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Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

Contents

Prerequisites for the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

Restrictions for the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

Information About the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

Traffic Classification Definition Files for the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

Protocol Header Definition Files for Traffic Classification Definitions

Traffic Classification Description File Format and Use

Traffic Class Definitions for a Traffic Classification Definition File

Class Element Attributes for a Traffic Classification Definition File

Match Element for a Traffic Classification Definition File

Operator Element Attributes for a Traffic Classification Definition File

Policy Definitions for a Traffic Classification Definition File

Policy Element Attributes for a Traffic Classification Definition File

Action Element for a Traffic Classification Definition File

How to Create and Load Traffic Classification Definition Files for the FPM XML Configuration

Creating a Traffic Classification Definition File for the FPM XML Configuration

Traffic Classification Definition File Syntax Guidelines

Loading a Traffic Classification Definition File for the FPM XML Configuration

Examples

What to Do Next

Associating a Traffic Classification Definition File with an Interface or Subinterface

Prerequisites

Displaying TCDF-Defined Traffic Classes and Policies

Configuration Examples for Creating and Loading Traffic Classification Definition Files for the FPM XML Configuration

Creating and Loading a Traffic Classification Definition File for Slammer Packets for the FPM XML Configuration: Example

Creating and Loading a Traffic Classification Definition File for MyDoom Packets for the FPM XML Configuration: Example

Additional References

Related Documents

Standards

MIBs

RFCs

Technical Assistance

Command Reference

load classification

Glossary

Feature Information for Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration


Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

First Published: March 3, 2006
Last Updated: March 3, 2006

The Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration feature allows the use of eXtensible Markup Language (XML) to define traffic classes and actions (policies) to assist in blocking network attacks. The XML file used by Flexible Packet Matching (FPM) is called the traffic classification definition file (TCDF).

The TCDF gives you an alternative to the command-line interface (CLI) as a method to define traffic classification behavior. Traffic classification behavior is identical regardless of the method you use.

Finding Feature Information in This Module

Your Cisco IOS software release may not support all of the features documented in this module. To reach links to specific feature documentation in this module and to see a list of the releases in which each feature is supported, use the "Feature Information for Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration" section.

Finding Support Information for Platforms and Cisco IOS Software Images

Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco IOS software image support. Access Cisco Feature Navigator at http://www.cisco.com/go/fn. You must have an account on Cisco.com. If you do not have an account or have forgotten your username or password, click Cancel at the login dialog box and follow the instructions that appear.

Contents

•Prerequisites for the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

•Restrictions for the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

•Information About the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

•How to Create and Load Traffic Classification Definition Files for the FPM XML Configuration

•Configuration Examples for Creating and Loading Traffic Classification Definition Files for the FPM XML Configuration

•Additional References

•Command Reference

•Glossary

•Feature Information for Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

Prerequisites for the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

The Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration feature has the following prerequisites:

•A protocol header definition file (PHDF) relevant to the TCDF must be loaded on the router.

•Although access to an XML editor is not required, using one might make the creation of the TCDF easier.

•You must be familiar with XML file syntax.

Restrictions for the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

TCDF Image Restriction

TCDF is part of the FPM subsystem. FPM is not included in the Cisco 871 securityk9 image; therefore, TCDF parsing is not present in the Cisco 871 securityk9 image.

The Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration has the following restrictions:

•The FPM TCDF cannot be used to mitigate an attack that requires stateful classification.

•Because FPM is stateless, it cannot keep track of port numbers being used by protocols that dynamically negotiate ports. Thus, when using the FPM TCDF, port numbers must be explicitly specified.

•FPM cannot perform IP fragmentation or TCP flow reassembly.

Information About the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

Before you create and load the TCDF XML configuration files for use with FPM, you should understand the following concepts.

•Traffic Classification Definition Files for the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

•Protocol Header Definition Files for Traffic Classification Definitions

•Traffic Classification Description File Format and Use

•Traffic Class Definitions for a Traffic Classification Definition File

•Policy Definitions for a Traffic Classification Definition File

Traffic Classification Definition Files for the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

FPM uses a TCDF to define policies that can block attacks on the network. FPM is a packet classification feature that allows users to define one or more classes of network traffic by pairing a rich set of standard matching operators with user-defined protocol header fields. FPM users can create their own stateless packet classification criteria and define policies with multiple actions (such as drop, log, or send Internet Control Message Protocol [ICMP] unreachable) to immediately block new viruses, worms, and attacks on the network.

Before the release of the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration feature, FPM defined traffic classes (class maps), policies (policy maps), and service policies (attach policy maps to a class maps) through the use of CLI commands. With TCDFs, FPM can use XML as an alternative to the CLI to define classes of traffic and specify actions to apply to the traffic classes. Traffic classification behavior is the same whether you create the behavior using a TCDF or configure it using CLI commands. Once a TCDF is created, it can be loaded on any FPM-enabled device in the network.

For more information on FPM, see the Flexible Packet Matching feature module.

Protocol Header Definition Files for Traffic Classification Definitions

TCDFs require that a relevant PHDF is already loaded on the device. A PHDF defines each field contained in the header of a particular protocol. Each field is described with a name, optional comment, an offset (the location of the protocol header field in relation to the start of the protocol header), and the length of the field. The total length is specified at the end of each PHDF.

The description of a traffic class in a TCDF file can contain header fields defined in a PHDF. If the PHDF is loaded on the router, the class specification to match begins with a list of the protocol headers in the packet. In the TCDF, the traffic class is associated with a policy that binds the match to an action, such as drop, log, or send ICMP unreachable.

FPM provides ready-made definitions for these standard protocols, which can be loaded onto the router with the load protocol command: ether.phdf, ip.phdf, tcp.phdf, and udp.phdf. You can also write your own custom PHDFs using XML if one is required for the TCDF.

Note Because PHDFs are defined via XML, they are not shown in a running configuration.

For more information about PHDFs, see the Flexible Packet Matching feature module.

Traffic Classification Description File Format and Use

In the TCDF, you can define one or more classes of traffic and policies that describe specified actions for each class of traffic. The TCDF is an XML file that you create in a text file or with an XML editor. The file that you create must have a filename that has the .tcdf extension.

The TCDF has the following basic format. XML tags are shown in bold text for example purposes only. 

<tdcf>

       <class ...> ... </class>

         ...

       <policy> ... </policy>

         ...

</tdcf>

For a traffic class, you can identify a match for any field or fields against any part of the packet.

Note FPM is stateless and cannot be used to mitigate an attack that requires stateful classification, that is classify across IP fragments, across packets in a TCP stream, or peer-to-peer protocol elements.

Policies can be anything from access control, quality of service (QoS), or even routing decisions. For FPM, the associated actions (policies) might include permit, drop, log, or send ICMP unreachable.

Once loaded, the TCDF-defined classes and policies can be applied to any interface or subinterface and behave in an identical manner as the CLI-defined classes and policies. You can define policies in the TCDF and apply then to any entry point to the network to block new attacks.

Traffic Class Definitions for a Traffic Classification Definition File

A class can be any traffic stream of interest. You define a traffic stream of interest by matching a particular interface or port, a source address or destination IP address, a protocol or an application. The following sections contain information you should understand before you define the traffic class in the TCDF for FPM configuration:

•Class Element Attributes for a Traffic Classification Definition File

•Match Element for a Traffic Classification Definition File

•Operator Element Attributes for a Traffic Classification Definition File

Class Element Attributes for a Traffic Classification Definition File

Table 1 lists and describes the attributes that you can associate with the class element in a TCDF for the FPM XML configuration. The class element contains attributes you can use to specify the traffic class name, its description and type, where to look in the packet, what kind of match, and when the actions should apply to the traffic.

Table 1 Attributes for Use with the Class Element in a TCDF for the FPM XML
Configuration 

Attribute Name
Use
Type

name (required)

Specifies the name of the class.

Note When you use the class element inside policy elements, you need specify the name attribute only.

String

type (required)

Specifies the type of class.

Keywords: stack or access-control

stack start

Specifies where to look in the packet. By default, the match starts at Layer 3.

Keyword: l2-start

match

Specifies the type of match to be performed on the class.

Keywords: all or any

•all—All class matches must be met to perform the policy actions.

•any—One or more matches within the class must be met to perform the policy actions.

undo

Directs the device to remove the class-map when set to true.

Keywords: true or false


For example, XML syntax for a stack class describing an IP, User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Simple Management Protocol (SNMP) stack might look like this: 

<class name="snmp-stack" type="stack">

    <match>

       <eq field="ip.protocol" value="x"></eq>

       <eq field="udp.dport" value="161"></eq>

    </match>

</class>

Match Element for a Traffic Classification Definition File

The match element in the TCDF for FPM XML configuration contains operator elements. Operator elements are the following: eq (equal to), neq (not equal to), lt (less than), gt (greater than), range (a value in a specific range, for example, range 1 - 25), and regex (regular expression string with a maximum length of 32 characters).

In following sections, these various operators are collectively called the operator element.

Operator Element Attributes for a Traffic Classification Definition File

Table 2 lists and describes direct matching attributes that you can associate with the operator element in a TCDF for the FPM XML configuration.

Table 2 Direct Matching Attributes to Use with a Match Element in a TCDF for the FPM XML Configuration 

Attribute Name
Use
Type

start

Begin the match on a predefined keyword or Protocol.Field, if given.

Keyword: l2-start or l3-start

Otherwise, a field of a protocol as defined in the PHDF, for example, the source field in the IP protocol.

offset

Used with start attribute. Offset from the start point.

Hexadecimal or decimal number, or string constants, Protocol.Field, or combination of a constant and Protocol.Field with +, -, *, /, &, or |.

size

Used together with start and offset attributes. How much to match.

Specifies the size of the match in bytes.

mask

Number specifying bits to be matched in protocol or field attributes.

Used exclusively with field type of bitset to specify the bits of interest in a bit map.

Decimal or hexadecimal number

value

Value on which to match.

String, number, or regular expression

field

Specifies the name of the field to be compared.

Name of field as defined in the PHDF

next

Identifies the next layer of the protocol. This attribute can be used only in stack type classes.

Keyword that is the name of a protocol defined in the PHDF.

undo

Directs the device to remove the particular match operator when set to true.

Keywords: true or false


Policy Definitions for a Traffic Classification Definition File

A policy is any action that you apply to a class. You should understand the following information before defining the policy in a TCDF for the FPM XML configuration:

•Policy Element Attributes for a Traffic Classification Definition File

•Action Element for a Traffic Classification Definition File

Policy Element Attributes for a Traffic Classification Definition File

Policies can be anything from access control, QoS, or even routing decisions. For FPM, the associated actions or policies might include drop, log, or send ICMP unreachable. Policies describe the action to take to mitigate attacks on the network.

Table 3 lists and describes the attributes that you can use with the policy element in the TDCF for FPM XML configuration.

Table 3 Attributes for Use with the Policy Element in a TCDF for the FPM XML Configuration 

Attribute Name
Use
Type

name

Name of the policy.

String

type

Specifies the type of policy map.

Keyword: access-control

undo

Directs the device to remove the policy map when set to true.

Keywords: true or false


The policy name in this example is sql-slammer, and the action defined for the policy is to drop the packet. This action is to be applied to the class that has the same name as the policy (class name= "sql-slammer"). 

<policy name="sql-slammer">

    <class name="sql-slammer"></class>

    <action>drop</action>

</policy>

Action Element for a Traffic Classification Definition File

The action element is used to specify actions to associate with a policy. The policy with the action element is applied to a defined class. The action element can contain any of the following: permit, drop, Log, SendBackIcmp, set, RateLimit, alarm, ResetTcpConnection, and DropFlow. For example: 

<action>

   log

</action>

How to Create and Load Traffic Classification Definition Files for the FPM XML Configuration

Perform the following tasks to create and load TCDFs for the FPM XML configuration. You can define traffic classes and policies with multiple actions (such as drop, log, or send Internet Control Message Protocol [ICMP] unreachable) in a TCDF to assist in the blocking of new viruses, worms, and attacks on the network.

•Creating a Traffic Classification Definition File for the FPM XML Configuration (required)

•Loading a Traffic Classification Definition File for the FPM XML Configuration (required)

•Associating a Traffic Classification Definition File with an Interface or Subinterface (required)

•Displaying TCDF-Defined Traffic Classes and Policies (optional)

Creating a Traffic Classification Definition File for the FPM XML Configuration

Perform the following task to create a TCDF for FPM XML configuration. The TCDF is used to define traffic classes and the associated policies with specified actions for the purpose of blocking new viruses, worms, and attacks on the network.

The TCDF is configured in a text or XML editor. The syntax of the TCDF must comply with the XML Version 1.0 syntax and the TCDF schema. For information about Version 1.0 XML syntax, see the document at the following url:

http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-xml/

Traffic Classification Definition File Syntax Guidelines

The following list describes required and optional syntax for the TCDF:

•The TCDF filename must end in the .tcdf extension, for example, sql_slammer.tcdf.

•The TCDF contains descriptions for one or more traffic classes and one or more policy actions.

•The file is encoded in the XML notation.

•The TCDF file should begin with the following version encoding:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

SUMMARY STEPS

1. Open a text file or an XML editor and begin the file with the XML version and encoding declaration.

2. Identify the file as a TCDF.

3. Define the traffic class of interest.

4. Identify matching criteria for the defined class of traffic.

5. Define the action to apply to the defined class.

6. End the traffic classification definition.

7. Save the TCDF file with a filename that has a .tcdf extension.

DETAILED STEPS

Step 1 Open a text file or an XML editor and begin the file with the XML version and encoding declaration. 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

Step 2 Identify the file as a TCDF. For example: 

<tcdf>

Step 3 Define the traffic class of interest.

For example, a stack class describing an IP and UDP stack might be described as follows. In this example, the name of the traffic class is "ip-udp," and the class type is "stack." 

<class name="ip-udp" type="stack"></class>

In the following example, the name of the traffic class is slammer, the class type is access control, and the match criteria is all: 

<class name="slammer" type="access-control" match="all"></class>

Step 4 Identify matching criteria for the defined classes of traffic. For example: 

    <class name="ip-udp" type="stack">

       <match> 

          <eq field="ip.protocol" value="0x11" next="udp"></eq>

       </match>

    </class> 


    <class name="slammer" type="access-control" match="all">

       <match> 

          <eq field="udp.dest-port" value="0x59A"></eq>

          <eq field="ip.length" value="0x194"></eq>

          <eq start="l3-start" offset="224" size="4" value="0x00401010"></eq>

       </match>

    </class>

The traffic of interest in this TCDF matches fields defined in the PHDF files, ip.phdf and udp.phdf. The matching criteria for slammer packets is a UDP destination port number 1434 (0x59A), an IP length not to exceed 404 (0x194) bytes, and a Layer 3 position with a pattern 0x00401010 at 224 bytes from start (offset) of the IP header.

Step 5 Define the action to apply to the defined class. For example: 

<policy name="fpm-udp-policy">

    <class name="slammer"></class>

    <action>Drop</action>

</policy>

The policy name in this example is fpm-udp-policy, and the action defined for the policy is to drop the packet. This action is to be applied to the class that has the name slammer.

Step 6 End the traffic classification definition. For example: 

</tcdf>

Step 7 Save the TCDF file with a filename that has a .tcdf extension, for example: slammer.tcdf.

Loading a Traffic Classification Definition File for the FPM XML Configuration

Perform this task to load a TCDF for the FPM XML configuration. After the TCDF is successfully loaded, you can use service-policy CLI to attach TCDF policies to a specific interface or interfaces (see the "Associating a Traffic Classification Definition File with an Interface or Subinterface" section).

SUMMARY STEPS

1. enable

2. show protocol phdf protocol-name

3. configure terminal

4. load protocol location:filename

5. load classification location:filename

6. end

7. show class-map [type {stack | access-control}] [class-map-name]

DETAILED STEPS

 
Command or Action
Purpose

Step 1 

enable

Example:

Router> enable

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

•Enter your password if prompted.

Step 2 

show protocol phdf protocol-name

Example:

Router# show protocol phdf ip

Displays protocol information from a specific PHDF.

•Use this command to verify that a PHDF file relevant to the TCDF is loaded on the device.

Step 3 

configure terminal

Example:

Router# configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.

Step 4 

load protocol location:filename

Example:

Router(config)# load protocol localdisk1:ip.phdf

(Optional) Loads a PHDF onto a router.

•The specified location must be local to the router.

Note If the required PHDF is already loaded on the router (see Step 2), skip this step and proceed to Step 5).

Step 5 

load classification location:filename

Example:

Router(config)# load classification localdisk1:slammer.tcdf

Loads a TCDF onto a router.

•The specified location must be local to the router.

Step 6 

end

Example:

Router(config)# end

Exits to privileged EXEC mode.

Step 7 

show class-map [type {stack | access-control}] [class-map-name]

Example:

Router# show class-map sql-slammer

(Optional) Displays a class map and its matching criteria.

•Use this command to verify that a class defined in the TCDF file is available on the device.

•The class-map-name argument is the name of a class in the TCDF.

Examples

The following is sample output from a show class-map command that displays the traffic classes defined in the TCDF after it is loaded on the router: 

Router# show class-map

.

.

.

class-map type stack match-all ip-udp

   match field IP protocol eq 0x11 next UDP


class-map type access-control match-all slammer 

   match field UDP dest-port eq 0x59A 

   match field IP length eq 0x194 

   match start l3-start offset 224 size 4 eq 0x4011010 

.

.

.

What to Do Next

After you have defined the TCDF, you must apply that policy to an interface as shown in the following task "Associating a Traffic Classification Definition File with an Interface or Subinterface."

Associating a Traffic Classification Definition File with an Interface or Subinterface

Perform the following task to associate a TCDF with an interface or subinterface.

After the TCDF is loaded, traffic classification behavior defined using the TCDF is identical to the same behavior defined using the CLI.

Prerequisites

The TCDP and FPM must be configured on the device.

SUMMARY STEPS

1. enable

2. configure terminal

3. interface type slot/port

4. service-policy [type access-control] {input | output} policy-map-name

5. end

6. show policy-map interface [type access-control] interface-name slot/port [input | output]

DETAILED STEPS

 
Command or Action
Purpose

Step 1 

enable

Example:

Router> enable

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

•Enter your password if prompted.

Step 2 

configure terminal

Example:

Router# configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.

Step 3 

interface type slot/port

Example:

Router(config)# interface gigabitEthernet 0/1

Configures an interface type and enters interface configuration mode.

Step 4 

service-policy [type access-control] {input | output} policy-map-name

Example:

Router(config-if)# service-policy type access-control input sql-slammer

Specifies the type and the name of the traffic policy to be attached to the input or output direction of an interface.

•The policy-map-name argument is the name of a policy in the TCDF.

Step 5 

end

Example:

Router(config-if)# end

Exits to privileged EXEC mode.

Step 6 

show policy-map interface [type access-control] interface-name slot/port [input | output]

Example:

Router# show policy-map interface gigabitEthernet 0/1

(Optional) Displays the packet statistics of all classes that are configured for all service policies either on the specified interface or subinterface.

•Use this command to verify that policy defined in TCDF is associated with the named interface.

Displaying TCDF-Defined Traffic Classes and Policies

Perform this task to display TCDF-defined traffic classes and policies.

SUMMARY STEPS

1. enable

2. show class-map [type {stack | access-control}] [class-map-name]

3. show class-map type stack [class-map-name]

4. show class-map type access-control [class-map-name]

5. show policy-map [policy-map]

6. exit

DETAILED STEPS

Step 1 enable

Use this command to enable privileged EXEC mode. Enter your password if prompted. For example: 

Router> enable

Router#

Step 2 show class-map [type {stack | access-control}] [class-map-name]

Use this command to verify that a class defined in the TCDF file is available on the device. For example: 

Router# show class-map 

.

.

.

class-map type stack match-all ip-udp

   match field IP protocol eq 0x11 next UDP


class-map type access-control match-all slammer 

   match field UDP dest-port eq 0x59A 

   match field IP length eq 0x194 

   match start l3-start offset 224 size 4 eq 0x4011010 

.

.

.

Step 3 show class-map type stack [class-map name]

Use this command to display the stack type defined for the class of traffic in the TCDF file. For example: 

Router# show class-map type stack ip-udp


class-map type stack match-all ip-udp

   match field IP protocol eq 0x11 next UDP

Step 4 show class-map type access-control [class-map-name]

Use this command to display the access type defined for the class in the TCDF file. For example: 

Router# show class-map type access-control slammer


class-map type access-control match-all slammer 

   match field UDP dest-port eq 0x59A 

   match field IP length eq 0x194 

   match start l3-start offset 224 size 4 eq 0x4011010

Step 5 show policy-map [policy-map]

Use this command to display the contents of a policy map defined in the TCDF. For example: 

Router# show policy-map fpm-udp-policy


policy-map type access-control fpm-udp-policy 

  class slammer 

    drop

Step 6 exit

Use this command to exit to user EXEC mode. For example: 

Router# exit

Router>

Configuration Examples for Creating and Loading Traffic Classification Definition Files for the FPM XML Configuration

This section contains the following configuration examples:

•Creating and Loading a Traffic Classification Definition File for Slammer Packets for the FPM XML Configuration: Example

•Creating and Loading a Traffic Classification Definition File for MyDoom Packets for the FPM XML Configuration: Example

Note The TCDF files are created in a text file or with an XML editor. In the following examples, XML tags are shown in bold text and field names in italic text. The values for the attributes are entered in quotation marks ("value").

Creating and Loading a Traffic Classification Definition File for Slammer Packets for the FPM XML Configuration: Example

The following example shows how to create and load a TCDF for slammer packets (UDP 1434) for the FPM configuration. The match criteria defined within the class element is for slammer packets with an IP length not to exceed 404 (0x194) bytes, UDP destination port 1434 (0x59A), and pattern 0x00401010 at 224 bytes from start of IP header. This example also shows how to define the policy "sql-slammer" with the action to drop slammer packets. 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<tcdf>

    <class name="ip-udp" type="stack">

       <match> 

          <eq field="ip.protocol" value="0x11" next="udp"></eq>

       </match>

    </class> 


    <class name="slammer" type="access-control" match="all">

       <match> 

          <eq field="udp.dest-port" value="0x59A"></eq>

          <eq field="ip.length" value="0x194"></eq>

          <eq start="l3-start" offset="224" size="4" value="0x00401010"></eq>

       </match>

    </class>


    <policy type="access-control" name="fpm-udp-policy">

       <class name="slammer"></class>

       <action>Drop</action>

    </policy>

</tcdf>

The following example shows how to load the TCDF file onto the device and apply the policy defined in the file to the interface Gigabit Ethernet 0/1: 

configure terminal

load classification localdisk1:sql-slammer.tcdf

policy-map type access-control my-policy-1

class ip-udp

service-policy fpm-udp-policy

interface gigabitEthernet 0/1

 service-policy type access-control input my-policy-1

 end

Creating and Loading a Traffic Classification Definition File for MyDoom Packets for the FPM XML Configuration: Example

The following example shows how to create and load a TCDF for MyDoom packets in a text file or XML editor for the FPM XML configuration. The match criteria for the MyDoom packets are as follows:

•90 > IP length > 44

•pattern 0x47455420 at 40 bytes from start of IP header

or

•IP length > 44

•pattern 0x47455420 at 40 bytes from start of IP header 

<tcdf>

    <class name="md-stack" type="stack">

        <match>

            <eq field="ip.protocol" value="6" next="tcp"></eq>

        </match> 

    </class>

    <class type="access-control" name="mydoom1">

        <match>

            <gt field="ip.length" value="44"/>

            <lt field="ip.length" value="90"/>

            <eq start="ip.version" offset="tcp.headerlength*4+20" size="4"  

                value="0x47455420"/>

        </match>

    </class>

    <class type="access-control" name="mydoom2">

        <match>

            <gt field="ip.length" value="44"/>

            <eq start="ip.version" offset="tcp.headerlength*4+58" size="4" 

                value="0x6d3a3830"/>

            <eq start="ip.version" offset="tcp.headerlength*4+20" size="4" 

                 value="0x47455420"/>

        </match>

    </class>


    <policy name="fpm-md-stack-policy">

       <class name="mydoom1"></class>

       <action>drop</action>

    </policy>


    <policy name="fpm-md-stack-policy">

       <class name="mydoom2"></class>

       <action>drop</action>

    </policy>

</tcdf>

The following example shows how to load the TCDF file onto the device and apply the policy defined in the file to the interface Ethernet 0/1: 

configure terminal

load classification localdisk1:sql-slammer.tcdf

policy-map type access-control my-policy-2

class md-stack

service-policy fpm-md-stack-policy

interface Ethernet 0/1

 service-policy type access-control input my-policy-2

 end

Additional References

The following sections provide references related to the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration feature.

Related Documents

Related Topic
Document Title

Additional configuration information for class maps and policy maps

The section "Modular Quality of Service Command-Line Interface" in the Cisco IOS Quality of Service Solutions Configuration Guide, Release 12.4

Information about and configuration tasks for FPM

Flexible Packet Matching


Standards

Standard
Title

None

—


MIBs

MIB
MIBs Link

None

To locate and download MIBs for selected platforms, Cisco IOS releases, and feature sets, use Cisco MIB Locator found at the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com/go/mibs


RFCs

RFC
Title

None

—


Technical Assistance

Description
Link

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Command Reference

This section documents new commands only.

•load classification

load classification

To load a traffic classification definition file (TCDF) for a Flexible Packet Matching (FPM) configuration, use the load classification command in global configuration mode. To unload all TCDFs from a specified location or a single TCDF, use the no form of this command.

load classification location:filename

no load classification location:filename

Syntax Description

location:filename

Location of the TCDF that is to be loaded onto the router.

When used with the no form of this command, all TCDFs loaded from the specified filename will be unloaded.

Note The location must be local to the routing device.


Command Default

No TCDF is loaded onto the router.

Command Modes

Global configuration

Command History

Release
Modification

12.4(6)T

This command was introduced.


Usage Guidelines

A TCDF is an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file that you create in a text file or using an XML editor. FPM uses a TCDF to define classes of traffic and to specify actions to apply to the traffic classes for the purpose of blocking attacks on the network. Traffic classification behavior defined in a TCDF is identical to that configured using the command-line interface (CLI).

Use the load classification command to load the TCDF onto the routing device. The location to which you load the file must be local to the device. After the TCDF is loaded, you can use service policy CLI commands to attach the TCDF policies to a specific interface or interfaces. TCDP classes and policies, which are loaded, display as normal policies and classes when you issue a show command.

The TCDF requires that a relevant protocol header description file (PHDF) is already loaded onto the system through the use of the load protocol command. Standard PHDFs are provided with the FPM feature.

Examples

The following example shows how to create a TCDF for slammer packets (UDP 1434) for an FPM XML configuration. The match criteria defined within the class element is for slammer packets with an IP length not to exceed 404 (0x194) bytes, UDP port 1434 (0x59A), and pattern 0x4011010 at 224 bytes from start of the IP header. The policy "fpm-udp-policy" is defined with the action to drop slammer packets.

Note You create a TCDF file in a text file or with an XML editor. The XML tags are in bold text and the field names in italic text for example purposes only. You must enter the field values in quotation marks ("value"). 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<tcdf>

    <class name="ip-udp" type="stack">

       <match> 

          <eq field="ip.protocol" value="0x11" next="udp"></eq>

       </match>

    </class> 


    <class name="slammer" type="access-control" match="all">

       <match> 

          <eq field="udp.dest-port" value="0x59A"></eq>

          <eq field="ip.length" value="0x194"></eq>

          <eq start="l3-start" offset="224" size="4" value="0x00401010"></eq>

       </match>

    </class>


    <policy type="access-control" name="fpm-udp-policy">

       <class name="slammer"></class>

       <action>drop</action>

    </policy>

</tcdf>

The following example shows how to load relevant PHDFs, load the TCDF file sql-slammer.tcdf, and attach the TCDF-defined policy to the interface Ethernet 0/1: 

enable

configure terminal


load protocol localdisk1:ip.phdf

load protocol localdisk1:tcp.phdf

load protocol localdisk1:udp.phdf 


load classification localdisk1:sql-slammer.tcdf


policy-map type access-control my-policy-1

class ip-udp

service-policy fpm-udp-policy


interface Ethernet 0/1

 service-policy type access control input my-policy-1

 end

The following CLI output is associated with the TCDF described in the example: 

Router# show class-map type stack

. 
. 
.

class-map type stack match-all ip-udp

   match field IP protocol eq 0x11 next UDP

. 
. 
.

Router# show class-map type access-control

. 
. 
.


class-map type access-control match-all slammer 

   match field UDP dest-port eq 0x59A 

   match field IP length eq 0x194 

   match start l3-start offset 224 size 4 eq 0x4011010 

. 
. 
.


Router show policy-map my-policy-1

. 
. 
.


policy-map type access-control my-policy-1 

  class slammer 

    drop 

. 
. 
.

Related Commands

Command
Description

load protocol

Loads a PHDF onto a router.


Glossary

FPM—Flexible Packet Matching. Packet classification feature that allows users to define one or more classes of network traffic by pairing a rich set of standard matching operators with user-defined protocol header fields.

packet—Logical grouping of information that includes a header containing control information and (usually) user data. Packets most often are used to refer to network layer units of data. The terms datagram, frame, message, and segment also are used to describe logical information groupings at various layers of the OSI reference model and in various technology circles.

stateful classification—Classification that requires state maintenance to identify classes of packets, for example, classifying across IP fragments, classifying across packets in a TCP stream, or classifying peer-to-peer protocols.

stateless classification—Classification that supports a match on any field or fields anywhere in Layer 2 to Layer 7 within the packet. Stateless classification can identify a packet as belonging to a class while utilizing no information other than what is in the packet itself and the class specification.

TCDF—traffic classification definition file. Extensible Markup Language (XML) file created for the purpose of defining traffic classes and policies for Flexible Packet Matching (FPM) that can assist in the blocking of attacks on the network.

XML—eXtensible Markup Language. Standard maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It defines a syntax that lets you create markup languages to specify information structures, which define the type of information, for example, subscriber name or address, not how the information looks (bold, italic, and so on). External processes can manipulate these information structures and publish them in a variety of formats. Text markup language designed to enable the use of SGML on the World Wide Web. XML allows you to define your own customized markup language.

Note See the Cisco Dictionary of Internetworking Terms and Acronyms for terms not included in this glossary.

Feature Information for Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

Table 4 lists the release history for this feature.

Not all commands may be available in your Cisco IOS software release. For release information about a specific command, see the command reference documentation.

Cisco IOS software images are specific to a Cisco IOS software release, a feature set, and a platform. Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco IOS software image support. Access Cisco Feature Navigator at http://www.cisco.com/go/fn. You must have an account on Cisco.com. If you do not have an account or have forgotten your username or password, click Cancel at the login dialog box and follow the instructions that appear.

Note Table 4 lists only the Cisco IOS software release that introduced support for a given feature in a given Cisco IOS software release train. Unless noted otherwise, subsequent releases of that Cisco IOS software release train also support that feature.

Table 4 Feature Information for Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration 

Feature Name
Releases
Feature Information

Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

12.4(6)T

The Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration feature provides an Extensible Markup Language (XML)-based configuration file for Flexible Packet Matching (FPM) that can be used to define traffic classes and actions (policies) to assist in the blocking of attacks on a network. The XML file used by FPM is called the traffic classification definition file (TCDF).

The TCDF gives you an alternative to the command-line interface (CLI) as a method to define traffic classification behavior. Traffic classification behavior is identical regardless of the method you use.

This feature was introduced in Cisco IOS Release 12.4(6)T.

The following sections provide information about this feature:

•Traffic Classification Definition Files for the Flexible Packet Matching XML Configuration

•Traffic Classification Description File Format and Use

•Creating a Traffic Classification Definition File for the FPM XML Configuration

•Loading a Traffic Classification Definition File for the FPM XML Configuration

•Associating a Traffic Classification Definition File with an Interface or Subinterface

•Displaying TCDF-Defined Traffic Classes and Policies

The following command was introduced by this feature: load classification.



Any Internet Protocol (IP) addresses used in this document are not intended to be actual addresses. Any examples, command display output, and figures included in the document are shown for illustrative purposes only. Any use of actual IP addresses in illustrative content is unintentional and coincidental.

© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.