The group size is the length of the SID space allocation for KSSIDs as well as GMSIDs that are reserved to a KS for distribution
to GMs. Available group sizes are small (8, 12, or 16 bits), medium (24 bits, which is the default), and large (32 bits).
Medium is sufficient for nearly all networks.
You should use a large group size only if you must strictly adhere to the requirement in section A.5, “Key/IV Pair Uniqueness
Requirements from SP 800-38D” of the publication
Implementation Guidance for FIPS PUB 140-2 and the Cryptographic Module Validation Program in which GET VPN used in conjunction with Suite B must have at least 232 unique possible “module names” (SIDs).This publication is issued and maintained by the NIST and the Communications Security
Establishment Canada (CSEC).
For example, in a large group size with one KS, the SID is 32 bits, there are 512 KSSID values (in the range of 0 to 511),
and each has 8,388,607 GMSIDs to distribute to registering GMs. With a large group size, use the following KSSID assignment
guidelines to configure KSSID ranges:
Table 1. Recommended KSSID Ranges for Group Size Large
KS
|
1 KS (no cooperative KSs)
|
2 cooperative KSs
|
3 cooperative KSs
|
4 cooperative KSs
|
KS1
|
0 - 511
|
0 - 255
|
0 - 127
|
0 - 63
|
KS2
|
—
|
256 - 511
|
128 - 255
|
64 - 127
|
KS3
|
—
|
—
|
256 - 383
|
128 - 191
|
KS4
|
—
|
—
|
384 - 511
|
192 - 255
|
KS5
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
256 - 319
|
KS6
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
320 - 383
|
KS7
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
384 - 447
|
KS8
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
448 - 511
|
If you plan to expand the cooperative KS network to include more KSs, while you are initially configuring the original KS
or KSs, use the column in the above table with the
anticipated number of KSs in the network so that you can add the new KS or KSs later.
You should use a small (8-, 12-, or 16-bit) group size only in well-understood cases where strict interoperability with SID
lengths of 8, 12, and 16 bits is required according to RFC 6054,
Using Counter Modes with Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) and Authentication Header (AH) to Protect Group Traffic. If such interoperability is needed, you must be careful when designing the network, because the number of SIDs per group
is severely limited (and therefore, the number of KSs and GMs in a group is severely limited). Following are the limitations
for a small group size:
Table 2.
Limitations for Group Size Small
SID length
|
KSSIDs (total KSs)
|
GMSIDs per KSSID
|
GMSIDs (total GMs)
|
Possible number of GM registrations for one KS (after assigning KSSIDs to all KSs evenly)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1 KS
|
2 KSs
|
4 KSs
|
8 KSs
|
8 bits
|
2
|
128
|
255
|
320
|
96
|
—
|
—
|
12 bits
|
4
|
1,024
|
4,095
|
3,840
|
1,792
|
768
|
—
|
16 bits
|
16
|
4,096
|
65,535
|
64,512
|
31,744
|
15,360
|
7,168
|