Link-Layer Software-Defined Addressing using Block Address Registration and Claiming (BARC)

Link layer network technology is evolving to take advantage of dynamic software-defined addressing (SDA). IEEE 802 standards have begun to support such an evolution by providing interoperable assignment of local addresses. This paper explores address assignment using the Block Address Registration and Claiming (BARC) protocol, under consideration in the P802.1 CQ standardization project. Application examples illustrate the use of BARC and its potential to support new link layer networking capabilities.