Hi Madison,

I approve. Many thanks!

Thanks,
Brian

> On Oct 24, 2025, at 6:41 AM, Madison Church <[email protected]> 
> wrote:
> 
> Hi Brian and Valery,
> 
> Thank you for your replies! We have updated the document with Valery’s 
> “Perhaps 5” suggestion. That said, we believe there are no further questions 
> remaining.
> 
> Once we receive approvals from both authors, we will send updates along to 
> IANA!
> 
> The files have been posted here (please refresh):
>   https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.txt
>   https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.pdf
>   https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.html
>   https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.xml
> 
> The relevant diff files have been posted here (please refresh):
>   https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-diff.html (comprehensive diff)
>   https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-rfcdiff.html (side by side)
>   https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-auth48diff.html (AUTH48 changes)
>   https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-auth48rfcdiff.html (side by side)
>   https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastdiff.html (most recent 
> changes)
>   https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastrfcdiff.html (side by side)
> 
> Thank you!
> Madison Church
> RFC Production Center
> 
> 
>> On Oct 23, 2025, at 10:47 AM, Brian Weis <[email protected]> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Valery,
>> 
>> I’m quite happy with your “Perhaps 5” text. Let’s go with that. I think this 
>> might be the last wording issue. :-) 
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Brian
>> 
>>> On Oct 22, 2025, at 10:09 PM, Valery Smyslov <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi Brian,
>>> please see inline.
>>> Hi Valery,
>>> One reply is inline.
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On Oct 22, 2025, at 11:54 AM, Valery Smyslov <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> Hi Brian, 
>>>> 
>>>> please find my comments inline.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> Hi Madison,
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Oct 21, 2025, at 2:30 PM, Madison Church <[email protected]
>>>>> 
>>>>> editor.org> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi Brian, Valery, and *Deb,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> *Deb - Please review and approve the added text to Section 1.2 (Group SA
>>>>> 
>>>>> definition). This change may be viewed here: https://www.rfc-
>>>>> editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastdiff.html.
>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Brian and Valery - Thank you both for your detailed replies! We have
>>>>> 
>>>>> incorporated the requested updates. See below for a few (final) proposed
>>>>> changes. Aside from the following, we believe there are no remaining 
>>>>> inquiries
>>>>> that are outstanding. Please review the document carefully to ensure
>>>>> satisfaction as we do not make changes once it has been published as an 
>>>>> RFC.
>>>>> Contact us with any further updates or with your approval of the document 
>>>>> in
>>>>> its current form. We will await approvals from each author prior to asking
>>>>> IANA to make their updates.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Whew! The changes all look fine to me, thanks.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I’ve added some replies your questions below, which should be addressed
>>>>> before approval.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> We spotted 4 additional instances of "GSA policy" and 2 additional 
>>>>>> instances
>>>>> 
>>>>> of "GSA attributes" that were not included in the list of updates. Should 
>>>>> these
>>>>> instances be updated to "group SA policy" and "group SA attributes" as 
>>>>> well?
>>>>> Or should they remain as is?
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Oh, this is my fault, I somehow missed them :-(
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>>> Section 4.4.1
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 1) Current:
>>>>>> Depending on the employed security protocol, GSA policies may further
>>>>>> be classified as Rekey SA (GSA KEK) policy and Data-Security (GSA TEK) SA
>>>>> 
>>>>> policy.
>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Perhaps:
>>>>>> Depending on the employed security protocol, group SA policies may
>>>>>> further be classified as Rekey SA (GSA KEK) policy and Data-Security (GSA
>>>>> 
>>>>> TEK) SA policy.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I believe that “GSA policies” is referring to “Group Policies” in Figure 
>>>>> 14, so I
>>>>> would suggest the following.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Perhaps 2:
>>>>> Depending on the employed security protocol, Group Policies may further be
>>>>> classified as Rekey SA (GSA KEK) policy and Data-Security (GSA TEK) SA 
>>>>> policy.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> No, this text clarifies the types of SAs that can be considered as "group 
>>>> SAs"
>>>> and for which group SA policy can be provided. Thus, I think that 
>>>> Madison's proposal is correct.
>>>> 
>>>> Along with the two preceding sentences the text is:
>>>> 
>>>>  Group policies are comprised of two types: group SA policy and group-
>>>>  wide (GW) policy.  Group SA policy defines parameters for the
>>>>  Security Association of the group.  Depending on the employed
>>>>  security protocol, group SA policies may further be classified as Rekey SA
>>>>  (GSA KEK) policy and Data-Security (GSA TEK) SA policy.
>>>> 
>>>> which gives all the context.
>>> 
>>> Ok, that’s fine. But now I think that there’s a typo in this sentence,
>>> which is what tripped me up. The previous sentence refers to a 
>>> plurality of security policies, and so should this one. Note the change 
>>> below from “security protocol” to “security protocols”.
>>> Perhaps 3:
>>> Depending on the employed security protocols, Group Policies may further be
>>> classified as Rekey SA (GSA KEK) policy and Data-Security (GSA TEK) SA 
>>> policy.
>>>          I have no problem with this change, but the text above still       
>>>    talks about "Group Policy" and not about "group SA policy".
>>>         I believe this is a typo (since you agreed with my previous         
>>>  message).           We classify Group Policies as "group SA policies" and 
>>> "group-wide policy" above
>>>         and then further classify the former as "Rekey SA policy" and 
>>> "Data-Security SA policy".
>>> Thus, I think the text should be:
>>> Perhaps 4.
>>> Depending on the employed security protocols, group SA policies may further 
>>> be
>>> classified as Rekey SA (GSA KEK) policies and Data-Security (GSA TEK) SA 
>>> policies.
>>>          (note, that I used plural form everywhere).
>>>          Or instead:
>>> Perhaps 5.
>>> Depending on the employed security protocol, a group SA policy may be
>>> either a Rekey SA (GSA KEK) policy or a Data-Security (GSA TEK) SA policy.
>>> (Note that I used singular form everywhere and an "a" article to show that 
>>> there may be two types of group SA policies).
>>> Which variant is better in your opinion? Of do you have a better one in 
>>> mind?
>>> As for me, I slightly prefer the last variant.
>>>          Regards,
>>>         Valery.
>>> Thanks,
>>> Brian
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>>> 2) Current (2 instances):
>>>>>> The format of the substructures is defined in Section 4.4.2 (for GSA
>>>>>> policy) and in Section 4.4.3 (for GW policy). The first octet of the
>>>>>> substructure unambiguously determines its type; it is zero for GW
>>>>>> policy and non-zero (actually, it contains a Security Protocol
>>>>>> Identifier) for GSA policies.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Perhaps:
>>>>>> The format of the substructures is defined in Section 4.4.2 (for group
>>>>>> SA
>>>>>> policy) and in Section 4.4.3 (for GW policy). The first octet of the
>>>>>> substructure unambiguously determines its type; it is zero for GW
>>>>>> policy and non-zero (actually, it contains a Security Protocol
>>>>>> Identifier) for group SA policies.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> I believe this is a correct change.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I agree.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>>> Section 4.4.2
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 1) Current:
>>>>>> Section 4.4.2.2 defines attributes used in GSA policy substructure.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Perhaps:
>>>>>> Section 4.4.2.2 defines attributes used in group SA policy substructure.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> The update seems correct. However, I would not object to also adding “the”
>>>>> before “group SA", which was missing in the original text  i.e.,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Perhaps 2:
>>>>> … “used in the group SA …"
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I agree.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>>> Section 4.4.2.2
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 1) Current:
>>>>>> Unlike security parameters distributed via transforms, which are
>>>>>> expected not to change over time (unless the policy changes), the
>>>>>> parameters distributed via GSA attributes may depend on the time the
>>>>>> provision takes place, on the existence of others group SAs, or on other
>>>>> 
>>>>> conditions.
>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Perhaps:
>>>>>> Unlike security parameters distributed via transforms, which are
>>>>>> expected not to change over time (unless the policy changes), the
>>>>>> parameters distributed via group SA attributes may depend on the time
>>>>>> the provision takes place, on the existence of others group SAs, or on 
>>>>>> other
>>>>> 
>>>>> conditions.
>>>>> 
>>>>> This also seems correct. However, I think there’s a slight typo in the 
>>>>> last line of
>>>>> the original text (“other” should not be plural).
>>>>> 
>>>>> Perhaps 2:
>>>>> … existence of other group SAs ...
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Yes.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>>> 2) Current:
>>>>>> This document creates a new IKEv2 IANA registry for the types of GSA
>>>>>> attributes, which has been initially populated as described in Section
>>>>>> 9.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Perhaps:
>>>>>> This document creates a new IKEv2 IANA registry for the types of group
>>>>>> SA attributes, which has been initially populated as described in
>>>>>> Section 9.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> This seems correct to me.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Exactly.
>>>> 
>>>> Thank you!
>>>> 
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Valery.
>>>> 
>>>> P.S. I seem to realize how I missed these 6 cases - I simply searched the 
>>>> draft text 
>>>> for "GSA policy", "GSA attribute" and forgot that there may be plural form 
>>>> "policies"
>>>> and the searched text may be also split by line break. Alas.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> Many thanks!
>>>>> Brian
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> The files have been posted here (please refresh):
>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.txt
>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.pdf
>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.html
>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.xml
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> The relevant diff files have been posted here (please refresh):
>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-diff.html (comprehensive
>>>>> 
>>>>> changes)
>>>>> 
>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-rfcdiff.html (side by side)
>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-auth48diff.html (all AUTH48
>>>>> 
>>>>> changes)
>>>>> 
>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-auth48rfcdiff.html (side by
>>>>> 
>>>>> side)
>>>>> 
>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastdiff.html (diff showing 
>>>>>> latest
>>>>> 
>>>>> updates)
>>>>> 
>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastrfcdiff.html (side by
>>>>>> side)
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> For the AUTH48 status of this document, please see:
>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/auth48/rfc9838
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Thank you!
>>>>>> Madison Church
>>>>>> RFC Production Center
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Oct 21, 2025, at 1:44 AM, Valery Smyslov <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Hi Brian,
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Hi Valery,
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> These changes look fine to me, if everyone agrees that making this
>>>>>>>> much change is acceptable. Certainly they clean up inconsistence
>>>>> 
>>>>> regarding “GSA”.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> However, it strikes me that the document is now so populated with
>>>>>>>> the term “group SA”, so it should probably be defined in Section 1.2.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Possibly:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> NEW
>>>>>>>> Group SA: A Data-Security SA or Rekey SA that is shared as part of 
>>>>>>>> Group
>>>>> 
>>>>> policy.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Good idea!
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> I think it should be inserted between the "Rekey SA" definition and the
>>>>> 
>>>>> "Group Security Association (GSA)" definition.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>> And I also think that "Group policy" should be "group policy" to be
>>>>> 
>>>>> consistent with other uses of this words.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Thus (a detailed change request for Madison):
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> OLD:
>>>>>>> Rekey SA:
>>>>>>>   A single multicast SA between the GCKS and all of the GMs.  This
>>>>>>>   SA is used for multicast transmission of key management messages
>>>>>>>   from the GCKS to all GMs.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Group Security Association (GSA):
>>>>>>>   A collection of Data-Security SAs and Rekey SAs necessary for a GM
>>>>>>>   to receive key updates.  A GSA describes the working policy for a
>>>>>>>   group.  Refer to the MSEC Group Key Management Architecture
>>>>>>>   [RFC4046] for additional information.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>> Rekey SA:
>>>>>>>   A single multicast SA between the GCKS and all of the GMs.  This
>>>>>>>   SA is used for multicast transmission of key management messages
>>>>>>>   from the GCKS to all GMs.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Group SA:
>>>>>>>   A Data-Security SA or Rekey SA that is shared as part of group policy.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Group Security Association (GSA):
>>>>>>>   A collection of Data-Security SAs and Rekey SAs necessary for a GM
>>>>>>>   to receive key updates.  A GSA describes the working policy for a
>>>>>>>   group.  Refer to the MSEC Group Key Management Architecture
>>>>>>>   [RFC4046] for additional information.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>> Valery.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Hope that helps,
>>>>>>>> Brian
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> On Oct 17, 2025, at 12:43 AM, Valery Smyslov <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Hi Deb, Brian, Madison,
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> taking into consideration Deb’s opinion, I think that for the
>>>>>>>>> purpose of making the abbreviations unambiguous,
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> the simplest change would be to
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> just replace “GSA” with “group SA” for “GSA policy” (14 instances),
>>>>>>>>> “GSA transforms” (3 instances) and “GSA
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> attributes” (10 instances),
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> with no change to “GSA payload” as Brian rightly noticed that this is 
>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>> 
>>>>> correct term.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> I checked the draft and here the concrete instances to change I found:
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> For "GSA Policy":
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 1) Section 4.4.1. (2 instances)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> Group policies are comprised of two types: GSA policy and GW policy.
>>>>>>>>> GSA policy defines parameters for the Security Association of the
>>>>>>>>> group.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>> Group policies are comprised of two types: group SA policy and group-
>>>>> 
>>>>> wide (GW) policy.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Group  SA policy defines parameters for the Security Association of
>>>>>>>>> the group.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 2) Section 4.4.2. (4 instances)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> The GSA policy substructure contains parameters for a single SA
>>>>>>>>> that is used with this group.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>             Figure 15: GSA Policy Substructure Format
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> The GSA policy fields are defined as follows:
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>  Section 4.4.2.1 describes
>>>>>>>>>  using IKEv2 transforms in GSA policy substructure.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>> The group SA policy substructure contains parameters for a single
>>>>>>>>> SA that is used with this group.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>             Figure 15: Group SA Policy Substructure Format
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> The group SA policy fields are defined as follows:
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>  Section 4.4.2.1 describes
>>>>>>>>>  using IKEv2 transforms in the group SA policy substructure.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 3) Section 4.4.2.1. (3 instances)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> GSA policy is defined by the means of transforms in the GSA policy
>>>>>>>>> substructure.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Exactly one instance of each mandatory Transform Type and at most
>>>>>>>>> one instance of each optional Transform Type MUST be present in the
>>>>>>>>> GSA policy substructure.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>> Group SA policy is defined by the means of transforms in the group
>>>>>>>>> SA policy substructure.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Exactly one instance of each mandatory Transform Type and at most
>>>>>>>>> one instance of each optional Transform Type MUST be present in the
>>>>>>>>> group SA policy substructure.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 4) Section 4.4.2.2. (1 instance), see also 11) below.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> GSA attributes are generally used to provide GMs with additional
>>>>>>>>> parameters for the GSA policy.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>> Group SA attributes are generally used to provide GMs with
>>>>>>>>> additional parameters for the group SA policy.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 5) Section 4.4.2.2.1. (1 instance)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> A single attribute of this type MUST be included into any GSA
>>>>>>>>> policy substructure if multicast rekey is employed by the GCKS.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>> A single attribute of this type MUST be included into any group SA
>>>>>>>>> policy substructure if multicast rekey is employed by the GCKS.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 5) Section 4.4.2.2.2. (1 instance)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> In this case this attribute will be included into the GSA policy
>>>>>>>>> when the GM is registered.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>> In this case this attribute will be included into the group SA
>>>>>>>>> policy when the GM is registered.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 6) Section 4.4.2.2.3. (1 instance)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> The length of the attribute data is determined by the SPI Size
>>>>>>>>> field in the GSA policy substructure the attribute resides in (see
>>>>>>>>> Section 4.4.2), and the attribute data contains the SPI as it would
>>>>>>>>> appear on the network.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>> The length of the attribute data is determined by the SPI Size
>>>>>>>>> field in the group SA policy substructure the attribute resides in
>>>>>>>>> (see Section 4.4.2), and the attribute data contains the SPI as it
>>>>>>>>> would appear on the network.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 7) Section 4.5.4 (1 instance)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> In addition, if the GCKS plans
>>>>>>>>> to use the multicast Rekey SA for group rekey, then it MUST specify
>>>>>>>>> the key wrap algorithm in the GSA policy for the Rekey SA inside
>>>>>>>>> the GSA payload.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>> In addition, if the GCKS plans
>>>>>>>>> to use the multicast Rekey SA for group rekey, then it MUST specify
>>>>>>>>> the key wrap algorithm in the group SA policy for the Rekey SA
>>>>>>>>> inside the GSA payload.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> For "GSA Transforms":
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 8) Section 4.4.2. (2 instances)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> |                                                               |
>>>>>>>>> ~                       <GSA Transforms>                        ~
>>>>>>>>> |                                                               |
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> GSA Transforms (variable):
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>> |                                                               |
>>>>>>>>> ~                    <Group SA Transforms>                      ~
>>>>>>>>> |                                                               |
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Group SA Transforms (variable):
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 9) Section 4.4.2.1. (1 instance)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> 4.4.2.1.  GSA Transforms
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>> 4.4.2.1.  Group SA Transforms
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> For "GSA Attributes":
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 10) Section 4.4.2. (2 instances)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> |                                                               |
>>>>>>>>> ~                       <GSA Attributes>                        ~
>>>>>>>>> |                                                               |
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> GSA Attributes (variable):
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>> |                                                               |
>>>>>>>>> ~                    <Group SA Attributes>                      ~
>>>>>>>>> |                                                               |
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Group SA Attributes (variable):
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 11) Section 4.4.2.2. (4 instances), see also 4) above
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> 4.4.2.2.  GSA Attributes
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> GSA attributes are generally used to provide GMs with additional
>>>>>>>>> parameters for the GSA policy.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> |Value| GSA Attributes         |Format|Multi-Valued| Used in      |
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Table 5: GSA Attributes
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>> 4.4.2.2.  Group SA Attributes
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Group SA attributes are generally used to provide GMs with
>>>>>>>>> additional parameters for the group SA policy.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> |Value| Group SA Attributes    |Format|Multi-Valued| Used in      |
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Table 5: Group SA Attributes
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 12) Section 5 (2 instances)
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> | GSA Attributes (Section 4.4.2.2)                              |
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> | GSA Attributes (Section 4.4.2.2)                                 |
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>> | Group SA Attributes (Section 4.4.2.2)                            |
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> [...]
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> | Group SA Attributes (Section 4.4.2.2)                            |
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 13) Section 9.1 (2 instances)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>> 3.  IANA has created the "Group SA Attributes" registry.  The 
>>>>>>>>> registration
>>>>>>>>>   policy for this registry is Expert Review [RFC8126].  The initial
>>>>>>>>>   values of the registry are as follows:
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>> +===========+======================+======+======+============+
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>    |Value      |Group SA Attributes   |Format|Multi-|Used in     |
>>>>>>>>>    |           |                      |      |Valued|Protocol    |
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Is this acceptable? Brian, Deb, your opinion?
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> And this would require to update IANA registries, since the name of 
>>>>>>>>> one
>>>>> 
>>>>> is changed...
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>>> Valery.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> I may not be tracking this issue correctly (and please correct me if 
>>>>>>>>>> I get
>>>>> 
>>>>> this wrong).
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> I would make acronyms (like GSA) consistent within this
>>>>>>>>>> specification.  I would not worry, or consider what
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> other specifications use an acronym for some other expansion
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> (heck, I see GSA and think 'General Services Administration' - a US 
>>>>>>>>>> Fed
>>>>> 
>>>>> organization).
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Deb
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> On Thu, Oct 16, 2025 at 5:28 PM Brian Weis
>>>>> 
>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> HI Madison, Valery, Deb,
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> On Oct 9, 2025, at 7:29 AM, Madison Church
>>>>> 
>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Hi Valery,
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Thank you for your reply! Please see inline.
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> On Oct 7, 2025, at 3:56 AM, Valery Smyslov <mailto:[email protected]>
>>>>> 
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Hi Madison,
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> thank you for this update, please see inline.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi Valery and Brian,
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Thank you for your replies! We have posted updated files below.
>>>>>>>>>>>> We believe that there is now only one
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> outstanding
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> item to address (see inline).
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I noticed that the following requesting change wasn't done:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 54) Section 4.4.1
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> CURRENT:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Group policies are comprised of two types: GSA policy and GW
>>>>> 
>>>>> policy.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Perhaps it is not consistent, but I think that we should 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> re-expand
>>>>> 
>>>>> GW here (and perhaps GSA too).
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> GW is defined in the very beginning and is not used up to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> this point, thus I think it would be helpful for readers to 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> remind
>>>>> 
>>>>> what it is.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Group policies are comprised of two types: group SA (GSA) policy
>>>>> 
>>>>> and group-wide (GW) policy.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> While I admit that the proposed text re-expanded the terms
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that have already been expanded, the rationale for it is that
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> this expansion was ~30 pages before, and terms were not used
>>>>> 
>>>>> since that, so re-expansion may help readers to refresh their memory. I 
>>>>> don't
>>>>> insist, but I think this is helpful.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brian, Deb, your opinion?
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I see no issue with re-expanding the terms, but if Madison thinks 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>> 
>>>>> isn’t needed then let’s leave it be.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 1) Thank you for pointing this out! This was actually meant to
>>>>>>>>>>>> be included in the followup questions sent on
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 10/2,
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> but must have gotten lost due to the number of changes in the
>>>>> 
>>>>> original thread. Apologies for missing this!
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> While making updates to this document, we noticed that there
>>>>>>>>>>>> seems to be two different expansions for GSA (Group Security
>>>>>>>>>>>> Association and group SA). Is this intentional, or may we make
>>>>>>>>>>>> this consistent by replacing instances of "group SA" with the
>>>>>>>>>>>> abbreviation "GSA"? If yes, may we also make the following
>>>>>>>>>>>> adjustment to
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> "NEW" text as shown below?
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> This is a very good point and indeed a point for some confusion.
>>>>>>>>>>> It is not intentional, the reason is the lack of
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> words
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> in authors' vocabulary (mostly me to blame) :-)
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> We have the following meanings:
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> - GSA (Group Security Association) - a collection of individual
>>>>>>>>>>> Security Associations (both Data-Security SAs
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> and Rekey SAs)
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> as defined in Section 1.2 (we also have GSA (Group Security
>>>>>>>>>>> Association) payload - this is just a name of a
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> payload).
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> - as for "group SA", - in the document this is used to refer to
>>>>>>>>>>> an individual Security Association within GSA (an
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> SA that belongs to a group).
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Perhaps this is a bad choice of words, but that is that. 
>>>>>>>>>>> Unfortunately,
>>>>> 
>>>>> the abbreviation is the same - GSA...
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> I believe Brian is more experienced in the roots of these terms and 
>>>>>>>>>>> can
>>>>> 
>>>>> comment on this.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> As mentioned in Section 1,"GSA (Group Security Association)"
>>>>>>>>> matches the definition in RFC 3740 (The
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Multicast Group Security Architecture), so this is indeed the most 
>>>>>>>> correct
>>>>> 
>>>>> use of the GSA acronym.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Then RFC 4046 (Multicast Security (MSEC) Group Key Management
>>>>>>>>> Architecture) introduced the confusing
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> “group SA (GSA)” acronym, which somehow snuck into this document. I
>>>>>>>> note that GDOI (RFC 6407), the predecessor to G-IKEv2, does not use 
>>>>>>>> that
>>>>> 
>>>>> term for “group SA”.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Thus, we have:
>>>>>>>>>>> - GSA - Group Security Association
>>>>>>>>>>> - GSA policy - group Security Association policy.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> This is indeed confusing.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Perhaps we can replace "GSA policy" with "group SA policy" for
>>>>>>>>>>> clarity (14 instances)? Brian, Deb, your
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> opinion?
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> But there are still "GSA transforms" (meaning group SA
>>>>>>>>>>> transforms) and "GSA Attributes" (group SA
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> attributes)...
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> There’s also the “GSA Payload”, but because it lists policy for a
>>>>>>>>> collection of SAs, which matches the intent of
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> the original definition.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Thank you for the helpful explanation! We will wait for Brian’s
>>>>>>>>>> response/comments before making any updates
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> to the expansion of GSA.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Thank you!
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Madison Church
>>>>>>>>>> RFC Production Center
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Perhaps:
>>>>>>>>>>>> Group policies are comprised of two types: Group Security
>>>>>>>>>>>> Association (GSA) policy and group-wide (GW)
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> policy.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Based on the distinction described above I think that the correct
>>>>> 
>>>>> expanding here should be:
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> NEW:
>>>>>>>>>>> Group policies are comprised of two types: group SA (GSA) policy and
>>>>> 
>>>>> group-wide (GW) policy.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Rationale - the GSA policy here describes a single SA within a GSA.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> This would be the simplest change, and I do not believe that
>>>>>>>>> implementors would be confused by the duplicate
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> use of “GSA".  If we
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> were earlier on in the document process I might have suggested a
>>>>>>>>> term to more cleanly delineate this policy
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> element, but not now.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> I think in all three cases Valery mentioned (GSA policy, GSA
>>>>>>>>> transforms, GSA Attributes) the term “GSA” does
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> not modify
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> the word following, but is an equal part of the name of the object
>>>>>>>>> being referenced, if that makes sense. As
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> such, I don’t see
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> any problem leaving them as is, and simply add Valery’s NEW text 
>>>>>>>>> above.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>>> Brian
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>>>>> Valery.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Please review the document carefully to ensure satisfaction as
>>>>>>>>>>>> we do not make changes once it has been published as an RFC.
>>>>>>>>>>>> Contact us with any further updates or with your approval of the
>>>>>>>>>>>> document in its
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> current
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> form. We will await approvals from each author prior to moving
>>>>> 
>>>>> forward in the publication process.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Updated files have been posted below (please refresh):
>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.txt
>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.pdf
>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.html
>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838.xml
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Updated diff files:
>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-diff.html
>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-rfcdiff.html (side by
>>>>>>>>>>>> side) https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-auth48diff.html
>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-auth48rfcdiff.html
>>>>>>>>>>>> (side by side)
>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastdiff.html (most
>>>>>>>>>>>> recent updates only)
>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rfc-editor.org/authors/rfc9838-lastrfcdiff.html
>>>>>>>>>>>> (side by side)
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> For the AUTH48 status page, please see: https://www.rfc-
>>>>> 
>>>>> editor.org/auth48/rfc9838.
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Thank you!
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Madison Church
>>>>>>>>>>>> RFC Production Center


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