SimpleRPL is Linux-based implementation of the Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL) as defined in RFC 6550. It aims to complete the Linux Wireless Sensor Network ecosystem by bringing a (hopefully) fully-compliant RPL implementation.
- storing mode of operation with no multicast support (MOP value 2)
- act as a DODAG root or as a RPL router
- implement Objective function zero (RFC 6552). However, the rank increase is always a same fixed value. This is because there is no feedback from the layer 2 or the layer 3 (yet), meaning that there can be no indication on the link quality.
- store unbounded number of DIO parents
- store one DAO parent at time
- support multiple interfaces (i.e. node can act as a bridge between two link-layer technology)
- Routing metrics (as defined in RFC 6551) are not implemented, that is because there is currently no way to retrieve link quality information from IEEE 802.15.4 links
- no support for floating DODAG
- no support for security (hence, if it is required, it should be implemented at the Link-Layer)
- no support for leaf function
- no Path Control support in DAO messages
- only one DODAG root can exists in the network at once: if two root exists for the same DODAG, they will compete forever
- only one DODAG can be joined at once
SimpleRPL is written in Python 2.x and requires the following libraries to be installed:
- libnl3: a netlink library
- pyzmq: python bindings for the famous ZeroMQ library
- Routing: a python wrapper around libnl3 that can manage routes, addresses and link layer addresses
- RplIcmp: a python module that simplify operations through ICMP sockets in Python.
- python-zmq: Pythong binding for the Zero Message Queue (0mq) library
- python-argparse: a python argument parser module (only needed if your Python version is < 2.7)
From the root directory:
$ python setup.py install
You might prefer to build a package (so that you can easily deploy, upgrade or remove SimpleRPL). All you need to do, from the root directory, is:
$ python setup.py bdist_rpm
SimpleRPL has been designed to be configured only through command line arguments.
Here is a list of arguments recognized by simpleRPL:
$ simpleRPL.py --help
usage: simpleRPL.py [-h] [-d DODAGID] [-i IFACE] [-R] [-v] [-p PREFIX]
A simplistic RPL implementation
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
-d DODAGID, --dodagID DODAGID
RPL DODAG Identifier, has to be an IPv6 address that
is assigned on the node (optional)
-i IFACE, --iface IFACE
network interfaces that RPL will listen on
-R, --root indicates if the nodes is the DODAG Root
-v, --verbose verbose output
-p PREFIX, --prefix PREFIX
Routable prefix(es) that this node advertise (only for
DODAG root, optional)
Please note that due to its functioning SimpleRPL requires root access in the system.
If you want to start a RPL Router that listen on all interfaces:
$ simpleRPL.py
In this case the node will join the first DODAG it receives a DIO from.
If you want a more verbose output: turn on debugging with "-v" argument (can be repeated up to five times for a even more verbose output ("-vvvvv")).
A DODAG Root needs a global IPv6 address that is assigned on one of its interfaces as a DODAG ID Here is an example of a DODAG whose DODAG ID is 2001:aaaa::0202:0007:0001 (assigned on any of the interfaces) that advertised the 2001:aaaa::/64 prefix.
$ simpleRPL.py -vvvvv -R -d 2001:aaaa::0202:0007:0001 -p 2001:aaaa::
SimpleRPL comes with a companion tool that can talk to a running instance in order to retrieve internal values or to trigger some administration function (local repair, global repair, etc). This tool is name cliRPL.py.
When SimpleRPL is started, it binds an IPC socket to the current directory. This involves that cliRPL.py needs to be invoked in the same directory.
Getting the list of available commands:
$ cliRPL.py help
show-preferred-parent: List the currently preferred (DIO) parent
list-parents-verbose: List the (DIO) parents and their corresponding DODAG
list-downward-routes: List the downward routes for the currently active DODAG
local-repair: Trigger a local repair on the DODAG
list-routes: List the routes assigned by the RPL implementation
list-parents: List the (DIO) parents
show-current-dodag: Show the currently active DODAG
show-dao-parent: Show the DAO parent (for the currently active DODAG)
subdodag-dao-update: Trigger the DODAG to increase its DTSN so that the sub-dodag will send a DAO message
global-repair: Trigger a global repair on the DODAG (only valid for DODAG root)
list-dodag-cache: List the content of the DODAG cache
list-neighbors: List the neighbors
help: List this help
list-neighbors-verbose: List the neighbors and their corresponding DODAG
For example, if you want to trigger a global repair from the DODAG root:
$ cliRPL.py global-repair
global repair triggered, bumping new version for DODAG:
DODAGID: 2001:aaaa::202:7:1; new version: 241
No interoperability test has been performed for the moment. This is because the 6LoWPAN stack that ships with the Linux kernel currently suffers from some limitation. Once basic interoperability is achieved with other operating systems, such as Contiki, interoperability test will become the topmost priority.
SimpleRPL is expected to be run on a secure environment (either completely isolated, or using link-layer security). This is because we use it as a prototype implementation. There is a lot of case where the implementation will (purposely) stop working (because a function is not implemented yet). This means that someone with evil intents could craft packets designed to shut down the implementation.
- Tony Cheneau (tony.cheneau@nist.gov or tony.cheneau@amnesiak.org)
This work was supported by the Secure Smart Grid project at the Advanced Networking Technologies Division, NIST.
This software was developed by employees of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and others. This software has been contributed to the public domain. Pursuant to title 15 Untied States Code Section 105, works of NIST employees are not subject to copyright protection in the United States and are considered to be in the public domain. As a result, a formal license is not needed to use this software.
This software is provided "AS IS." NIST MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT AND DATA ACCURACY. NIST does not warrant or make any representations regarding the use of the software or the results thereof, including but not limited to the correctness, accuracy, reliability or usefulness of this software.