[NetworkRoutes] next_id attribute about netjson HOT 5 OPEN

we were discussing the possibility of implementing the following changes in NetworkRoutes:

• rename "destination" to "destination_address"
• add "destination_id"
• rename "next" to "next_address"
• add "next_id"

And in "NetworkGraph":

• rename "source" to "source_address"
• add "source_id"
• rename "target" to "target_address"
• add "target_id"

Question:

• Are you (plural you) sure of wanting to add more attributes?

if yes:

• Should the new attributes be mandatory or optional?
• Can we avoid the renaming by keeping the attribute name without the
  "_address" suffix? We can write in the spec that those attributes
  without the suffix refer to addresses by default, while the ones
  with "_id" suffix refer to the "router_id"

Reference: https://lists.funkfeuer.at/pipermail/interop-dev/2015-August/000498.html

from netjson.

This attribute would suits also Babeld's needs, according to @jech in
https://lists.funkfeuer.at//pipermail/interop-dev/2015-August/000505.html

from netjson.

Should the new attributes be mandatory or optional?

All attributes should be optional, since any attribute will be difficult to provide by some software.

Can we avoid the renaming by keeping the attribute name without the "_address" suffix? We can write in the spec that those attributes without the suffix refer to addresses by default, while the ones with "_id" suffix refer to the "router_id"

Yes.

from netjson.

To recap, it seems there is consensus on adding the following OPTIONAL attributes:

NetworkRoutes:

• destination_id
• next_id

NetworkGraph:

• source_id
• target_id

@jech would this change make NetJSON compatible with Babel and other vector distance protocols?

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"All data optional" means no automatic processing.

We need mandatory values which allow us to move from one part of the data to the other one.

the "id" fields would allow us to connect nodes and edges... if a routing protocol does not use special id's, it can just repeat the address (as long as its unique).

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