I do not think metadata changes the way configuration datastore
validation works.

/js

On Mon, Oct 26, 2015 at 07:10:56PM +0000, Alexander Clemm (alex) wrote:
> Hi Juergen,
> Understood, but this doesn't really address our problem here.  We want to see 
> how we can apply YANG to meet our needs, not the other way round.  Hence the 
> suggestion to explore the use of metadata here.
> --- Alex
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Juergen Schoenwaelder [mailto:[email protected]] 
> Sent: Monday, October 26, 2015 11:19 AM
> To: Alexander Clemm (alex) <[email protected]>
> Cc: Martin Bjorklund <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected]; 
> [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Kent 
> Watsen <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: [i2rs] WG LC for Topology (10/1 to 10/14)
> 
> In YANG, it is assumed that config true nodes exist in a datastore where all 
> config true nodes are treated the same. A datastore is the unit of validation 
> and we don't want to have a valid configuration datatore become invalid 
> arbitrarily. This is why config true nodes are not allowed to depend on 
> config false nodes (state data that can change arbitrarily).
> 
> /js
> 
> On Sat, Oct 24, 2015 at 01:15:55AM +0000, Alexander Clemm (alex) wrote:
> > Hi Martin,
> > 
> > maybe option 1 provides a way out here.  This also has the least impact on 
> > the existing design and implementation, hence preferable.  
> > 
> > However, I still feel that we are dealing with a limitation of the YANG 
> > framework here.  I think we are dealing with a use case that was not really 
> > foreseen in the YANG design, i.e. that we might run into data that has 
> > instances that can indeed be authoritatively owned by a server versus 
> > others representing more traditional configuration.  The one aspect that 
> > not really address by making it regular config concerns your assertion that 
> > "any other client can modify what this client wrote".  Access rights could 
> > provide a solution, but not in the way as currently defined via NACM, since 
> > we would need to differentiate access rights at the instance level, not at 
> > the module definition level.  Rather than seeing how we can make our 
> > requirements somehow fit a rigid interpretation of the YANG framework (that 
> > does not allow for special treatment / behavior of special cases), I would 
> > like to see whether the YANG framework can be flexible enough to still 
> > support what we are trying to do.  
> > 
> > Kent made what I thought was a very interesting suggestion at the interim, 
> > asking whether this would be an application for metadata.  I think this is 
> > something that we might leverage here.  We could introduce a metadata item 
> > that indicates for configuration information whether that was populated by 
> > a server, so really should not be modified by other clients (or, when 
> > modified, will presumably be "changed back" by the server).  Or, that might 
> > simply be locked by the server.  
> > 
> > Thoughts regarding that suggestion?
> > 
> > --- Alex
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Martin Bjorklund [mailto:[email protected]]
> > Sent: Friday, October 23, 2015 12:17 AM
> > To: Alexander Clemm (alex) <[email protected]>
> > Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; 
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; 
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
> > Subject: Re: [i2rs] WG LC for Topology (10/1 to 10/14)
> > 
> > "Alexander Clemm (alex)" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > Hi Martin,
> > > 
> > > We can nitpick over how to best express this
> > 
> > This isn't nitpicking; I am trying to understand what you had in mind.
> > 
> > And it seems Juergen is correct.  You essentially want to mix config and 
> > operational state in a single list.  This is not possible to express in 
> > YANG, so you change the semantics of the formal statements with 
> > descriptions.  I don't think this a good idea.
> > 
> > I can think of two alternatives to the current design that don't violate 
> > YANG:
> > 
> > 1)  Keep the single config true list, w/o the server-provided leaf,
> >     and explain in text that there might be a client
> >     "internal-to-the-server" that behaves just like any other client
> >     (specifically respects locks, makes sure the end result is
> >     valid, and any other client can modify what this client wrote
> >     (module access rights)).
> > 
> > 2)  Split the model into two, one config list and one oper list.
> >     References in the config list can either be by name (implicit) or
> >     use the new YANG 1.1 syntax "require-instance false";
> > 
> > 
> > /martin
> > 
> > > , but hopefully the
> > > general sense of what the requirement is and what I was trying to 
> > > express is clear.  You can have an outside client application 
> > > maintain some topologies / list elements, and have others maintained 
> > > an populated by the server - or arguably an app embedded in the server.
> > > The difference from the "normal" client is that really it is that we 
> > > want the server / embedded app that is the authoritative owner of 
> > > the information.
> > > 
> > > Cheers
> > > --- Alex
> > > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Martin Bjorklund [mailto:[email protected]]
> > > Sent: Monday, October 19, 2015 11:07 PM
> > > To: Alexander Clemm (alex) <[email protected]>
> > > Cc: [email protected]; [email protected];
> > > [email protected]; [email protected]; 
> > > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
> > > Subject: Re: [i2rs] WG LC for Topology (10/1 to 10/14)
> > > 
> > > "Alexander Clemm (alex)" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > Hi Martin,
> > > > 
> > > > "So how is the server-provided leaf supposed to be implemented, 
> > > > and how is it supposed to be used?"
> > > > 
> > > > When a network topology is populated by the server, the 
> > > > server-provided leaf is supposed to be set to true.
> > > 
> > > But you earlier wrote that when the server wants to change something 
> > > it would behave as a normal client.
> > > 
> > > > When a network topology is populated by a client app (through 
> > > > "regular" configuration), the server provided leaf is supposed to 
> > > > be set to false.
> > > > 
> > > > For any given network topology, when the corresponding 
> > > > "server-provided" leaf is set to "true", attempts to edit the 
> > > > configuration of that topology are to be rejected.
> > > 
> > > This also goes against what you acknowledged previously - "the 
> > > server-provided data can be modified by anyone with proper access 
> > > rights"
> > > 
> > > 
> > > /martin
> > > 
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Alternatives to the current design include making the leaf "config 
> > > > true", or moving it outside (just this leaf) for a list that 
> > > > indicates for each topology whether it is server-provided or not 
> > > > (in a separate "state" branch).
> > > > --- Alex
> > > > 
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Martin Bjorklund [mailto:[email protected]]
> > > > Sent: Monday, October 19, 2015 1:27 PM
> > > > To: Alexander Clemm (alex) <[email protected]>
> > > > Cc: [email protected]; [email protected];
> > > > [email protected]; [email protected]; 
> > > > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
> > > > Subject: Re: [i2rs] WG LC for Topology (10/1 to 10/14)
> > > > 
> > > > "Alexander Clemm (alex)" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > > Hi Martin,
> > > > > 
> > > > > One model for the data that is server-provided is to assume an 
> > > > > app (which could be embedded on the same server) that knows how 
> > > > > to discover the network, then populates the data accordingly.
> > > > > 
> > > > > [Of course, we would not want any random client app just being 
> > > > > able to "mess" with that data.  The expectation is generally 
> > > > > clearly access to this will be restricted / controlled.  The 
> > > > > topology instances that were populated by the "server-provided 
> > > > > app" should not be "touched" by other apps - it is the 
> > > > > "server-provided" app that is responsible for maintaining them.]
> > > > > 
> > > > > So I assume the answer to your question is "yes", but with a 
> > > > > bunch of caveats.
> > > > 
> > > > So how is the server-provided leaf supposed to be implemented, and 
> > > > how is it supposed to be used?
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > /martin
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > > --- Alex
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: i2rs [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Martin 
> > > > > Bjorklund
> > > > > Sent: Monday, October 19, 2015 11:32 AM
> > > > > To: Alexander Clemm (alex) <[email protected]>
> > > > > Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; 
> > > > > [email protected]; [email protected]; 
> > > > > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
> > > > > Subject: Re: [i2rs] WG LC for Topology (10/1 to 10/14)
> > > > > 
> > > > > Alex,
> > > > > 
> > > > > Is the idea that the server-provided data is normal config?  
> > > > > I.e., if the server wants to modify this data it behaves like a 
> > > > > normal client?
> > > > > (conceptually...)  And the server-provided data can be modified 
> > > > > by anyone with proper access rights?
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > /martin
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > "Alexander Clemm (alex)" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > > > Hi Juergen,
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > I think one of the key statements you make below is this:
> > > > > > " Recall also that YANG does not allow configuration data to 
> > > > > > depend on state data."
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Note that this is not the case in the current model.  The 
> > > > > > current model is essentially all configuration data.  Of 
> > > > > > course, we have this flag to indicate who supplied that data 
> > > > > > (and is hence maintaining it).
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > You argue that we should instead "split" the model and 
> > > > > > introduce operational data to reflect what is populated by the 
> > > > > > server.
> > > > > > However, doing that introduces precisely new issues - and you 
> > > > > > have just brought another argument why this may be a bad idea 
> > > > > > and may not even work.
> > > > > > Topologies _are_ layered, and we need to be able to express 
> > > > > > that in the model.  Now, if we have a topology that is 
> > > > > > server-provided, hence (per your statement) to be represented 
> > > > > > by operational data only, how do we build an overlay topology 
> > > > > > that is "configured" on top of it?  If the answer is "we 
> > > > > > can't, unless we replicate the server-provided topology into 
> > > > > > the network configuration (which makes no sense)", we are screwed.
> > > > > > Now, we might build it on top if we remove all references / 
> > > > > > dependencies on the underlay from the model and punt the 
> > > > > > problem to the user.  Basically, no longer have the model 
> > > > > > express vertical relationships.  Not a good solution, IMHO.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > How do you suggest we address this?  The ability to express 
> > > > > > layering relationships between topologies, including cases 
> > > > > > where topologies originate from different sources 
> > > > > > (discovered/server-provided vs configured), is a requirement.
> > > > > > It is not an artefact of our model, it is something that we 
> > > > > > need to capture as part of the model.  There may not be a 
> > > > > > "nice" way of doing this within the YANG framework, yet it is 
> > > > > > important that we find a way to do this.  The current solution 
> > > > > > to this
> > > > > > - having the model as configuration data, and including a 
> > > > > > parameter to indicate who supplies the data and is maintaining 
> > > > > > it
> > > > > > - appears to be cleanest and clearest solution (or perhaps the 
> > > > > > "least bad") that results in the model of least complexity.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Perhaps there is something we can simply change about the 
> > > > > > "server-provided" object to address your concerns?  We can 
> > > > > > make it config (to address your issue that triggered this, the 
> > > > > > presence of a r/o object in a tree that is otherwise r/w).
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Thoughts?
> > > > > > --- Alex
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > From: Juergen Schoenwaelder
> > > > > > [mailto:[email protected]]
> > > > > > Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2015 3:13 AM
> > > > > > To: Alexander Clemm (alex) <[email protected]>
> > > > > > Cc: Ladislav Lhotka <[email protected]>; [email protected]; Martin 
> > > > > > Bjorklund <[email protected]>; Andy Bierman <[email protected]>; 
> > > > > > 'Alia Atlas'
> > > > > > <[email protected]>; 'Jeffrey Haas' <[email protected]>; Susan 
> > > > > > Hares <[email protected]>
> > > > > > Subject: Re: [i2rs] WG LC for Topology (10/1 to 10/14)
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > On Thu, Oct 15, 2015 at 10:59:31PM +0000, Alexander Clemm 
> > > > > > (alex)
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > Hello Juergen,
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > responses inline, delimited with <ALEX>
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > --- Alex
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > > From: Juergen Schoenwaelder
> > > > > > > [mailto:[email protected]]
> > > > > > > Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2015 11:35 PM
> > > > > > > To: Alexander Clemm (alex) <[email protected]>
> > > > > > > Cc: Susan Hares <[email protected]>; Andy Bierman 
> > > > > > > <[email protected]>; [email protected]; Martin Bjorklund 
> > > > > > > <[email protected]>; Ladislav Lhotka <[email protected]>; 'Alia Atlas'
> > > > > > > <[email protected]>; 'Jeffrey Haas'
> > > > > > > <[email protected]>
> > > > > > > Subject: Re: [i2rs] WG LC for Topology (10/1 to 10/14)
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > On Fri, Oct 09, 2015 at 09:55:19PM +0000, Alexander Clemm
> > > > > > > (alex)
> > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > The only item in the topology that is read-only concerns 
> > > > > > > > the "server-provided" flag, but this concerns a separate 
> > > > > > > > issue that was also discussed (I am not sure if this is 
> > > > > > > > what you are referring to).
> > > > > > > > It is analogous to the other discussion concerning 
> > > > > > > > distinguishing configuration that has been intended, 
> > > > > > > > versus one that is in effect etc .  This concerns the 
> > > > > > > > issue that some topologies are populated by the server 
> > > > > > > > whereas some topologies can be populated by client applications.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Yes, this is what the concern is about.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > We have had discussions in the past whether to "split this 
> > > > > > > > up", having a (rw) branch to populate "intended" 
> > > > > > > > topologies and a
> > > > > > > > (ro) branch for topologies "in effect".
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > This is the normal way to do this in YANG. And this goes 
> > > > > > > back to what was driving us for years, namely to clearly 
> > > > > > > separate config from state. This module makes this 
> > > > > > > distinction a runtime property controlled by a data model 
> > > > > > > specific mechanism. None of the generic tools out there will be 
> > > > > > > able to understand this.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > <ALEX>
> > > > > > > I think the issue is more related to the current discussion 
> > > > > > > with regards to openconfig and "intended configuration" and 
> > > > > > > "applied configuration".  If YANG had an existing solution 
> > > > > > > for this, we would not have this discussion.  The reason I 
> > > > > > > believe this is similar is that you can view the "applied 
> > > > > > > configuration" as the "server-provided configuration" 
> > > > > > > (network topology, in our case), and the "intended 
> > > > > > > configuration" as the, well, configured or intended network 
> > > > > > > topology in our case.  That said, the issue is not identical
> > > > > > > - whereas in the openconfig case every "applied configuration" 
> > > > > > > has an accompanying "intended configuration", in our case 
> > > > > > > this is not necessarily the case
> > > > > > > - you can have "applied" [network topologies] that were 
> > > > > > > provided by the server / the network itself, not configured by 
> > > > > > > anybody.
> > > > > > > </ALEX>
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > I think this has nothing to do with intended or applied config. 
> > > > > > Your 'server supplied topology' appears to me to be 
> > > > > > operational state and not configuration data.
> > > > > >  
> > > > > > > > We decided against it for various reasons - every piece of 
> > > > > > > > information would essentially be duplicated inside the 
> > > > > > > > model (this is not your normal config vs oper data 
> > > > > > > > distinction, but would essentially reflect a limitation of 
> > > > > > > > the framework), leading to unnecessary additional 
> > > > > > > > complexity in the model (every augmentation has to be 
> > > > > > > > conducted in two places), more complex validation rules, etc.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > I do not understand why this is not a normal config vs oper 
> > > > > > > data distinction. Please explain.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > <ALEX>
> > > > > > > A normal distinction would be e.g. the type of model we have 
> > > > > > > in RFC
> > > > > > > 7233 - separate trees with distinct data, some clearly part 
> > > > > > > of configuration, other clearly operational data.
> > > > > > > In this case, this is different.  You have the same data.  
> > > > > > > However, in some cases it is populated by a client, in other 
> > > > > > > cases by the server.
> > > > > > > YANG requires the categorization of data as config false or true. 
> > > > > > >  
> > > > > > > In this case, this categorization does not always apply - 
> > > > > > > or, the categorization depends on the particular instance.
> > > > > > > </ALEX>
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > So you have operational state which is partially populated by 
> > > > > > the server and partially populated from config. I fail to see 
> > > > > > how this is any different from other cases, including network 
> > > > > > interfaces as defined in RFC 7233. Recall also that YANG does 
> > > > > > not allow configuration data to depend on state data.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > > I do not understand how this leads to more complex validation 
> > > > > > > rules.
> > > > > > > Please explain.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > <ALEX>
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > One example concerns the supporting nodes/links/TPs.  
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > We want to be able to express that, for example, a node in 
> > > > > > > one network is supported by a node in an underlay network.  
> > > > > > > For this purpose, we are referencing a node in another (underlay) 
> > > > > > > network.
> > > > > > > So that we cannot reference an arbitrary node in an 
> > > > > > > arbitrary network, we want to make sure that the supporting 
> > > > > > > node is part of a "supporting-network"
> > > > > > > of the same network.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Currently, we have the following definition:
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > >    list supporting-node {
> > > > > > >         key "network-ref node-ref";
> > > > > > >         description
> > > > > > >           "Represents another node, in an underlay network, that 
> > > > > > >            this node is supported by.  Used to represent layering 
> > > > > > >            structure.";
> > > > > > >         leaf network-ref {
> > > > > > >           type leafref {
> > > > > > >             path "../../../supporting-network/network-ref";
> > > > > > >           }
> > > > > > >           description
> > > > > > >             "References the underlay network that the 
> > > > > > >              underlay node is part of.";
> > > > > > >         }
> > > > > > >         leaf node-ref {
> > > > > > >           type leafref {
> > > > > > >             path "/network/node/node-id";
> > > > > > >           }
> > > > > > >           description
> > > > > > >             "References the underlay node itself.";
> > > > > > >         }
> > > > > > /
> > > > > > >       }
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > If we were to split the model, when we configure a node, we 
> > > > > > > will have to account for the fact that the supporting node 
> > > > > > > could be either part of a "configured" network itself, or of 
> > > > > > > a network that has been "server-provided".  That is, we need 
> > > > > > > to be able to allow for both possibilities.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Again note that YANG requires that configuration data does not 
> > > > > > depend on state data. You seem to be breaking this rule, no?
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > > To do this, we would no longer be able to have the 
> > > > > > > network-ref to be part of the key for supporting-node - we 
> > > > > > > would have to replace network-ref with a choice of two nodes 
> > > > > > > that reference either a server-provided network ("branch 
> > > > > > > 1"), or a configured network ("branch 2").  As a result, we 
> > > > > > > will have to introduce a separate way to reference elements in 
> > > > > > > list supporting-node.
> > > > > > > All of this results in considerable additional complexity.  
> > > > > > > Or do you see an easier way?
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > </ALEX>
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > I do not think this is the solution. YANG requires that 
> > > > > > constraints on config true nodes can only refer to other 
> > > > > > config true nodes in the datastore where the node with the 
> > > > > > constraint exists. See section
> > > > > > 7.5.3 and section 7.19.5. And concerning leafref, section 9.9 
> > > > > > says that a leafref may only point to configuration. I believe 
> > > > > > this I-D is violating the distinction between configuration and 
> > > > > > state data.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > /js
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > -- 
> > > > > > Juergen Schoenwaelder           Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH
> > > > > > Phone: +49 421 200 3587         Campus Ring 1 | 28759 Bremen | 
> > > > > > Germany
> > > > > > Fax:   +49 421 200 3103         <http://www.jacobs-university.de/>
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > i2rs mailing list
> > > > > [email protected]
> > > > > https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/i2rs
> > > > > 
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > i2rs mailing list
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> > > > > https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/i2rs
> > > > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> 
> -- 
> Juergen Schoenwaelder           Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH
> Phone: +49 421 200 3587         Campus Ring 1 | 28759 Bremen | Germany
> Fax:   +49 421 200 3103         <http://www.jacobs-university.de/>

-- 
Juergen Schoenwaelder           Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH
Phone: +49 421 200 3587         Campus Ring 1 | 28759 Bremen | Germany
Fax:   +49 421 200 3103         <http://www.jacobs-university.de/>

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