Hi Madison and Brian,

thank you for this update.


While re-reading the text, I found one more unfixed instance of incorrect use 
of "GSA":

Section 4.4.2.2.1.

CURRENT:
   When
   the lifetime expires, the GSA and all associated keys MUST be
   deleted.

NEW:
   When
   the lifetime expires, the group SA and all associated keys MUST be
   deleted.


I approve the publication provided that this is fixed.

Thank you all for your patience and cooperation!

Regards,
Valery.


> Hi Brian and Valery,
> 
> Thank you for your replies! We have updated the document with Valery’s 
> “Perhaps 5” suggestion. That said, we
> believe there are no further questions remaining.
> 
> Once we receive approvals from both authors, we will send updates along to 
> IANA!
> 
> The files have been posted here (please refresh):
>    https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.txt
>    https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.pdf
>    https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.html
>    https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.xml
> 
> The relevant diff files have been posted here (please refresh):
>    https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-diff.html (comprehensive diff)
>    https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-rfcdiff.html (side by side)
>    https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-auth48diff.html (AUTH48 changes)
>    https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-auth48rfcdiff.html (side by 
> side)
>    https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastdiff.html (most recent 
> changes)
>    https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastrfcdiff.html (side by side)
> 
> Thank you!
> Madison Church
> RFC Production Center
> 
> 
> > On Oct 23, 2025, at 10:47 AM, Brian Weis <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Valery,
> >
> > I’m quite happy with your “Perhaps 5” text. Let’s go with that. I think 
> > this might be the last wording issue. :-)
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Brian
> >
> >> On Oct 22, 2025, at 10:09 PM, Valery Smyslov <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi Brian,
> >>  please see inline.
> >>  Hi Valery,
> >>  One reply is inline.
> >>
> >>
> >>> On Oct 22, 2025, at 11:54 AM, Valery Smyslov <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>>  Hi Brian,
> >>>
> >>> please find my comments inline.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> Hi Madison,
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> On Oct 21, 2025, at 2:30 PM, Madison Church <[email protected]
> >>>>
> >>>> editor.org> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Hi Brian, Valery, and *Deb,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> *Deb - Please review and approve the added text to Section 1.2 (Group SA
> >>>>
> >>>> definition). This change may be viewed here: https://www.rfc-
> >>>> editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastdiff.html.
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Brian and Valery - Thank you both for your detailed replies! We have
> >>>>
> >>>> incorporated the requested updates. See below for a few (final) proposed
> >>>> changes. Aside from the following, we believe there are no remaining 
> >>>> inquiries
> >>>> that are outstanding. Please review the document carefully to ensure
> >>>> satisfaction as we do not make changes once it has been published as an 
> >>>> RFC.
> >>>> Contact us with any further updates or with your approval of the 
> >>>> document in
> >>>> its current form. We will await approvals from each author prior to 
> >>>> asking
> >>>> IANA to make their updates.
> >>>>
> >>>> Whew! The changes all look fine to me, thanks.
> >>>>
> >>>> I’ve added some replies your questions below, which should be addressed
> >>>> before approval.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> We spotted 4 additional instances of "GSA policy" and 2 additional 
> >>>>> instances
> >>>>
> >>>> of "GSA attributes" that were not included in the list of updates. 
> >>>> Should these
> >>>> instances be updated to "group SA policy" and "group SA attributes" as 
> >>>> well?
> >>>> Or should they remain as is?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Oh, this is my fault, I somehow missed them :-(
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>> Section 4.4.1
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 1) Current:
> >>>>> Depending on the employed security protocol, GSA policies may further
> >>>>> be classified as Rekey SA (GSA KEK) policy and Data-Security (GSA TEK) 
> >>>>> SA
> >>>>
> >>>> policy.
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Perhaps:
> >>>>> Depending on the employed security protocol, group SA policies may
> >>>>> further be classified as Rekey SA (GSA KEK) policy and Data-Security 
> >>>>> (GSA
> >>>>
> >>>> TEK) SA policy.
> >>>>
> >>>> I believe that “GSA policies” is referring to “Group Policies” in Figure 
> >>>> 14, so I
> >>>> would suggest the following.
> >>>>
> >>>> Perhaps 2:
> >>>> Depending on the employed security protocol, Group Policies may further 
> >>>> be
> >>>> classified as Rekey SA (GSA KEK) policy and Data-Security (GSA TEK) SA 
> >>>> policy.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> No, this text clarifies the types of SAs that can be considered as "group 
> >>> SAs"
> >>> and for which group SA policy can be provided. Thus, I think that
> >>> Madison's proposal is correct.
> >>>
> >>> Along with the two preceding sentences the text is:
> >>>
> >>>   Group policies are comprised of two types: group SA policy and group-
> >>>   wide (GW) policy.  Group SA policy defines parameters for the
> >>>   Security Association of the group.  Depending on the employed
> >>>   security protocol, group SA policies may further be classified as Rekey 
> >>> SA
> >>>   (GSA KEK) policy and Data-Security (GSA TEK) SA policy.
> >>>
> >>> which gives all the context.
> >>
> >>  Ok, that’s fine. But now I think that there’s a typo in this sentence,
> >> which is what tripped me up. The previous sentence refers to a
> >> plurality of security policies, and so should this one. Note the change
> >> below from “security protocol” to “security protocols”.
> >>  Perhaps 3:
> >> Depending on the employed security protocols, Group Policies may further be
> >> classified as Rekey SA (GSA KEK) policy and Data-Security (GSA TEK) SA 
> >> policy.
> >>           I have no problem with this change, but the text above still     
> >>      talks about "Group Policy" and not
> about "group SA policy".
> >>          I believe this is a typo (since you agreed with my previous       
> >>    message).           We classify Group
> Policies as "group SA policies" and "group-wide policy" above
> >>          and then further classify the former as "Rekey SA policy" and 
> >> "Data-Security SA policy".
> >>  Thus, I think the text should be:
> >>  Perhaps 4.
> >> Depending on the employed security protocols, group SA policies may 
> >> further be
> >> classified as Rekey SA (GSA KEK) policies and Data-Security (GSA TEK) SA 
> >> policies.
> >>           (note, that I used plural form everywhere).
> >>           Or instead:
> >>  Perhaps 5.
> >> Depending on the employed security protocol, a group SA policy may be
> >> either a Rekey SA (GSA KEK) policy or a Data-Security (GSA TEK) SA policy.
> >>  (Note that I used singular form everywhere and an "a" article to show 
> >> that there may be two types of group SA
> policies).
> >>  Which variant is better in your opinion? Of do you have a better one in 
> >> mind?
> >> As for me, I slightly prefer the last variant.
> >>           Regards,
> >>          Valery.
> >>  Thanks,
> >> Brian
> >>
> >>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>> 2) Current (2 instances):
> >>>>> The format of the substructures is defined in Section 4.4.2 (for GSA
> >>>>> policy) and in Section 4.4.3 (for GW policy). The first octet of the
> >>>>> substructure unambiguously determines its type; it is zero for GW
> >>>>> policy and non-zero (actually, it contains a Security Protocol
> >>>>> Identifier) for GSA policies.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Perhaps:
> >>>>> The format of the substructures is defined in Section 4.4.2 (for group
> >>>>> SA
> >>>>> policy) and in Section 4.4.3 (for GW policy). The first octet of the
> >>>>> substructure unambiguously determines its type; it is zero for GW
> >>>>> policy and non-zero (actually, it contains a Security Protocol
> >>>>> Identifier) for group SA policies.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> I believe this is a correct change.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> I agree.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>> Section 4.4.2
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 1) Current:
> >>>>> Section 4.4.2.2 defines attributes used in GSA policy substructure.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Perhaps:
> >>>>> Section 4.4.2.2 defines attributes used in group SA policy substructure.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> The update seems correct. However, I would not object to also adding 
> >>>> “the”
> >>>> before “group SA", which was missing in the original text  i.e.,
> >>>>
> >>>> Perhaps 2:
> >>>> … “used in the group SA …"
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> I agree.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>> Section 4.4.2.2
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 1) Current:
> >>>>> Unlike security parameters distributed via transforms, which are
> >>>>> expected not to change over time (unless the policy changes), the
> >>>>> parameters distributed via GSA attributes may depend on the time the
> >>>>> provision takes place, on the existence of others group SAs, or on other
> >>>>
> >>>> conditions.
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Perhaps:
> >>>>> Unlike security parameters distributed via transforms, which are
> >>>>> expected not to change over time (unless the policy changes), the
> >>>>> parameters distributed via group SA attributes may depend on the time
> >>>>> the provision takes place, on the existence of others group SAs, or on 
> >>>>> other
> >>>>
> >>>> conditions.
> >>>>
> >>>> This also seems correct. However, I think there’s a slight typo in the 
> >>>> last line of
> >>>> the original text (“other” should not be plural).
> >>>>
> >>>> Perhaps 2:
> >>>> … existence of other group SAs ...
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Yes.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>> 2) Current:
> >>>>> This document creates a new IKEv2 IANA registry for the types of GSA
> >>>>> attributes, which has been initially populated as described in Section
> >>>>> 9.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Perhaps:
> >>>>> This document creates a new IKEv2 IANA registry for the types of group
> >>>>> SA attributes, which has been initially populated as described in
> >>>>> Section 9.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> This seems correct to me.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Exactly.
> >>>
> >>> Thank you!
> >>>
> >>> Regards,
> >>> Valery.
> >>>
> >>> P.S. I seem to realize how I missed these 6 cases - I simply searched the 
> >>> draft text
> >>> for "GSA policy", "GSA attribute" and forgot that there may be plural 
> >>> form "policies"
> >>> and the searched text may be also split by line break. Alas.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> Many thanks!
> >>>> Brian
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The files have been posted here (please refresh):
> >>>>>  https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.txt
> >>>>>  https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.pdf
> >>>>>  https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.html
> >>>>>  https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.xml
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The relevant diff files have been posted here (please refresh):
> >>>>>  https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-diff.html (comprehensive
> >>>>
> >>>> changes)
> >>>>
> >>>>>  https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-rfcdiff.html (side by side)
> >>>>>  https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-auth48diff.html (all AUTH48
> >>>>
> >>>> changes)
> >>>>
> >>>>>  https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-auth48rfcdiff.html (side by
> >>>>
> >>>> side)
> >>>>
> >>>>>  https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastdiff.html (diff showing 
> >>>>> latest
> >>>>
> >>>> updates)
> >>>>
> >>>>>  https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastrfcdiff.html (side by
> >>>>> side)
> >>>>>
> >>>>> For the AUTH48 status of this document, please see:
> >>>>>  https://www.rfc-editor.org/auth48/rfc9838
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Thank you!
> >>>>> Madison Church
> >>>>> RFC Production Center
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> On Oct 21, 2025, at 1:44 AM, Valery Smyslov <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Hi Brian,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Hi Valery,
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> These changes look fine to me, if everyone agrees that making this
> >>>>>>> much change is acceptable. Certainly they clean up inconsistence
> >>>>
> >>>> regarding “GSA”.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> However, it strikes me that the document is now so populated with
> >>>>>>> the term “group SA”, so it should probably be defined in Section 1.2.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Possibly:
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> NEW
> >>>>>>> Group SA: A Data-Security SA or Rekey SA that is shared as part of 
> >>>>>>> Group
> >>>>
> >>>> policy.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Good idea!
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I think it should be inserted between the "Rekey SA" definition and the
> >>>>
> >>>> "Group Security Association (GSA)" definition.
> >>>>
> >>>>>> And I also think that "Group policy" should be "group policy" to be
> >>>>
> >>>> consistent with other uses of this words.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Thus (a detailed change request for Madison):
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> OLD:
> >>>>>> Rekey SA:
> >>>>>>    A single multicast SA between the GCKS and all of the GMs.  This
> >>>>>>    SA is used for multicast transmission of key management messages
> >>>>>>    from the GCKS to all GMs.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Group Security Association (GSA):
> >>>>>>    A collection of Data-Security SAs and Rekey SAs necessary for a GM
> >>>>>>    to receive key updates.  A GSA describes the working policy for a
> >>>>>>    group.  Refer to the MSEC Group Key Management Architecture
> >>>>>>    [RFC4046] for additional information.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>> Rekey SA:
> >>>>>>    A single multicast SA between the GCKS and all of the GMs.  This
> >>>>>>    SA is used for multicast transmission of key management messages
> >>>>>>    from the GCKS to all GMs.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Group SA:
> >>>>>>    A Data-Security SA or Rekey SA that is shared as part of group 
> >>>>>> policy.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Group Security Association (GSA):
> >>>>>>    A collection of Data-Security SAs and Rekey SAs necessary for a GM
> >>>>>>    to receive key updates.  A GSA describes the working policy for a
> >>>>>>    group.  Refer to the MSEC Group Key Management Architecture
> >>>>>>    [RFC4046] for additional information.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Regards,
> >>>>>> Valery.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Hope that helps,
> >>>>>>> Brian
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> On Oct 17, 2025, at 12:43 AM, Valery Smyslov <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Hi Deb, Brian, Madison,
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> taking into consideration Deb’s opinion, I think that for the
> >>>>>>>> purpose of making the abbreviations unambiguous,
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> the simplest change would be to
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> just replace “GSA” with “group SA” for “GSA policy” (14 instances),
> >>>>>>>> “GSA transforms” (3 instances) and “GSA
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> attributes” (10 instances),
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> with no change to “GSA payload” as Brian rightly noticed that this 
> >>>>>>>> is a
> >>>>
> >>>> correct term.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> I checked the draft and here the concrete instances to change I 
> >>>>>>>> found:
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> For "GSA Policy":
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 1) Section 4.4.1. (2 instances)
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> Group policies are comprised of two types: GSA policy and GW policy.
> >>>>>>>> GSA policy defines parameters for the Security Association of the
> >>>>>>>> group.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>> Group policies are comprised of two types: group SA policy and group-
> >>>>
> >>>> wide (GW) policy.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>> Group  SA policy defines parameters for the Security Association of
> >>>>>>>> the group.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 2) Section 4.4.2. (4 instances)
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> The GSA policy substructure contains parameters for a single SA
> >>>>>>>> that is used with this group.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>              Figure 15: GSA Policy Substructure Format
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> The GSA policy fields are defined as follows:
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>   Section 4.4.2.1 describes
> >>>>>>>>   using IKEv2 transforms in GSA policy substructure.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>> The group SA policy substructure contains parameters for a single
> >>>>>>>> SA that is used with this group.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>              Figure 15: Group SA Policy Substructure Format
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> The group SA policy fields are defined as follows:
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>   Section 4.4.2.1 describes
> >>>>>>>>   using IKEv2 transforms in the group SA policy substructure.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 3) Section 4.4.2.1. (3 instances)
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> GSA policy is defined by the means of transforms in the GSA policy
> >>>>>>>> substructure.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Exactly one instance of each mandatory Transform Type and at most
> >>>>>>>> one instance of each optional Transform Type MUST be present in the
> >>>>>>>> GSA policy substructure.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>> Group SA policy is defined by the means of transforms in the group
> >>>>>>>> SA policy substructure.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Exactly one instance of each mandatory Transform Type and at most
> >>>>>>>> one instance of each optional Transform Type MUST be present in the
> >>>>>>>> group SA policy substructure.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 4) Section 4.4.2.2. (1 instance), see also 11) below.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> GSA attributes are generally used to provide GMs with additional
> >>>>>>>> parameters for the GSA policy.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>> Group SA attributes are generally used to provide GMs with
> >>>>>>>> additional parameters for the group SA policy.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 5) Section 4.4.2.2.1. (1 instance)
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> A single attribute of this type MUST be included into any GSA
> >>>>>>>> policy substructure if multicast rekey is employed by the GCKS.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>> A single attribute of this type MUST be included into any group SA
> >>>>>>>> policy substructure if multicast rekey is employed by the GCKS.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 5) Section 4.4.2.2.2. (1 instance)
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> In this case this attribute will be included into the GSA policy
> >>>>>>>> when the GM is registered.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>> In this case this attribute will be included into the group SA
> >>>>>>>> policy when the GM is registered.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 6) Section 4.4.2.2.3. (1 instance)
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> The length of the attribute data is determined by the SPI Size
> >>>>>>>> field in the GSA policy substructure the attribute resides in (see
> >>>>>>>> Section 4.4.2), and the attribute data contains the SPI as it would
> >>>>>>>> appear on the network.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>> The length of the attribute data is determined by the SPI Size
> >>>>>>>> field in the group SA policy substructure the attribute resides in
> >>>>>>>> (see Section 4.4.2), and the attribute data contains the SPI as it
> >>>>>>>> would appear on the network.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 7) Section 4.5.4 (1 instance)
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> In addition, if the GCKS plans
> >>>>>>>> to use the multicast Rekey SA for group rekey, then it MUST specify
> >>>>>>>> the key wrap algorithm in the GSA policy for the Rekey SA inside
> >>>>>>>> the GSA payload.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>> In addition, if the GCKS plans
> >>>>>>>> to use the multicast Rekey SA for group rekey, then it MUST specify
> >>>>>>>> the key wrap algorithm in the group SA policy for the Rekey SA
> >>>>>>>> inside the GSA payload.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> For "GSA Transforms":
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 8) Section 4.4.2. (2 instances)
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> |                                                               |
> >>>>>>>> ~                       <GSA Transforms>                        ~
> >>>>>>>> |                                                               |
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> GSA Transforms (variable):
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>> |                                                               |
> >>>>>>>> ~                    <Group SA Transforms>                      ~
> >>>>>>>> |                                                               |
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Group SA Transforms (variable):
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 9) Section 4.4.2.1. (1 instance)
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> 4.4.2.1.  GSA Transforms
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>> 4.4.2.1.  Group SA Transforms
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> For "GSA Attributes":
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 10) Section 4.4.2. (2 instances)
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> |                                                               |
> >>>>>>>> ~                       <GSA Attributes>                        ~
> >>>>>>>> |                                                               |
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> GSA Attributes (variable):
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>> |                                                               |
> >>>>>>>> ~                    <Group SA Attributes>                      ~
> >>>>>>>> |                                                               |
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Group SA Attributes (variable):
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 11) Section 4.4.2.2. (4 instances), see also 4) above
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> 4.4.2.2.  GSA Attributes
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> GSA attributes are generally used to provide GMs with additional
> >>>>>>>> parameters for the GSA policy.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> |Value| GSA Attributes         |Format|Multi-Valued| Used in      |
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Table 5: GSA Attributes
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>> 4.4.2.2.  Group SA Attributes
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Group SA attributes are generally used to provide GMs with
> >>>>>>>> additional parameters for the group SA policy.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> |Value| Group SA Attributes    |Format|Multi-Valued| Used in      |
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Table 5: Group SA Attributes
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 12) Section 5 (2 instances)
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> | GSA Attributes (Section 4.4.2.2)                              |
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> | GSA Attributes (Section 4.4.2.2)                                 |
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>> | Group SA Attributes (Section 4.4.2.2)                            |
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> [...]
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> | Group SA Attributes (Section 4.4.2.2)                            |
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 13) Section 9.1 (2 instances)
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>> 3.  IANA has created the "Group SA Attributes" registry.  The 
> >>>>>>>> registration
> >>>>>>>>    policy for this registry is Expert Review [RFC8126].  The initial
> >>>>>>>>    values of the registry are as follows:
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>> +===========+======================+======+======+============+
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>     |Value      |Group SA Attributes   |Format|Multi-|Used in     |
> >>>>>>>>     |           |                      |      |Valued|Protocol    |
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Is this acceptable? Brian, Deb, your opinion?
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> And this would require to update IANA registries, since the name of 
> >>>>>>>> one
> >>>>
> >>>> is changed...
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Regards,
> >>>>>>>> Valery.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> I may not be tracking this issue correctly (and please correct me 
> >>>>>>>>> if I get
> >>>>
> >>>> this wrong).
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> I would make acronyms (like GSA) consistent within this
> >>>>>>>>> specification.  I would not worry, or consider what
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> other specifications use an acronym for some other expansion
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> (heck, I see GSA and think 'General Services Administration' - a US 
> >>>>>>>>> Fed
> >>>>
> >>>> organization).
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> Deb
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> On Thu, Oct 16, 2025 at 5:28 PM Brian Weis
> >>>>
> >>>> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>> HI Madison, Valery, Deb,
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> On Oct 9, 2025, at 7:29 AM, Madison Church
> >>>>
> >>>> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> Hi Valery,
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> Thank you for your reply! Please see inline.
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> On Oct 7, 2025, at 3:56 AM, Valery Smyslov <mailto:[email protected]>
> >>>>
> >>>> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Hi Madison,
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> thank you for this update, please see inline.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> Hi Valery and Brian,
> >>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> Thank you for your replies! We have posted updated files below.
> >>>>>>>>>>> We believe that there is now only one
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> outstanding
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> item to address (see inline).
> >>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>> I noticed that the following requesting change wasn't done:
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> 54) Section 4.4.1
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Group policies are comprised of two types: GSA policy and GW
> >>>>
> >>>> policy.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Perhaps it is not consistent, but I think that we should 
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> re-expand
> >>>>
> >>>> GW here (and perhaps GSA too).
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> GW is defined in the very beginning and is not used up to
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> this point, thus I think it would be helpful for readers to 
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> remind
> >>>>
> >>>> what it is.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Group policies are comprised of two types: group SA (GSA) 
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> policy
> >>>>
> >>>> and group-wide (GW) policy.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>> While I admit that the proposed text re-expanded the terms
> >>>>>>>>>>>>> that have already been expanded, the rationale for it is that
> >>>>>>>>>>>>> this expansion was ~30 pages before, and terms were not used
> >>>>
> >>>> since that, so re-expansion may help readers to refresh their memory. I 
> >>>> don't
> >>>> insist, but I think this is helpful.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Brian, Deb, your opinion?
> >>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>> I see no issue with re-expanding the terms, but if Madison 
> >>>>>>>>>>>> thinks it
> >>>>
> >>>> isn’t needed then let’s leave it be.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> 1) Thank you for pointing this out! This was actually meant to
> >>>>>>>>>>> be included in the followup questions sent on
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> 10/2,
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> but must have gotten lost due to the number of changes in the
> >>>>
> >>>> original thread. Apologies for missing this!
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> While making updates to this document, we noticed that there
> >>>>>>>>>>> seems to be two different expansions for GSA (Group Security
> >>>>>>>>>>> Association and group SA). Is this intentional, or may we make
> >>>>>>>>>>> this consistent by replacing instances of "group SA" with the
> >>>>>>>>>>> abbreviation "GSA"? If yes, may we also make the following
> >>>>>>>>>>> adjustment to
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> the
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> "NEW" text as shown below?
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> This is a very good point and indeed a point for some confusion.
> >>>>>>>>>> It is not intentional, the reason is the lack of
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> words
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> in authors' vocabulary (mostly me to blame) :-)
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> We have the following meanings:
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> - GSA (Group Security Association) - a collection of individual
> >>>>>>>>>> Security Associations (both Data-Security SAs
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> and Rekey SAs)
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> as defined in Section 1.2 (we also have GSA (Group Security
> >>>>>>>>>> Association) payload - this is just a name of a
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> payload).
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> - as for "group SA", - in the document this is used to refer to
> >>>>>>>>>> an individual Security Association within GSA (an
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> SA that belongs to a group).
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Perhaps this is a bad choice of words, but that is that. 
> >>>>>>>>>> Unfortunately,
> >>>>
> >>>> the abbreviation is the same - GSA...
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> I believe Brian is more experienced in the roots of these terms 
> >>>>>>>>>> and can
> >>>>
> >>>> comment on this.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> As mentioned in Section 1,"GSA (Group Security Association)"
> >>>>>>>> matches the definition in RFC 3740 (The
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Multicast Group Security Architecture), so this is indeed the most 
> >>>>>>> correct
> >>>>
> >>>> use of the GSA acronym.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Then RFC 4046 (Multicast Security (MSEC) Group Key Management
> >>>>>>>> Architecture) introduced the confusing
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> “group SA (GSA)” acronym, which somehow snuck into this document. I
> >>>>>>> note that GDOI (RFC 6407), the predecessor to G-IKEv2, does not use 
> >>>>>>> that
> >>>>
> >>>> term for “group SA”.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Thus, we have:
> >>>>>>>>>> - GSA - Group Security Association
> >>>>>>>>>> - GSA policy - group Security Association policy.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> This is indeed confusing.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Perhaps we can replace "GSA policy" with "group SA policy" for
> >>>>>>>>>> clarity (14 instances)? Brian, Deb, your
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> opinion?
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> But there are still "GSA transforms" (meaning group SA
> >>>>>>>>>> transforms) and "GSA Attributes" (group SA
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> attributes)...
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Any ideas?
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> There’s also the “GSA Payload”, but because it lists policy for a
> >>>>>>>> collection of SAs, which matches the intent of
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> the original definition.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> Thank you for the helpful explanation! We will wait for Brian’s
> >>>>>>>>> response/comments before making any updates
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> to the expansion of GSA.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> Thank you!
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> Madison Church
> >>>>>>>>> RFC Production Center
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> Perhaps:
> >>>>>>>>>>> Group policies are comprised of two types: Group Security
> >>>>>>>>>>> Association (GSA) policy and group-wide (GW)
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> policy.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Based on the distinction described above I think that the correct
> >>>>
> >>>> expanding here should be:
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> NEW:
> >>>>>>>>>> Group policies are comprised of two types: group SA (GSA) policy 
> >>>>>>>>>> and
> >>>>
> >>>> group-wide (GW) policy.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Rationale - the GSA policy here describes a single SA within a GSA.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> This would be the simplest change, and I do not believe that
> >>>>>>>> implementors would be confused by the duplicate
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> use of “GSA".  If we
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> were earlier on in the document process I might have suggested a
> >>>>>>>> term to more cleanly delineate this policy
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> element, but not now.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> I think in all three cases Valery mentioned (GSA policy, GSA
> >>>>>>>> transforms, GSA Attributes) the term “GSA” does
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> not modify
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> the word following, but is an equal part of the name of the object
> >>>>>>>> being referenced, if that makes sense. As
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> such, I don’t see
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> any problem leaving them as is, and simply add Valery’s NEW text 
> >>>>>>>> above.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Thanks,
> >>>>>>>> Brian
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Regards,
> >>>>>>>>>> Valery.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> Please review the document carefully to ensure satisfaction as
> >>>>>>>>>>> we do not make changes once it has been published as an RFC.
> >>>>>>>>>>> Contact us with any further updates or with your approval of the
> >>>>>>>>>>> document in its
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> current
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> form. We will await approvals from each author prior to moving
> >>>>
> >>>> forward in the publication process.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> Updated files have been posted below (please refresh):
> >>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.txt
> >>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.pdf
> >>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.html
> >>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.xml
> >>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> Updated diff files:
> >>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-diff.html
> >>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-rfcdiff.html (side by
> >>>>>>>>>>> side) https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-auth48diff.html
> >>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-auth48rfcdiff.html
> >>>>>>>>>>> (side by side)
> >>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastdiff.html (most
> >>>>>>>>>>> recent updates only)
> >>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastrfcdiff.html
> >>>>>>>>>>> (side by side)
> >>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> For the AUTH48 status page, please see: https://www.rfc-
> >>>>
> >>>> editor.org/auth48/rfc9838.
> >>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> Thank you!
> >>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> Madison Church
> >>>>>>>>>>> RFC Production Center

-- 
auth48archive mailing list -- [email protected]
To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]

Reply via email to