Key Server

The participants, in an MKA instance agree on a Key Server, are responsible for the following:

• deciding on the use of MACsec

• cipher suite selection

• SAK generation and distribution

• SA assignment

• identifying the CA when two or more CAs merge

Each participant in an MKA instance uses the Key Server priority (an 8-bit integer) encoded in each MKPDU to agree on the Key Server. Each participant selects the live participant advertising the highest priority as its Key Server whenever the Live Peers List changes, provided that highest priority participant has not selected another as its Key Server or is unwilling to act as the Key Server. If a Key Server cannot be selected, SAKs are not distributed. In the event of a tie for highest priority Key Server, the member with the highest priority SCI is chosen. For consistency with other uses of the SCI's MAC address component as a priority, numerically lower values of the Key Server Priority and SCI are accorded the highest priority.