",    / description (SID 1534) /
      +5 : 1880,                  / type (SID 1538), identity /
                                  / ethernetCsmacd (SID 1880) /
      +2 : true                   / enabled (SID 1535) /
    }
  }
]

4.3. Data Editing

CoMI allows datastore contents to be created, modified and deleted using CoAP methods.

4.3.1. Data Ordering

A CoMI server SHOULD preserve the relative order of all user-ordered list and leaf-list entries that are received in a single edit request. These YANG data node types are encoded as CBOR arrays so messages will preserve their order.

4.3.2. POST

The CoAP POST operation is used in CoMI for creation of data node resources and the invocation of “ACTION” and “RPC” resources. Refer to Section 4.6 for details on “ACTION” and “RPC” resources.

A request to create a data node resource is sent with a CoAP POST message. The URI specifies the data node to be instantiated at the exception of list instances. In this case, for compactness, the URI specifies the list for which an instance is created.

FORMAT:
  POST /c/<instance identifier>
  (Content-Format :application/yang-data+cbor)
  CBOR map of SID, instance-value

  2.01 Created

If the data node resource already exists, then the POST request MUST fail and a “4.09 Conflict” response code MUST be returned

4.3.2.1. Post example

The example uses the interface list from module ietf-interfaces [RFC7223]. This example creates a new list instance within the interface list (SID = 1533):

REQ: POST /c/X9 (Content-Format: application/yang-data+cbor)
{
  1533 : [
    {
      +4 : "eth5",             / name (SID 1537) /
      +1 : "Ethernet adaptor", / description (SID 1534) /
      +5 : 1880,               / type (SID 1538), identity /
                               / ethernetCsmacd (SID 1880) /
      +2 : true                / enabled (SID 1535) /
    }
  ]
}

RES: 2.01 Created

4.3.3. PUT

A data node resource instance is created or replaced with the PUT method. A request to set the value of a data node instance is sent with a CoAP PUT message.

FORMAT:
  PUT /c/<instanceidentifier>
           (Content-Format :application/yang-data+cbor)
  CBOR map of SID, instance-value

  2.01 Created

4.3.3.1. PUT example

The example uses the interface list from module ietf-interfaces [RFC7223]. Example updates the instance of the list interface (SID = 1533) with key name=”eth0”:

REQ: PUT /c/X9?k="eth0" (Content-Format: application/yang-data+cbor)
{
  1533 : [
    {
      +4 : "eth0",             / name (SID 1537) /
      +1 : "Ethernet adaptor", / description (SID 1534) /
      +5 : 1880,               / type (SID 1538), identity /
                               / ethernetCsmacd (SID 1880) /
      +2 : true                / enabled (SID 1535) /
    }
  ]
}

RES:  2.04 Changed

4.3.4. iPATCH

One or multiple data node instances are replaced with the idempotent CoAP iPATCH method [RFC8132].

There are no Uri-Query options for the iPATCH method.

The processing of the iPATCH command is specified by Content-Format ‘application/yang-instances+cbor’. In summary, if the CBOR patch payload contains a data node instance that is not present in the target, this instance is added. If the target contains the specified instance, the content of this instance is replaced with the value of the payload. A null value indicates the removal of an existing data node instance.

FORMAT:
  iPATCH /c (Content-Format:  application/yang-instances+cbor)
  CBOR array of CBOR map of instance-identifier, instance-value

  2.04 Changed

4.3.4.1. iPATCH example

In this example, a CoMI client requests the following operations:

REQ: iPATCH /c (Content-Format: application/yang-instances+cbor)
[
  {
    1755 : true                   / enabled (SID 1755) /
  },
  {
    [1756, "tac.nrc.ca"] : null   / server (SID 1756) /
  },
  {
    1756 : {                      / server (SID 1756) /
      +3 : "tic.nrc.ca",          / name (SID 1759) /
      +4 : true,                  / prefer (SID 1760) /
      +5 : {                      / udp (SID 1761) /
        +1 : "132.246.11.231"     / address (SID 1762) /
      }
    }
  }
]

RES: 2.04 Changed

4.3.5. DELETE

A data node resource is deleted with the DELETE method.

FORMAT:
  Delete /c/<instance identifier>

  2.02 Deleted

4.3.5.1. DELETE example

This example uses the interface list from module ietf-interfaces [RFC7223]. This example deletes an instance of the interface list (SID = 1533):

REQ:   DELETE /c/X9?k="eth0"

RES:   2.02 Deleted

4.4. Full datastore access

The methods GET, PUT, POST, and DELETE can be used to request, replace, create, and delete a whole datastore respectively.

FORMAT:
  GET /c
   
  2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/yang-data+cbor)
  CBOR map of SID, instance-value

FORMAT:
  PUT /c (Content-Format: application/yang-data+cbor)
  CBOR map of SID, instance-value
   
  2.04 Changed

FORMAT:
  POST /c (Content-Format: application/yang-data+cbor)
  CBOR map of SID, instance-value
    
  2.01 Created

FORMAT:
   DELETE /c
   
  2.02 Deleted

The content of the CBOR map represents the complete datastore of the server at the GET indication of after a successful processing of a PUT or POST request.

4.4.1. Full datastore examples

The example uses the interface list from module ietf-interfaces [RFC7223] and the clock container from module ietf-system [RFC7317].
We assume that the datastore contains two modules ietf-system (SID 1700) and ietf-interfaces (SID 1500); they contain the ‘interface’ list (SID 1533) with one instance and the ‘clock’ container (SID 1721). After invocation of GET, a CBOR map with data nodes from these two modules is returned:

REQ:  GET /c

RES: 2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/yang-data+cbor)
{
  1721 : {                       / Clock (SID 1721) /
    +2: "2016-10-26T12:16:31Z",  / current-datetime (SID 1723) /
    +1: "2014-10-05T09:00:00Z"   / boot-datetime (SID 1722) /
  },
  1533 : [
    {                       / interface (SID 1533) /
      +4 : "eth0",                 / name (SID 1537) /
      +1 : "Ethernet adaptor",     / description (SID 1534) /
      +5 : 1880,                   / type (SID 1538), identity: /
                                   / ethernetCsmacd (SID 1880) /
      +2 : true                    / enabled (SID 1535) /
    }
  ]
}

4.5. Event stream

Event notification is an essential function for the management of servers. CoMI allows notifications specified in YANG [RFC5277] to be reported to a list of clients. The recommended path of the default event stream is /s. The server MAY support additional event stream resources to address different notification needs.

Reception of notification instances is enabled with the CoAP Observe [RFC7641] function. Clients subscribe to the notifications by sending a GET request with an “Observe” option, specifying the /s resource when the default stream is selected.

Each response payload carries one or multiple notifications. The number of notifications reported, and the conditions used to remove notifications from the reported list is left to implementers. When multiple notifications are reported, they MUST be ordered starting from the newest notification at index zero.

The format of notification contents is defined in [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 4.2.1. For notification without any content, a null value is returned.

An example implementation is:

FORMAT:
  GET /<stream-resource> Observe(0)

  2.05 Content (Content-Format :application/yang-instances+cbor)
  CBOR array of CBOR map of instance-identifier, instance-value

The array of data node instances may contain identical entries which have been generated at different times.

4.5.1. Notify Examples

Let suppose the server generates the example-port-fault event as defined below.

module example-port {
  ...
  notification example-port-fault {   // SID 60010
    description
      "Event generated if a hardware fault is detected";
    leaf port-name {                  // SID 60011
      type string;
    }
    leaf port-fault {                 // SID 60012
      type string;
    }
  }
}

By executing a GET on the /s resource the client receives the following response:

REQ:  GET /s Observe(0) Token(0x93)

RES:  2.05 Content (Content-Format :application/yang-tree+cbor)
                        Observe(12) Token(0x93)
[
  {
    60010 : {             / example-port-fault (SID 60010) /
      +1 : "0/4/21",      / port-name (SID 60011) /
      +2 : "Open pin 2"   / port-fault (SID 60012) /
    }
  },
  {
    60010 : {             / example-port-fault (SID 60010) /
      +1 : "1/4/21",      / port-name (SID 60011) /
      +2 : "Open pin 5"   / port-fault (SID 60012) /
    }
  }
]

In the example, the request returns a success response with the contents of the last two generated events. Consecutively the server will regularly notify the client when a new event is generated.

To check that the client is still alive, the server MUST send Confirmable Message periodically. When the client does not confirm the notification from the server, the server will remove the client from the list of observers [RFC7641].

4.5.2. The ‘f’ Uri-Query option

The ‘f’ (filter) option is used to indicate which subset of all possible notifications is of interest. If not present, all events notifications supported by the event stream are reported.

When not supported by a CoMI server, this option shall be ignored, all events notifications are reported independently of the presence and content of the ‘f’ (filter) option.

When present, this option contains a comma separated list of notification SIDs. For example, the following request returns notifications 60010 and 60020.

REQ:  GET /s?f=60010,60020 Observe(0) Token(0x241)

4.6. RPC statements

The YANG “action” and “RPC” statements specify the execution of a Remote procedure Call (RPC) in the server. It is invoked using a POST method to an “Action” or “RPC” resource instance.

The request payload contains the values assigned to the input container when specified. The response payload contains the values of the output container when specified. Both the input and output containers are encoded in CBOR using the rules defined in [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 4.2.1.

The returned success response code is 2.05 Content.

FORMAT:
  POST /c/<instance identifier>
           (Content-Format :application/yang-data+cbor)
  CBOR map of SID, instance-value

  2.05 Content (Content-Format :application/yang-data+cbor)
  CBOR map of SID, instance-value

4.6.1. RPC Example

The example is based on the YANG action reset as defined in [RFC7950] section 7.15.3 and annotated below with SIDs.

module example-server-farm {
  yang-version 1.1;
  namespace "urn:example:server-farm";
  prefix "sfarm";

  import ietf-yang-types {
    prefix "yang";
  }

  list server {                        // SID 60000
    key name;
    leaf name {                        // SID 60001
      type string;
    }
    action reset {                     // SID 60002
      input {
        leaf reset-at {                // SID 60003
          type yang:date-and-time;
          mandatory true;
         }
       }
       output {
         leaf reset-finished-at {      // SID 60004
           type yang:date-and-time;
           mandatory true;
         }
       }
     }
   }
 }

This example invokes the ‘reset’ action (SID 60002, base64: Opq), of the server instance with name equal to “myserver”.

REQ:  POST /c/Opq?k="myserver"
              (Content-Format :application/yang-data+cbor)
{
  60002 : {
    +1 : "2016-02-08T14:10:08Z09:00" / reset-at (SID 60003) /
  }
}

RES:  2.05 Content (Content-Format :application/yang-data+cbor)
{
  60002 : {
    +2 : "2016-02-08T14:10:08Z09:18" / reset-finished-at (SID 60004)/
  }
}

5. Use of Block

The CoAP protocol provides reliability by acknowledging the UDP datagrams. However, when large pieces of data need to be transported, datagrams get fragmented, thus creating constraints on the resources in the client, server and intermediate routers. The block option [RFC7959] allows the transport of the total payload in individual blocks of which the size can be adapted to the underlying transport sizes such as: (UDP datagram size ~64KiB, IPv6 MTU of 1280, IEEE 802.15.4 payload of 60-80 bytes). Each block is individually acknowledged to guarantee reliability.

Notice that the Block mechanism splits the data at fixed positions, such that individual data fields may become fragmented. Therefore, assembly of multiple blocks may be required to process the complete data field.

Beware of race conditions. Blocks are filled one at a time and care should be taken that the whole data representation is sent in multiple blocks sequentially without interruption. On the server, values are changed, lists are re-ordered, extended or reduced. When these actions happen during the serialization of the contents of the resource, the transported results do not correspond with a state having occurred in the server; or worse the returned values are inconsistent. For example: array length does not correspond with the actual number of items. It may be advisable to use Indefinite-length CBOR arrays and maps, which are foreseen for data streaming purposes.

6. Application Discovery

Two application discovery mechanisms are supported by CoMI, the YANG library data model as defined by [I-D.veillette-core-yang-library] and the CORE resource discovery [RFC6690]. Implementers may choose to implement one or the other or both.

6.1. YANG library

The YANG library data model [I-D.veillette-core-yang-library] provides a high level description of the resources available. The YANG library contains the list of modules, features and deviations supported by the CoMI server. From this information, CoMI clients can infer the list of data nodes supported and the interaction model to be used to access them. This module also contains the list of datastores implemented.

The location of the YANG library can be found by sending a GET request to “/.well-known/core” including a resource type (RT) parameter with the value “core.c.yl”. Upon success, the return payload will contain the root resource of the YANG library module.

REQ: GET /.well-known/core?rt=core.c.yl

RES: 2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/link-format)
</c/kv >;rt="core.c.yl"

6.2. Resource Discovery

Even if the YANG library provides all the information needed for application discovery, the implementation of Resource discovery as defined by [RFC6690] can be desirable for a seamless integration with other CoAP interfaces and services.

6.2.1. Datastore Resource Discovery

The presence and location of (path to) each datastore implemented by the CoMI server can be discovered by sending a GET request to “/.well-known/core” including a resource type (RT) parameter with the value “core.c.ds”.

Upon success, the return payload contains the list of datastore resources.

Each datastore returned is further qualified using the “ds” Link-Format attribute. This attribute is set to the SID assigned to the datastore identity. When a unified datastore is implemented, the ds attribute is set to 1029. For other examples of datastores, see the Network Management Datastore Architecture (NMDA) [RFC7950].

link-extension    = ( "ds" "=" sid ) )
                    ; SID assigned to the datastore identity
sid               = 1*DIGIT

For example:

REQ: GET /.well-known/core?rt=core.c.ds

RES: 2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/link-format)
</c>; rt="core.c.ds";ds= 1029

6.2.2. Data node Resource Discovery

The presence and location of (path to) each data node implemented by the CoMI server are discovered by sending a GET request to “/.well-known/core” including a resource type (RT) parameter with the value “core.c.dn”.

Upon success, the return payload contains the SID assigned to each data node and their location.

The example below shows the discovery of the presence and location of data nodes. Data nodes ‘/ietf-system:system-state/clock/boot-datetime’ (SID 1722) and ‘/ietf-system:system-state/clock/current-datetime’ (SID 1723) are returned.

REQ: GET /.well-known/core?rt=core.c.dn

RES: 2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/link-format)
</c/a6>;rt="core.c.dn",
</c/a7>;rt="core.c.dn"

The list of data nodes may become prohibitively long. Implementations MAY return a subset of this list or can rely solely on the YANG library.

6.2.3. Event stream Resource Discovery

The presence and location of (path to) each event stream implemented by the CoMI server are discovered by sending a GET request to “/.well-known/core” including a resource type (RT) parameter with the value “core.c.es”.

Upon success, the return payload contains the list of event stream resources.

For example:

REQ: GET /.well-known/core?rt=core.c.es

RES: 2.05 Content (Content-Format: application/link-format)
</s>;rt="core.c.es"

7. Error Handling

In case a request is received which cannot be processed properly, the CoMI server MUST return an error message. This error message MUST contain a CoAP 4.xx or 5.xx response code.

Errors returned by a CoMI server can be broken into two categories, those associated to the CoAP protocol itself and those generated during the validation of the YANG data model constrains as described in [RFC7950] section 8.

The following list of common CoAP errors should be implemented by CoMI servers. This list is not exhaustive, other errors defined by CoAP and associated RFCs may be applicable.

CoMI server MUST also enforce the different constraints associated to the YANG data models implemented. These constraints are described in [RFC7950] section 8. These errors are reported using the CoAP error code 4.00 (Bad Request) and may have the following error container as payload. The YANG definition and associated .sid file are available in Appendix A and Appendix B. The error container is encoded using the encoding rules of a YANG data template as defined in [I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] section 5.

+--rw error!
   +--rw error-tag             identityref
   +--rw error-app-tag?        identityref
   +--rw error-data-node?      instance-identifier
   +--rw error-message?        string

The following ‘error-tag’ and ‘error-app-tag’ are defined by the ietf-comi YANG module, these tags are implemented as YANG identity and can be extended as needed.

For example, the CoMI server might return the following error.

RES:  4.00 Bad Request (Content-Format :application/yang-data+cbor)
{
  1024 : {
    +4 : 1011,       / error-tag (SID 1028) /
                     /   = invalid-value (SID 1011) /
    +1 : 1018,       / error-app-tag (SID 1025) /
                     /   = not-in-range (SID 1018) /
    +2 : 1740,       / error-data-node (SID 1026) /
                     /   = timezone-utc-offset (SID 1740) /
    +3 : "maximum value exceeded" / error-message (SID 1027) /
  }
}

8. Security Considerations

For secure network management, it is important to restrict access to configuration variables only to authorized parties. CoMI re-uses the security mechanisms already available to CoAP, this includes DTLS [RFC6347] for protected access to resources, as well suitable authentication and authorization mechanisms.

Among the security decisions that need to be made are selecting security modes and encryption mechanisms (see [RFC7252]). This requires a trade-off, as the NoKey mode gives no protection at all, but is easy to implement, whereas the X.509 mode is quite secure, but may be too complex for constrained devices.

In addition, mechanisms for authentication and authorization may need to be selected.

CoMI avoids defining new security mechanisms as much as possible. However, some adaptations may still be required, to cater for CoMI’s specific requirements.

9. IANA Considerations

9.1. Resource Type (rt=) Link Target Attribute Values Registry

This document adds the following resource type to the “Resource Type (rt=) Link Target Attribute Values”, within the “Constrained RESTful Environments (CoRE) Parameters” registry.

Value Description Reference
core.c.ds YANG datastore RFC XXXX
core.c.dn YANG data node RFC XXXX
core.c.yl YANG module library RFC XXXX
core.c.es YANG event stream RFC XXXX

// RFC Ed.: replace RFC XXXX with this RFC number and remove this note.

9.2. CoAP Content-Formats Registry

This document adds the following Content-Format to the “CoAP Content-Formats”, within the “Constrained RESTful Environments (CoRE) Parameters” registry.

Media Type Encoding ID Reference
application/yang-data+cbor XXX RFC XXXX
application/yang-identifiers+cbor XXX RFC XXXX
application/yang-instances+cbor XXX RFC XXXX

// RFC Ed.: replace XXX with assigned IDs and remove this note. // RFC Ed.: replace RFC XXXX with this RFC number and remove this note.

9.3. Media Types Registry

This document adds the following media types to the “Media Types” registry.

Name Template Reference
yang-data+cbor application/yang-data+cbor RFC XXXX
yang-identifiers+cbor application/ RFC XXXX
yang-identifiers+cbor
yang-instances+cbor application/ RFC XXXX
yang-instances+cbor

Each of these media types share the following information:

*  Deprecated alias names for this type: N/A

*  Magic number(s): N/A

*  File extension(s): N/A

*  Macintosh file type code(s): N/A

// RFC Ed.: replace RFC XXXX with this RFC number and remove this note.

10. Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Bert Greevenbosch who was one of the original authors of the CoMI specification.

Mehmet Ersue and Bert Wijnen explained the encoding aspects of PDUs transported under SNMP. Carsten Bormann has given feedback on the use of CBOR.

The draft has benefited from comments (alphabetical order) by Rodney Cummings, Dee Denteneer, Esko Dijk, Michael van Hartskamp, Tanguy Ropitault, Juergen Schoenwaelder, Anuj Sehgal, Zach Shelby, Hannes Tschofenig, Michael Verschoor, and Thomas Watteyne.

11. References

11.1. Normative References

[I-D.ietf-core-sid] Veillette, M., Pelov, A. and I. Petrov, "YANG Schema Item iDentifier (SID)", Internet-Draft draft-ietf-core-sid-06, March 2019.
[I-D.ietf-core-yang-cbor] Veillette, M., Petrov, I. and A. Pelov, "CBOR Encoding of Data Modeled with YANG", Internet-Draft draft-ietf-core-yang-cbor-10, April 2019.
[I-D.veillette-core-yang-library] Veillette, M. and I. Petrov, "Constrained YANG Module Library", Internet-Draft draft-veillette-core-yang-library-04, March 2019.
[RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997.
[RFC4648] Josefsson, S., "The Base16, Base32, and Base64 Data Encodings", RFC 4648, DOI 10.17487/RFC4648, October 2006.
[RFC5277] Chisholm, S. and H. Trevino, "NETCONF Event Notifications", RFC 5277, DOI 10.17487/RFC5277, July 2008.
[RFC6241] Enns, R., Bjorklund, M., Schoenwaelder, J. and A. Bierman, "Network Configuration Protocol (NETCONF)", RFC 6241, DOI 10.17487/RFC6241, June 2011.
[RFC6243] Bierman, A. and B. Lengyel, "With-defaults Capability for NETCONF", RFC 6243, DOI 10.17487/RFC6243, June 2011.
[RFC7049] Bormann, C. and P. Hoffman, "Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR)", RFC 7049, DOI 10.17487/RFC7049, October 2013.
[RFC7252] Shelby, Z., Hartke, K. and C. Bormann, "The Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP)", RFC 7252, DOI 10.17487/RFC7252, June 2014.
[RFC7641] Hartke, K., "Observing Resources in the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP)", RFC 7641, DOI 10.17487/RFC7641, September 2015.
[RFC7950] Bjorklund, M., "The YANG 1.1 Data Modeling Language", RFC 7950, DOI 10.17487/RFC7950, August 2016.
[RFC7959] Bormann, C. and Z. Shelby, "Block-Wise Transfers in the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP)", RFC 7959, DOI 10.17487/RFC7959, August 2016.
[RFC8040] Bierman, A., Bjorklund, M. and K. Watsen, "RESTCONF Protocol", RFC 8040, DOI 10.17487/RFC8040, January 2017.
[RFC8132] van der Stok, P., Bormann, C. and A. Sehgal, "PATCH and FETCH Methods for the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP)", RFC 8132, DOI 10.17487/RFC8132, April 2017.

11.2. Informative References

[RFC6347] Rescorla, E. and N. Modadugu, "Datagram Transport Layer Security Version 1.2", RFC 6347, DOI 10.17487/RFC6347, January 2012.
[RFC6690] Shelby, Z., "Constrained RESTful Environments (CoRE) Link Format", RFC 6690, DOI 10.17487/RFC6690, August 2012.
[RFC7223] Bjorklund, M., "A YANG Data Model for Interface Management", RFC 7223, DOI 10.17487/RFC7223, May 2014.
[RFC7317] Bierman, A. and M. Bjorklund, "A YANG Data Model for System Management", RFC 7317, DOI 10.17487/RFC7317, August 2014.
[RFC8342] Bjorklund, M., Schoenwaelder, J., Shafer, P., Watsen, K. and R. Wilton, "Network Management Datastore Architecture (NMDA)", RFC 8342, DOI 10.17487/RFC8342, March 2018.

Appendix A. ietf-comi YANG module 

<CODE BEGINS> file "ietf-comi@2019-03-28.yang"
module ietf-comi {
  yang-version 1.1;
  
  namespace "urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-comi";
  prefix comi;

  import ietf-datastores {
    prefix ds;
  }

  import ietf-restconf {
    prefix rc;
    description
      "This import statement is required to access
       the yang-data extension defined in RFC 8040.";
    reference "RFC 8040: RESTCONF Protocol";
  }

  organization
    "IETF Core Working Group";

  contact
    "Michel Veillette
     <mailto:michel.veillette@trilliantinc.com>

     Alexander Pelov
     <mailto:alexander@ackl.io>

     Peter van der Stok
     <mailto:consultancy@vanderstok.org>
     
     Andy Bierman
     <mailto:andy@yumaworks.com>";

  description
    "This module contains the different definitions required
     by the CoMI protocol.";

  revision 2019-03-28 {
     description
      "Initial revision.";
    reference
      "[I-D.ietf-core-comi] CoAP Management Interface";
  }
  
  identity unified {
    base ds:datastore;
    description
      "Identifier of the unified configuration and operational
       state datastore.";
  }

  identity error-tag {
    description
      "Base identity for error-tag.";
  }

  identity operation-failed {
    base error-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the operation request
       can't be processed successfully.";
  }

  identity invalid-value {
    base error-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the CoMI client tries to
       update or create a leaf with a value encoded using an
       invalid CBOR datatype or if the 'range', 'length',
       'pattern' or 'require-instance' constrain is not
       fulfilled.";
  }
  
  identity missing-element {
    base error-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the operation requested
       by a CoMI client fails to comply with the 'mandatory'
       constraint defined. The 'mandatory' constraint is
       enforced for leafs and choices, unless the node or any of
       its ancestors have a 'when' condition or 'if-feature'
       expression that evaluates to 'false'.";
  }
  
  identity unknown-element {
    base error-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the CoMI client tries to
       access a data node of a YANG module not supported, of a
       data node associated with an 'if-feature' expression
       evaluated to 'false' or to a 'when' condition evaluated
       to 'false'.";
  }
  
  identity bad-element {
    base error-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the CoMI client tries to
       create data nodes for more than one case in a choice.";
  }

  identity data-missing {
    base error-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when a data node required to
       accept the request is not present.";
  }
  
  identity error {
    base error-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when an unspecified error has
      occurred.";
  }
  
  identity error-app-tag {
    description
      "Base identity for error-app-tag.";
  }

  identity malformed-message {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the payload received
       from the CoMI client don't contain a well-formed CBOR
       content as defined in [RFC7049] section 3.3 or don't
       comply with the CBOR structure defined within this
       document.";
  }

  identity data-not-unique {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the validation of the
       'unique' constraint of a list or leaf-list fails.";
  }

  identity too-many-elements {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the validation of the
       'max-elements' constraint of a list or leaf-list fails.";
  }

  identity too-few-elements {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the validation of the
       'min-elements' constraint of a list or leaf-list fails.";
  }

  identity must-violation {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the restrictions
       imposed by a 'must' statement are violated.";
  }

  identity duplicate {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when a client tries to create
       a duplicate list or leaf-list entry.";
  }

  identity invalid-datatype {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when CBOR encoding is
       incorect or when the value encoded is incompatible with
       the YANG Built-In type. (e.g. value greater than 127
       for an int8, undefined enumeration).";
  }

  identity not-in-range {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the validation of the
       'range' property fails.";
  }

  identity invalid-length {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the validation of the
       'length' property fails.";
  }

  identity pattern-test-failed {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the validation of the
       'pattern' property fails.";
  }

  identity missing-key {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server to further qualify a
       missing-element error. This error is returned when the
       CoMI client tries to create or list instance, without all
       the 'key' specified or when the CoMI client tries to
       delete a leaf listed as a 'key'.";
  }

  identity missing-input-parameter {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when the input parameters
       of a RPC or action are incomplete.";
  }

  identity instance-required {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when a leaf of type
       'instance-identifier' or 'leafref' marked with
       require-instance set to 'true' refers to an instance
       that does not exist.";
  }

  identity missing-choice {
    base error-app-tag;
    description
      "Returned by the CoMI server when no nodes exist in a
       mandatory choice.";
  }
        
  rc:yang-data comi-error {
    container error {
      description
        "Optional payload of a 4.00 Bad Request CoAP error.";

      leaf error-tag {
        type identityref {
          base error-tag;
        }
        mandatory true;
        description
          "The enumerated error-tag.";
      }

      leaf error-app-tag {
        type identityref {
          base error-app-tag;
        }
        description
          "The application-specific error-tag.";
      }   

      leaf error-data-node {
        type instance-identifier;
        description
          "When the error reported is caused by a specific data node,
           this leaf identifies the data node in error.";
      }

      leaf error-message {
        type string;
        description
          "A message describing the error.";
      }
    }
  }
}
<CODE ENDS>

Appendix B. ietf-comi .sid file 

{
  "assignment-ranges": [
    {
      "entry-point": 1000,
      "size": 100
    }
  ],
  "module-name": "ietf-comi",
  "module-revision": "2019-03-28",
  "items": [
    {
      "namespace": "module",
      "identifier": "ietf-comi",
      "sid": 1000
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "bad-element",
      "sid": 1001
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "data-missing",
      "sid": 1002
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "data-not-unique",
      "sid": 1003
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "duplicate",
      "sid": 1004
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "error",
      "sid": 1005
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "error-app-tag",
      "sid": 1006
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "error-tag",
      "sid": 1007
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "instance-required",
      "sid": 1008
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "invalid-datatype",
      "sid": 1009
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "invalid-length",
      "sid": 1010
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "invalid-value",
      "sid": 1011
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "malformed-message",
      "sid": 1012
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "missing-choice",
      "sid": 1013
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "missing-element",
      "sid": 1014
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "missing-input-parameter",
      "sid": 1015
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "missing-key",
      "sid": 1016
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "must-violation",
      "sid": 1017
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "not-in-range",
      "sid": 1018
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "operation-failed",
      "sid": 1019
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "pattern-test-failed",
      "sid": 1020
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "too-few-elements",
      "sid": 1021
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "too-many-elements",
      "sid": 1022
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "unified",
      "sid": 1029
    },
    {
      "namespace": "identity",
      "identifier": "unknown-element",
      "sid": 1023
    },
    {
      "namespace": "data",
      "identifier": "/ietf-comi:error",
      "sid": 1024
    },
    {
      "namespace": "data",
      "identifier": "/ietf-comi:error/error-app-tag",
      "sid": 1025
    },
    {
      "namespace": "data",
      "identifier": "/ietf-comi:error/error-data-node",
      "sid": 1026
    },
    {
      "namespace": "data",
      "identifier": "/ietf-comi:error/error-message",
      "sid": 1027
    },
    {
      "namespace": "data",
      "identifier": "/ietf-comi:error/error-tag",
      "sid": 1028
    }
  ]
}

Authors' Addresses

Michel Veillette (editor) Trilliant Networks Inc. 610 Rue du Luxembourg Granby, Quebec J2J 2V2 Canada EMail: michel.veillette@trilliant.com
Peter van der Stok (editor) consultant Phone: +31-492474673 (Netherlands), +33-966015248 (France) EMail: consultancy@vanderstok.org URI: www.vanderstok.org
Alexander Pelov Acklio 2bis rue de la Chataigneraie Cesson-Sevigne, Bretagne 35510 France EMail: a@ackl.io
Andy Bierman YumaWorks 685 Cochran St. Suite #160 Simi Valley, CA 93065 USA EMail: andy@yumaworks.com