Cisco Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP)

Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP) is routing architecture that provides new semantics for IP addressing. The current IP routing and addressing architecture uses a single numbering space, the IP address, to express two pieces of information:

• Device identity
• The way the device attaches to the network

The LISP routing architecture design separates the device identity, or endpoint identifier (EID), from its location, or routing locator (RLOC), into two different numbering spaces. Splitting EID and RLOC functions yields several advantages.

Simplify Routing Operations

LISP enables enterprises and service providers to:

• Simplify multihomed routing
• Facilitate scalable any-to-any WAN connectivity
• Support data center virtual machine mobility

Improve Scalability and Support

LISP routing architecture also:

• Improves scalability of the routing system through greater aggregation of RLOCs
• Optimizes IP routing for both IPv4 and IPv6 hosts
• Reduces operational complexities

LISP can be gradually introduced into an existing IP network without affecting the network endpoints or hosts.

LISP is a Cisco innovation that is being promoted as an open standard. Cisco participates in standards bodies such as the IETF LISP Working Group to develop the LISP architecture.