# The NBD protocol

## Introduction

The Network Block Device is a Linux-originated lightweight block access
protocol that allows one to export a block device to a client. While the
name of the protocol specifically references the concept of block
devices, there is nothing inherent in the *protocol* which requires that
exports are, in fact, block devices; the protocol only concerns itself
with a range of bytes, and several operations of particular lengths at
particular offsets within that range of bytes.

For matters of clarity, in this document we will refer to an export from
a server as a block device, even though the actual backing on the server
need not be an actual block device; it may be a block device, a regular
file, or a more complex configuration involving several files. That is
an implementation detail of the server.

## Conventions

In the below protocol descriptions, the label 'C:' is used for
messages sent by the client, whereas 'S:' is used for messages sent by
the server).  `monotype text` is for literal character data or (when
used in comments) constant names, `0xdeadbeef` is used for literal hex
numbers (which are always sent in big-endian network byte order), and
(brackets) are used for comments. Anything else is a description of
the data that is sent.

The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL",
"SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED",
"MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as
described in [RFC 2119](https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2119.txt).
The same words in lower case carry their natural meaning.

Where this document refers to a string, then unless otherwise stated,
that string is a sequence of UTF-8 code points, which is not `NUL`
terminated, MUST NOT contain `NUL` characters, SHOULD be no longer than
256 bytes and MUST be no longer than 4096 bytes. This applies
to export names and error messages (amongst others). The length of a
string is always available through information sent earlier in the same
message, although it may require some computation based on the size of
other data also present in the same message.

## Protocol phases

The NBD protocol has two phases: the handshake and the transmission. During the
handshake, a connection is established and an exported NBD device along other
protocol parameters are negotiated between the client and the server. After a
successful handshake, the client and the server proceed to the transmission
phase in which the export is read from and written to.

On the client side under Linux, the handshake is implemented in
userspace, while the transmission phase is implemented in kernel space.
To get from the handshake to the transmission phase, the client performs

    ioctl(nbd, NBD_SET_SOCK, sock)
    ioctl(nbd, NBD_DO_IT)

with `nbd` in the above being a file descriptor for an open `/dev/nbdX`
device node, and `sock` being the socket to the server. The second of
the above two calls does not return until the client disconnects.

Note that there are other `ioctl` calls available, that are used by the
client to communicate the options to the kernel which were negotiated
with the server during the handshake. This document does not describe
those.

When handling the client-side transmission phase with the Linux
kernel, the socket between the client and server can use either Unix
or TCP sockets. For other implementations, the client and server can
use any agreeable communication channel (a socket is typical, but it
is also possible to implement the NBD protocol over a pair of
uni-directional pipes). If TCP sockets are used, both the client and
server SHOULD disable Nagle's algorithm (that is, use `setsockopt` to
set the `TCP_NODELAY` option to non-zero), to eliminate artificial
delays caused by waiting for an ACK response when a large message
payload spans multiple network packets.

### Handshake

The handshake is the first phase of the protocol. Its main purpose is to
provide means for both the client and the server to negotiate which
export they are going to use and how.

There are three versions of the negotiation. They are referred to as
"oldstyle", "newstyle", and "fixed newstyle" negotiation. Oldstyle was
the only version of the negotiation until nbd 2.9.16; newstyle was
introduced for nbd 2.9.17. A short while later, it was discovered that
newstyle was insufficiently structured to allow protocol options to be
added while retaining backwards compatibility. The minor changes
introduced to fix this problem are, where necessary, referred to as
"fixed newstyle" to differentiate from the original version of the
newstyle negotiation.

#### Oldstyle negotiation

S: 64 bits, `0x4e42444d41474943` (ASCII '`NBDMAGIC`') (also known as
   the `INIT_PASSWD`)  
S: 64 bits, `0x00420281861253` (`cliserv_magic`, a magic number)  
S: 64 bits, size of the export in bytes (unsigned)  
S: 32 bits, flags  
S: 124 bytes, zeroes (reserved).  

As can be seen, this isn't exactly a negotiation; it's just a matter of
the server sending a bunch of data to the client. If the client is
unhappy with what he receives, he should disconnect and not look back.

The fact that the size of the export was specified before the flags were
sent, made it impossible for the protocol to be changed in a
backwards-compatible manner to allow for named exports without ugliness.
As a result, the old style negotiation is now no longer developed;
starting with version 3.10 of the reference implementation, it is also
no longer supported.

#### Newstyle negotiation

A client who wants to use the new style negotiation SHOULD connect on
the IANA-reserved port for NBD, 10809. The server MAY listen on other
ports as well, but it SHOULD use the old style handshake on those. The
server SHOULD refuse to allow oldstyle negotiations on the newstyle
port. For debugging purposes, the server MAY change the port on which to
listen for newstyle negotiation, but this SHOULD NOT happen for
production purposes.

The initial few exchanges in newstyle negotiation look as follows:

S: 64 bits, `0x4e42444d41474943` (ASCII '`NBDMAGIC`') (as in the old
   style handshake)  
S: 64 bits, `0x49484156454F5054` (ASCII '`IHAVEOPT`') (note different
   magic number)  
S: 16 bits, handshake flags  
C: 32 bits, client flags  

This completes the initial phase of negotiation; the client and server
now both know they understand the first version of the newstyle
handshake, with no options. The client SHOULD ignore any handshake flags
it does not recognize, while the server MUST close the TCP connection if
it does not recognize the client's flags.  What follows is a repeating
group of options. In non-fixed newstyle only one option can be set
(`NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`), and it is not optional.

At this point, we move on to option haggling, during which point the
client can send one or (in fixed newstyle) more options to the server.
The generic format of setting an option is as follows:

C: 64 bits, `0x49484156454F5054` (ASCII '`IHAVEOPT`') (note same
   newstyle handshake's magic number)  
C: 32 bits, option  
C: 32 bits, length of option data (unsigned)  
C: any data needed for the chosen option, of length as specified above.  

The presence of the option length in every option allows the server
to skip any options presented by the client that it does not
understand.

If the value of the option field is `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME` and the server
is willing to allow the export, the server replies with information
about the used export:

S: 64 bits, size of the export in bytes (unsigned)  
S: 16 bits, transmission flags  
S: 124 bytes, zeroes (reserved) (unless `NBD_FLAG_C_NO_ZEROES` was
   negotiated by the client)  

If the server is unwilling to allow the export, it MUST terminate
the session.

The reason that the flags field is 16 bits large and not 32 as in the
oldstyle negotiation is that there are now 16 bits of transmission flags,
and 16 bits of handshake flags. Concatenated together, this results in
32 bits, which allows for using a common set of macros for both. If we
ever run out of flags, the server will set the most significant flag
bit, signalling that an extra flag field will follow, to which the
client will have to reply with a flag field of its own before the extra
flags are sent. This is not yet implemented.

#### Fixed newstyle negotiation

Unfortunately, due to a mistake, the server would immediately close the
connection when it saw an option it did not understand, rather than
signalling this fact to the client, which would've allowed it to retry;
and replies from the server were not structured either, which meant that
if the server were to send something the client did not understand, it
would have to abort negotiation as well.

To fix these two issues, the following changes were implemented:

- The server will set the handshake flag `NBD_FLAG_FIXED_NEWSTYLE`, to
  signal that it supports fixed newstyle negotiation.
- The client SHOULD reply with `NBD_FLAG_C_FIXED_NEWSTYLE` set in its flags
  field too, though its side of the protocol does not change incompatibly.
- The client MAY now send other options to the server as appropriate, in
  the generic format for sending an option as described above.
- The server will reply to any option apart from `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`
  with reply packets in the following format:

S: 64 bits, `0x3e889045565a9` (magic number for replies)  
S: 32 bits, the option as sent by the client to which this is a reply  
S: 32 bits, reply type (e.g., `NBD_REP_ACK` for successful completion,
   or `NBD_REP_ERR_UNSUP` to mark use of an option not known by this
   server  
S: 32 bits, length of the reply. This MAY be zero for some replies, in
   which case the next field is not sent  
S: any data as required by the reply (e.g., an export name in the case
   of `NBD_REP_SERVER`)  

The client MUST NOT send any option until it has received a final
reply to any option it has sent (note that some options e.g.
`NBD_OPT_LIST` have multiple replies, and the final reply is
the last of those).

Some messages the client sends instruct the server to change some of
its internal state.  The client SHOULD NOT send such messages more
than once; if it does, the server MAY fail the repeated message with
`NBD_REP_ERR_INVALID`.

#### Termination of the session during option haggling

There are three possible mechanisms to end option haggling:

* Transmission mode can be entered (by the client sending
  `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME` or by the server responding to an
  `NBD_OPT_GO` with `NBD_REP_ACK`). This is documented
  elsewhere.

* The client can send (and the server can reply to) an
  `NBD_OPT_ABORT`. This MUST be followed by the client
  shutting down TLS (if it is running), and the client
  dropping the connection. This is referred to as
  'initiating a soft disconnect'; soft disconnects can
  only be initiated by the client.

* The client or the server can disconnect the TCP session
  without activity at the NBD protocol level. If TLS is
  negotiated, the party initiating the transaction SHOULD
  shutdown TLS first if it is running. This is referred
  to as 'initiating a hard disconnect'.

This section concerns the second and third of these, together
called 'terminating the session', and under which circumstances
they are valid.

If either the client or the server detects a violation of a
mandatory condition ('MUST' etc.) by the other party, it MAY
initiate a hard disconnect.

A client MAY use a soft disconnect to terminate the session
whenever it wishes.

A party that is mandated by this document to terminate the
session MUST initiate a hard disconnect if it is not possible
to use a soft disconnect. Such circumstances include: where
that party is the server and it cannot return an error
(e.g. after an `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME` it cannot satisfy),
and where that party is the client following a failed TLS
negotiation.

A party MUST NOT initiate a hard disconnect save where set out
in this section. Therefore, unless a client's situation falls
within the provisions of the previous paragraph or the
client detects a breach of a mandatory condition, it MUST NOT
use a hard disconnect, and hence its only option to terminate
the session is via a soft disconnect.

There is no requirement for the client or server to complete a
negotiation if it does not wish to do so. Either end MAY simply
terminate the session. In the client's case, if it wishes to
do so it MUST use soft disconnect.

In the server's case it MUST (save where set out above) simply
error inbound options until the client gets the hint that it is
unwelcome, except that if a server believes a client's behaviour
constitutes a denial of service, it MAY initiate a hard disconnect.
If the server is in the process of being shut down it MAY
error any inflight option and SHOULD error further options received
(other than an `NBD_OPT_ABORT`) with `NBD_REP_ERR_SHUTDOWN`.

If the client receives `NBD_REP_ERR_SHUTDOWN` it MUST initiate
a soft disconnect.

### Transmission

There are three message types in the transmission phase: the request,
the simple reply, and the structured reply chunk.  The
transmission phase consists of a series of transactions, where the
client submits requests and the server sends corresponding replies
with either a single simple reply or a series of one or more
structured reply chunks per request.  The phase continues until
either side terminates transmission; this can be performed cleanly
only by the client.

Note that without client negotiation, the server MUST use only simple
replies, and that it is impossible to tell by reading the server
traffic in isolation whether a data field will be present; the simple
reply is also problematic for error handling of the `NBD_CMD_READ`
request.  Therefore, structured replies can be used to create a
context-free server stream; see below.

Replies need not be sent in the same order as requests (i.e., requests
may be handled by the server asynchronously), and structured reply
chunks from one request may be interleaved with reply messages from
other requests; however, there may be constraints that prevent
arbitrary reordering of structured reply chunks within a given reply.
Clients SHOULD use a cookie that is distinct from all other currently
pending transactions, but MAY reuse cookies that are no longer in
flight; cookies need not be consecutive.  In each reply message
(whether simple or structured), the server MUST use the same value for
cookie as was sent by the client in the corresponding request,
treating the cookie as an opaque field.  In this way, the client can
correlate which request is receiving a response.  Note that earlier
versions of this specification referred to a client's cookie as a
handle.

#### Ordering of messages and writes

The server MAY process commands out of order, and MAY reply out of
order, except that:

* All write commands (that includes `NBD_CMD_WRITE`,
  `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES` and `NBD_CMD_TRIM`) that the server
  completes (i.e. replies to) prior to processing a
  `NBD_CMD_FLUSH` MUST be written to non-volatile
  storage prior to replying to that `NBD_CMD_FLUSH`. This
  paragraph only applies if `NBD_FLAG_SEND_FLUSH` is set within
  the transmission flags, as otherwise `NBD_CMD_FLUSH` will never
  be sent by the client to the server.

* A client which uses multiple connections to a server to parallelize
  commands MUST NOT issue an `NBD_CMD_FLUSH` request until it has
  received the reply for all write commands which it expects to be
  covered by the flush.

* A server MUST NOT reply to a command that has `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FUA` set
  in its command flags until the data (if any) written by that command
  is persisted to non-volatile storage. This only applies if
  `NBD_FLAG_SEND_FUA` is set within the transmission flags, as otherwise
  `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FUA` will not be set on any commands sent to the server
  by the client.

`NBD_CMD_FLUSH` is modelled on the Linux kernel empty bio with
`REQ_PREFLUSH` set. `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FUA` is modelled on the Linux
kernel bio with `REQ_FUA` set. In case of ambiguity in this
specification, the
[kernel documentation](https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/block/writeback_cache_control.txt)
may be useful.

#### Request message

The request message, sent by the client, looks as follows:

C: 32 bits, 0x25609513, magic (`NBD_REQUEST_MAGIC`)  
C: 16 bits, command flags  
C: 16 bits, type  
C: 64 bits, cookie  
C: 64 bits, offset (unsigned)  
C: 32 bits, length (unsigned)  
C: (*length* bytes of data if the request is of type `NBD_CMD_WRITE`)  

#### Simple reply message

The simple reply message MUST be sent by the server in response to all
requests if structured replies have not been negotiated using
`NBD_OPT_STRUCTURED_REPLY`. If structured replies have been negotiated, a simple
reply MAY be used as a reply to any request other than `NBD_CMD_READ`,
but only if the reply has no data payload.  The message looks as
follows:

S: 32 bits, 0x67446698, magic (`NBD_SIMPLE_REPLY_MAGIC`; used to be
   `NBD_REPLY_MAGIC`)  
S: 32 bits, error (MAY be zero)  
S: 64 bits, cookie  
S: (*length* bytes of data if the request is of type `NBD_CMD_READ` and
    *error* is zero)  

#### Structured reply chunk message

Some of the major downsides of the default simple reply to
`NBD_CMD_READ` are as follows.  First, it is not possible to support
partial reads or early errors (the command must succeed or fail as a
whole; no payload is sent if *error* was set, but if *error* is zero
and a later error is detected before *length* bytes are returned, the
server must initiate a hard disconnect).  Second, there is no way to
efficiently skip over portions of a sparse export that is known to
contain all zeroes.  Finally, it is not possible to reliably decode
the server traffic without also having context of what pending read
requests were sent by the client, to see which *cookie* values will
have accompanying payload on success.  Therefore structured replies
are also permitted if negotiated.

A structured reply in the transmission phase consists of one or
more structured reply chunk messages.  The server MUST NOT send
this reply type unless the client has successfully negotiated
structured replies via `NBD_OPT_STRUCTURED_REPLY`.  Conversely, if
structured replies are negotiated, the server MUST use a
structured reply for any response with a payload, and MUST NOT use
a simple reply for `NBD_CMD_READ` (even for the case of an early
`NBD_EINVAL` due to bad flags), but MAY use either a simple reply or a
structured reply to all other requests.  The server SHOULD prefer
sending errors via a structured reply, as the error can then be
accompanied by a string payload to present to a human user.

A structured reply MAY occupy multiple structured chunk messages
(all with the same value for "cookie"), and the
`NBD_REPLY_FLAG_DONE` reply flag is used to identify the final
chunk.  Unless further documented by individual requests below,
the chunks MAY be sent in any order, except that the chunk with
the flag `NBD_REPLY_FLAG_DONE` MUST be sent last.  Even when a
command documents further constraints between chunks of one reply,
it is always safe to interleave chunks of that reply with messages
related to other requests.  A server SHOULD try to minimize the
number of chunks sent in a reply, but MUST NOT mark a chunk as
final if there is still a possibility of detecting an error before
transmission of that chunk completes.  A structured reply is
considered successful only if it did not contain any error chunks,
although the client MAY be able to determine partial success based
on the chunks received.

A structured reply chunk message looks as follows:

S: 32 bits, 0x668e33ef, magic (`NBD_STRUCTURED_REPLY_MAGIC`)  
S: 16 bits, flags  
S: 16 bits, type  
S: 64 bits, cookie  
S: 32 bits, length of payload (unsigned)  
S: *length* bytes of payload data (if *length* is nonzero)  

The use of *length* in the reply allows context-free division of
the overall server traffic into individual reply messages; the
*type* field describes how to further interpret the payload.

#### Terminating the transmission phase

There are two methods of terminating the transmission phase:

* The client sends `NBD_CMD_DISC` whereupon the server MUST
  close down the TLS session (if one is running) and then
  close the TCP connection. This is referred to as 'initiating
  a soft disconnect'. Soft disconnects can only be
  initiated by the client.

* The client or the server drops the TCP session (in which
  case it SHOULD shut down the TLS session first). This is
  referred to as 'initiating a hard disconnect'.

Together these are referred to as 'terminating transmission'.

Either side MAY initiate a hard disconnect if it detects
a violation by the other party of a mandatory condition
within this document.

On a server shutdown, the server SHOULD wait for inflight
requests to be serviced prior to initiating a hard disconnect.
A server MAY speed this process up by issuing error replies.
The error value issued in respect of these requests and
any subsequently received requests SHOULD be `NBD_ESHUTDOWN`.

If the client receives an `NBD_ESHUTDOWN` error it MUST initiate
a soft disconnect.

The client MAY issue a soft disconnect at any time, but
SHOULD wait until there are no inflight requests first.

The client and the server MUST NOT initiate any form
of disconnect other than in one of the above circumstances.

#### Reserved Magic values

The following magic values are reserved and must not be used
for future protocol extensions:

0x12560953 - Historic value for NBD_REQUEST_MAGIC, used
	     until Linux 2.1.116pre2.

0x96744668 - Historic value for NBD_REPLY_MAGIC, used
	     until Linux 2.1.116pre2.

0x25609514 - Used by nbd-server to store data log flags in the
	     transaction log. Never sent from/to a client.

The following magic values are reserved and must be used only as
described in the corresponding protocol extensions:

0x21e41c71 - `NBD_EXTENDED_REQUEST_MAGIC`
    Defined by the experimental `EXTENDED_HEADERS`
    [extension](https://github.com/NetworkBlockDevice/nbd/blob/extension-ext-header/doc/proto.md).

0x6e8a278c - `NBD_EXTENDED_REPLY_MAGIC`
    Defined by the experimental `EXTENDED_HEADERS`
    [extension](https://github.com/NetworkBlockDevice/nbd/blob/extension-ext-header/doc/proto.md).

## TLS support

The NBD protocol supports Transport Layer Security (TLS) (see
[RFC5246](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5246)
as updated by
[RFC6176](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6176)
).

TLS is negotiated with the `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS`
option. This is performed as an in-session upgrade. Below the term
'negotiation' is used to refer to the sending and receiving of
NBD options and option replies, and the term 'initiation' of TLS
is used to refer to the actual upgrade to TLS.

### Certificates, authentication and authorisation

This standard does not specify what encryption, certification
and signature algorithms are used. This standard does not
specify authentication and authorisation (for instance
whether client and/or server certificates are required and
what they should contain); this is implementation dependent.

TLS requires fixed newstyle negotiation to have completed.

### Server-side requirements

There are three modes of operation for a server. The
server MUST support one of these modes.

* The server operates entirely without TLS ('NOTLS'); OR

* The server insists upon TLS, and forces the client to
  upgrade by erroring any NBD options other than `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS`
  or `NBD_OPT_ABORT` with `NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD` ('FORCEDTLS'); this
  in practice means that all option negotiation (apart from the
  `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` itself) is carried out with TLS; OR

* The server provides TLS, and it is mandatory on zero or more
  exports, and is available at the client's option on all
  other exports ('SELECTIVETLS'). The server does not force
  the client to upgrade to TLS during option haggling (as
  if the client ultimately were to choose a non-TLS-only export,
  stopping TLS is not possible). Instead it permits the client
  to upgrade as and when it chooses, but unless an upgrade to
  TLS has already taken place, the server errors attempts
  to enter transmission mode on TLS-only exports, MAY
  refuse to provide information about TLS-only exports
  via `NBD_OPT_INFO`, MAY refuse to provide information
  about non-existent exports via `NBD_OPT_INFO`, and MAY omit
  exports that are TLS-only from `NBD_OPT_LIST`.

The server MAY determine the mode in which it operates
dependent upon the session (for instance it might be
more liberal with TCP connections made over the loopback
interface) but it MUST be consistent in its mode
of operation across the lifespan of a single TCP connection
to the server. A client MUST NOT assume indications from
a prior TCP session to a given server will be relevant
to a subsequent session.

The server MUST operate in NOTLS mode unless the server
set flag `NBD_FLAG_FIXED_NEWSTYLE` and the client replied
with `NBD_FLAG_C_FIXED_NEWSTYLE` in the fixed newstyle
negotiation.

These modes of operations are described in detail below.

#### NOTLS mode

If the server receives `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` it MUST respond with
`NBD_REP_ERR_POLICY` (if it does not support TLS for
policy reasons), `NBD_REP_ERR_UNSUP` (if it does not
support the `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` option at all) or another
error explicitly permitted by this document. The server MUST NOT
respond to any option request with `NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD`.

#### FORCEDTLS mode

If the server receives `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` prior to negotiating
TLS, it MUST reply with `NBD_REP_ACK`. If the server receives
`NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` when TLS has already been negotiated, it
it MUST reply with `NBD_REP_ERR_INVALID`.

After an `NBD_REP_ACK` reply has been sent, the server MUST be
prepared for a TLS handshake, and all further data MUST be sent
and received over TLS. There is no downgrade to a non-TLS session.

As per the TLS standard, the handshake MAY be initiated either
by the server (having sent the `NBD_REP_ACK`) or by the client.
If the handshake is unsuccessful (for instance the client's
certificate does not match) the server MUST terminate the
session as by this stage it is too late to continue without TLS
as the acknowledgement has been sent.

If the server receives any other option, including `NBD_OPT_INFO`
and unsupported options, it MUST reply with `NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD`
if TLS has not been initiated; `NBD_OPT_INFO` is included as in this
mode, all exports are TLS-only. If the server receives a request to
enter transmission mode via `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME` when TLS has not
been initiated, then as this request cannot error, it MUST
terminate the session. If the server receives a request to
enter transmission mode via `NBD_OPT_GO` when TLS has not been
initiated, it MUST error with `NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD`.

The server MUST NOT send `NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD` in reply to
any option if TLS has already been initiated.

The FORCEDTLS mode of operation has an implementation problem in
that the client MAY legally simply send a `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`
to enter transmission mode without previously sending any options.
This is avoided by use of `NBD_OPT_INFO` and `NBD_OPT_GO`.

#### SELECTIVETLS mode

If the server receives `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` prior to negotiating
TLS, it MUST reply with `NBD_REP_ACK` and initiate TLS as set
out under 'FORCEDTLS' above. If the server receives
`NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` when TLS has already been negotiated, it
it MUST reply with `NBD_REP_ERR_INVALID`.

If the server receives `NBD_OPT_INFO` or `NBD_OPT_GO` and TLS
has not been initiated, it MAY reply with `NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD`
if that export is non-existent, and MUST reply with
`NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD` if that export is TLS-only.

If the server receives a request to enter transmission mode
via `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME` on a TLS-only export when TLS has not
been initiated, then as this request cannot error, it MUST
terminate the session.

The server MUST NOT send `NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD` in reply to
any option if TLS has already been negotiated. The server
MUST NOT send `NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD` in response to any
option other than `NBD_OPT_INFO`, `NBD_OPT_GO` and
`NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`, and only in those cases in respect of
a TLS-only or non-existent export.

There is a degenerate case of SELECTIVETLS where all
exports are TLS-only. This is permitted in part to make programming
of servers easier. Operation is a little different from FORCEDTLS,
as the client is not forced to upgrade to TLS prior to any options
being processed, and the server MAY choose to give information on
non-existent exports via `NBD_OPT_INFO` responses prior to an upgrade
to TLS.

### Client-side requirements

If the client supports TLS at all, it MUST be prepared
to deal with servers operating in any of the above modes.
Notwithstanding, a client MAY always terminate the session or
refuse to connect to a particular export if TLS is
not available and the user requires TLS.

The client MUST NOT issue `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` unless the server
set flag `NBD_FLAG_FIXED_NEWSTYLE` and the client replied
with `NBD_FLAG_C_FIXED_NEWSTYLE` in the fixed newstyle
negotiation.

The client MUST NOT issue `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` if TLS has already
been initiated.

Subject to the above two limitations, the client MAY send
`NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` at any time to initiate a TLS session. If the
client receives `NBD_REP_ACK` in response, it MUST immediately
upgrade the session to TLS. If it receives `NBD_REP_ERR_UNSUP`,
`NBD_REP_ERR_POLICY` or any other error in response, it indicates
that the server cannot or will not upgrade the session to TLS,
and therefore the client MUST either continue the session
without TLS, or terminate the session.

A client that prefers to use TLS irrespective of whether
the server makes TLS mandatory SHOULD send `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS`
as the first option. This will ensure option haggling is subject
to TLS, and will thus prevent the possibility of options being
compromised by a Man-in-the-Middle attack. Note that the
`NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` itself may be compromised - see 'downgrade
attacks' for more details. For this reason, a client which only
wishes to use TLS SHOULD terminate the session if the
`NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` replies with an error.

If the TLS handshake is unsuccessful (for instance the server's
certificate does not validate) the client MUST terminate the
session as by this stage it is too late to continue without TLS.

If the client receives an `NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD` in response
to any option, it implies that this option cannot be executed
unless a TLS upgrade is performed. If the option is any
option other than `NBD_OPT_INFO` or `NBD_OPT_GO`, this
indicates that no option will succeed unless a TLS upgrade
is performed; the client MAY therefore choose to issue
an `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS`, or MAY terminate the session (if
for instance it does not support TLS or does not have
appropriate credentials for this server). If the client
receives `NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD` in response to
`NBD_OPT_INFO` or `NBD_OPT_GO` this indicates that the
export referred to within the option is either non-existent
or requires TLS; the client MAY therefore choose to issue
an `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS`, MAY terminate the session (if
for instance it does not support TLS or does not have
appropriate credentials for this server), or MAY continue
in another manner without TLS, for instance by querying
or using other exports.

If a client supports TLS, it SHOULD use `NBD_OPT_GO`
(if the server supports it) in place
of `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`. One reason for this is set out in
the final paragraphs of the sections under 'FORCEDTLS'
and 'SELECTIVETLS': this gives an opportunity for the
server to transmit that an error going into transmission
mode is due to the client's failure to initiate TLS,
and the fact that the client may obtain information about
which exports are TLS-only through `NBD_OPT_INFO`.  Another reason is
that the handshake flag `NBD_FLAG_C_NO_ZEROES` can be altered by a
MitM downgrade attack, which can cause a protocol mismatch with
`NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME` but not with `NBD_OPT_GO`.

### Security considerations

#### TLS versions

NBD implementations supporting TLS MUST support TLS version 1.2,
SHOULD support any later versions. NBD implementations
MAY support older versions but SHOULD NOT do so by default
(i.e. they SHOULD only be available by a configuration change).
Older versions SHOULD NOT be used where there is a risk of security
problems with those older versions or of a downgrade attack
against TLS versions.

#### Protocol downgrade attacks

A danger inherent in any scheme relying on the negotiation
of whether TLS should be employed is downgrade attacks within
the NBD protocol.

There are two main dangers:

* A Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) hijacks a session and impersonates the
  server (possibly by proxying it) claiming not to support TLS (for
  example, by omitting `NBD_FLAG_FIXED_NEWSTYLE` or changing a
  response to `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS`). In this manner, the client is
  confused into operating in a plain-text manner with the MitM (with
  the session possibly being proxied in plain-text to the server using
  the method below).

* The MitM hijacks a session and impersonates the client (possibly by
  proxying it) claiming not to support TLS (for example, by omitting
  `NBD_FLAG_C_FIXED_NEWSTYLE` or eliding a request for
  `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS`). In this manner the server is confused into
  operating in a plain-text manner with the MitM (with the session
  being possibly proxied to the client with the method above).

With regard to the first, any client that does not wish
to be subject to potential downgrade attack SHOULD ensure
that if a TLS endpoint is specified by the client, it
ensures that TLS is negotiated prior to sending or
requesting sensitive data. To recap, the client MAY send
`NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` at any point during option haggling,
and MAY terminate the session if `NBD_REP_ACK` is not
provided.

With regard to the second, any server that does not wish
to be subject to a potential downgrade attack SHOULD either
used FORCEDTLS mode, or should force TLS on those exports
it is concerned about using SELECTIVE mode and TLS-only
exports. It is not possible to avoid downgrade attacks
on exports which may be served either via TLS or in plain
text unless the client insists on TLS.

## Size constraints

During transmission phase, several operations are constrained by the
export size sent by the final `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME` or `NBD_OPT_GO`,
as well as by three size constraints defined here (minimum block,
preferred block, and maximum payload).

If a client can honour server size constraints (as set out below and
under `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE`), it SHOULD announce this during the
handshake phase by using `NBD_OPT_GO` (and `NBD_OPT_INFO` if used)
with an `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE` information request, and MUST use
`NBD_OPT_GO` rather than `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME` (except in the case of
a fallback where the server did not support `NBD_OPT_INFO` or
`NBD_OPT_GO`).

A server with size constraints other than the default SHOULD advertise
the size constraints during handshake phase via `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE`
in response to `NBD_OPT_INFO` or `NBD_OPT_GO`, and MUST do so unless
it has agreed on size constraints via out of band means.

Some servers are able to make optimizations, such as opening files
with `O_DIRECT`, if they know that the client will obey a particular
minimum block size, where it must fall back to safer but slower code
if the client might send unaligned requests. For that reason, if a
client issues an `NBD_OPT_GO` including an `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE`
information request, it MUST abide by the size constraints it
receives. Clients MAY issue `NBD_OPT_INFO` with `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE`
to learn the server's constraints without committing to them.

If size constraints have not been advertised or agreed on externally,
then a server SHOULD support a default minimum block size of 1, a
preferred block size of 2^12 (4,096), and a maximum payload size that
is at least 2^25 (33,554,432) (even if the export size is smaller);
while a client desiring maximum interoperability SHOULD constrain its
requests to a minimum block size of 2^9 (512), and limit
`NBD_CMD_READ` and `NBD_CMD_WRITE` commands to a maximum payload size
of 2^25 (33,554,432).  A server that wants to enforce size constraints
other than the defaults specified here MAY refuse to go into
transmission phase with a client that uses `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME` (via
a hard disconnect) or which uses `NBD_OPT_GO` without requesting
`NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE` (via an error reply of
`NBD_REP_ERR_BLOCK_SIZE_REQD`); but servers SHOULD NOT refuse clients
that do not request sizing information when the server supports
default sizing or where sizing constraints can be agreed on
externally.  When allowing clients that did not negotiate sizing via
NBD, a server that enforces stricter size constraints than the
defaults MUST cleanly error commands that fall outside the constraints
without corrupting data; even so, enforcing constraints in this manner
may limit interoperability.

A client MAY choose to operate as if tighter size constraints had been
specified (for example, even when the server advertises the default
minimum block size of 1, a client may safely use a minimum block size
of 2^9 (512)).

The minimum block size represents the smallest addressable length and
alignment within the export, although writing to an area that small
may require the server to use a less-efficient read-modify-write
action.  If advertised, this value MUST be a power of 2, MUST NOT be
larger than 2^16 (65,536), and MAY be as small as 1 for an export
backed by a regular file, although the values of 2^9 (512) or 2^12
(4,096) are more typical for an export backed by a block device.  If a
server advertises a minimum block size, the advertised export size
SHOULD be an integer multiple of that block size, since otherwise, the
client would be unable to access the final few bytes of the export.

The preferred block size represents the minimum size at which aligned
requests will have efficient I/O, avoiding behaviour such as
read-modify-write.  If advertised, this MUST be a power of 2 at least
as large as the maximum of the minimum block size and 2^9 (512),
although larger values (such as 4,096, or even the minimum granularity
of a hole) are more typical.  The preferred block size MAY be larger
than the export size, in which case the client is unable to utilize
the preferred block size for that export.  The server MAY advertise an
export size that is not an integer multiple of the preferred block
size.

The maximum payload size represents the maximum payload length that
the server is willing to handle in one request from the client.  If
advertised, it MAY be something other than a power of 2, but MUST be
at least as large as the preferred block size, and SHOULD be at least
2^20 (1,048,576) if the export is that large.  Advertising a maximum
payload size of 0xffffffff is permitted when the server does not have
a fixed limit on client request payloads.  Typically, the advertised
maximum payload length is independent of the export size, even though
the actual payloads for read and write cannot successfully exceed the
constraints given by the export size and offset of a request.
Notwithstanding any maximum payload size advertised, either the server
or the client MAY initiate a hard disconnect if a payload length of
either a request or a reply would be large enough to be deemed a
denial of service attack; however, for maximum portability, any
payload not exceeding 2^25 (33,554,432) bytes SHOULD NOT be considered
a denial of service attack, even if that length is larger than the
advertised maximum payload size.

For commands that require a payload in either direction and where the
client controls the payload length (`NBD_CMD_WRITE`, or `NBD_CMD_READ`
with simple replies), the client MUST NOT request a length larger than
the maximum payload size. For replies where the payload length is
controlled by the server (`NBD_CMD_BLOCK_STATUS` without the flag
`NBD_CMD_FLAG_REQ_ONE`, or `NBD_CMD_READ` when structured replies are
negotiated), the server MAY exceed the maximum payload by the fixed
amount of overhead required in the structured reply (for example, a
server that advertises a maximum payload of 2^25 bytes may return
2^25+8 payload bytes in a single `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_OFFSET_DATA` chunk,
rather than splitting the reply across two chunks), although it MUST
honor any additional payload constraints documented for a particular
command.  For commands that do not require a payload in either
direction (such as `NBD_CMD_TRIM` or `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES`), the
client MAY request an effect length larger than the maximum payload
size; the server SHOULD NOT disconnect, but MAY reply with an
`NBD_EOVERFLOW` or `NBD_EINVAL` error if the oversize request would
require too many server resources when compared to the same command
with an effect length limited to the maximum payload size (such as an
implementation of `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES` that utilizes a scratch
buffer).

Where a transmission request can have a nonzero *offset* and/or
*length* (such as `NBD_CMD_READ`, `NBD_CMD_WRITE`, or `NBD_CMD_TRIM`),
the client MUST ensure that *offset* and *length* are integer
multiples of any advertised minimum block size, and SHOULD use integer
multiples of any advertised preferred block size where possible.  For
those requests, the client MUST NOT use a *length* which, when added to
*offset*, would exceed the export size.  The server SHOULD report an
`NBD_EINVAL` error if the client's request is not aligned to advertised
minimum block size boundaries or would exceed the export size.

## Metadata querying

It is often helpful for the client to be able to query the status of a
range of blocks. The nature of the status that can be queried is in
part implementation dependent. For instance, the status might
represent:

* in a sparse storage format, whether the relevant blocks are actually
  present on the backing device for the export; or

* whether the relevant blocks are 'dirty'; some storage formats and
  operations over such formats express a concept of data dirtiness.
  Whether the operation is block device mirroring, incremental block
  device backup or any other operation with a concept of data
  dirtiness, they all share a need to provide a list of ranges that
  this particular operation treats as dirty.

To provide such classes of information, the NBD protocol has a generic
framework for querying metadata; however, its use must first be
negotiated, and one or more metadata contexts must be selected.

The procedure works as follows:

- First, during negotiation, if the client wishes to query metadata
  during transmission, the client MUST select one or more metadata
  contexts with the `NBD_OPT_SET_META_CONTEXT` command. If needed, the
  client can use `NBD_OPT_LIST_META_CONTEXT` to list contexts that the
  server supports.
- During transmission, a client can then indicate interest in metadata
  for a given region by way of the `NBD_CMD_BLOCK_STATUS` command,
  where *offset* and *length* indicate the area of interest. On
  success, the server MUST respond with one structured reply chunk of
  type `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_BLOCK_STATUS` per metadata context selected
  during negotiation, where each reply chunk is a list of one or more
  consecutive extents for that context.  Each extent comes with a
  *flags* field, the semantics of which are defined by the metadata
  context.

The client's requested *length* is only a hint to the server, so the
cumulative extent length contained in a chunk of the server's reply
may be shorter or longer the original request.  When more than one
metadata context was negotiated, the reply chunks for the different
contexts of a single block status request need not have the same
number of extents or cumulative extent length.

In the request, the client may use the `NBD_CMD_FLAG_REQ_ONE` command
flag to further constrain the server's reply so that each chunk
contains exactly one extent whose length does not exceed the client's
original *length*.

A client MUST NOT use `NBD_CMD_BLOCK_STATUS` unless it selected a
nonzero number of metadata contexts during negotiation, and used the
same export name for the subsequent `NBD_OPT_GO` (or
`NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`). Servers SHOULD reply with `NBD_EINVAL` to clients
sending `NBD_CMD_BLOCK_STATUS` without selecting at least one metadata
context.

The reply to the `NBD_CMD_BLOCK_STATUS` request MUST be sent as a
structured reply; this implies that in order to use metadata querying,
structured replies MUST be negotiated first.

Metadata contexts are identified by their names. The name MUST consist
of a namespace, followed by a colon, followed by a leaf-name.  The
namespace must consist entirely of printable non-whitespace UTF-8
characters other than colons, and be non-empty. The entire name
(namespace, colon, and leaf-name) MUST follow the restrictions for
strings as laid out earlier in this document.

Namespaces MUST be consist of one of the following:
- `base`, for metadata contexts defined by this document;
- `nbd-server`, for metadata contexts defined by the implementation
  that accompanies this document (none currently);
- `x-*`, where `*` can be replaced by an arbitrary string not
  containing colons, for local experiments. This SHOULD NOT be used
  by metadata contexts that are expected to be widely used.
- A third-party namespace from the list below.

Third-party implementations can register additional namespaces by
simple request to the mailing-list. The following additional
third-party namespaces are currently registered:
* `qemu`, maintained by [qemu.org](https://www.qemu.org/docs/master/interop/nbd.html)

Save in respect of the `base:` namespace described below, this specification
requires no specific semantics of metadata contexts, except that all the
information they provide MUST be representable within the flags field as
defined for `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_BLOCK_STATUS`. Likewise, save in respect of
the `base:` namespace, the syntax of query strings is not specified by this
document, other than the recommendation that the empty leaf-name makes
sense as a wildcard for a client query during `NBD_OPT_LIST_META_CONTEXT`,
but SHOULD NOT select any contexts during `NBD_OPT_SET_META_CONTEXT`.

Server implementations SHOULD ensure the syntax for query strings they
support and semantics for resulting metadata context is documented
similarly to this document.

### The `base:` metadata namespace

This standard defines exactly one metadata context; it is called
`base:allocation`, and it provides information on the basic allocation
status of extents (that is, whether they are allocated at all in a
sparse file context).

The query string within the `base:` metadata context can take one of
two forms:

* `base:` - the server MUST ignore this form during
  `NBD_OPT_SET_META_CONTEXT`, and MUST support this as a wildcard
  during `NBD_OPT_LIST_META_CONTEXT`, in which case the server's reply
  will contain a response for each supported metadata context within
  the `base:` namespace (currently just `base:allocation`, although a
  future revision of the standard might return multiple contexts); or
* `base:[leaf-name]` to select `[leaf-name]` as a context leaf-name
  that might exist within the `base` namespace.  If a `[leaf-name]`
  requested by the client is not recognized, the server MUST ignore it
  rather than report an error.

#### `base:allocation` metadata context

The `base:allocation` metadata context is the basic "allocated at all"
metadata context. If an extent is marked with `NBD_STATE_HOLE` at that
context, this means that the given extent is not allocated in the
backend storage, and that writing to the extent MAY result in the
`NBD_ENOSPC` error. This supports sparse file semantics on the server
side.  If a server supports the `base:allocation` metadata context,
then writing to an extent which has `NBD_STATE_HOLE` clear MUST NOT
fail with `NBD_ENOSPC` unless for reasons specified in the definition of
another context.

It defines the following flags for the flags field:

- `NBD_STATE_HOLE` (bit 0): if set, the block represents a hole (and
  future writes to that area may cause fragmentation or encounter an
  `NBD_ENOSPC` error); if clear, the block is allocated or the server
  could not otherwise determine its status. Note that the use of
  `NBD_CMD_TRIM` is related to this status, but that the server MAY
  report a hole even where `NBD_CMD_TRIM` has not been requested, and
  also that a server MAY report that the block is allocated even where
  `NBD_CMD_TRIM` has been requested.
- `NBD_STATE_ZERO` (bit 1): if set, the block contents read as all
  zeroes; if clear, the block contents are not known. Note that the
  use of `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES` is related to this status, but that
  the server MAY report zeroes even where `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES` has
  not been requested, and also that a server MAY report unknown
  content even where `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES` has been requested.

It is not an error for a server to report that a region of the export
has both `NBD_STATE_HOLE` set and `NBD_STATE_ZERO` clear. The contents
of such an area are undefined, and a client reading such an area
should make no assumption as to its contents or stability.

For the `base:allocation` context, the remainder of the flags field is
reserved. Servers SHOULD set it to all-zero; clients MUST ignore
unknown flags.

## Values

This section describes the value and meaning of constants (other than
magic numbers) in the protocol.

When flags fields are specified, they are numbered in network byte
order.

### Handshake phase

#### Flag fields

##### Handshake flags

This field of 16 bits is sent by the server after the `INIT_PASSWD` and
the first magic number.

- bit 0, `NBD_FLAG_FIXED_NEWSTYLE`; MUST be set by servers that
  support the fixed newstyle protocol
- bit 1, `NBD_FLAG_NO_ZEROES`; if set, and if the client replies with
  `NBD_FLAG_C_NO_ZEROES` in the client flags field, the server MUST NOT
  send the 124 bytes of zero when the client ends negotiation with
  `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`.

The server MUST NOT set any other flags, and SHOULD NOT change behaviour
unless the client responds with a corresponding flag.  The server MUST
NOT set any of these flags during oldstyle negotiation.

It is unlikely that additional capability flags will be defined in the
NBD protocol since this phase is susceptible to MitM downgrade attacks
when using TLS.  Rather, additional features are best negotiated using
protocol options.

##### Client flags

This field of 32 bits is sent after initial connection and after
receiving the handshake flags from the server.

- bit 0, `NBD_FLAG_C_FIXED_NEWSTYLE`; SHOULD be set by clients that
  support the fixed newstyle protocol. Servers MAY choose to honour
  fixed newstyle from clients that didn't set this bit, but relying on
  this isn't recommended.
- bit 1, `NBD_FLAG_C_NO_ZEROES`; MUST NOT be set if the server did not
  set `NBD_FLAG_NO_ZEROES`. If set, the server MUST NOT send the 124
  bytes of zeroes when the client ends negotiation with
  `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`.

Clients MUST NOT set any other flags; the server MUST drop the TCP
connection if the client sets an unknown flag, or a flag that does
not match something advertised by the server.

##### Transmission flags

This field of 16 bits is sent by the server after option haggling, or
immediately after the handshake flags field in oldstyle negotiation.

Many of these flags allow the server to expose to the client which
features it understands (in which case they are documented below
as "`NBD_FLAG_XXX` exposes feature `YYY`"). In each case, the server
MAY set the flag for features it supports. The server MUST NOT set the
flag for features it does not support. The client MUST NOT use a feature
documented as 'exposed' by a flag unless that flag was set.

The field has the following format:

- bit 0, `NBD_FLAG_HAS_FLAGS`: MUST always be 1.
- bit 1, `NBD_FLAG_READ_ONLY`: The server MAY set this flag to indicate
  to the client that the export is read-only (exports might be read-only
  in a manner undetectable to the server, for instance because of
  permissions). If this flag is set, the server MUST error subsequent
  write operations to the export.
- bit 2, `NBD_FLAG_SEND_FLUSH`: exposes support for `NBD_CMD_FLUSH`.
- bit 3, `NBD_FLAG_SEND_FUA`: exposes support for `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FUA`.
- bit 4, `NBD_FLAG_ROTATIONAL`: the server MAY set this flag to 1 to
  inform the client that the export has the characteristics of a rotational
  medium, and the client MAY schedule I/O accesses in a manner corresponding
  to the setting of this flag.
- bit 5, `NBD_FLAG_SEND_TRIM`: exposes support for `NBD_CMD_TRIM`.
- bit 6, `NBD_FLAG_SEND_WRITE_ZEROES`: exposes support for
  `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES` and `NBD_CMD_FLAG_NO_HOLE`.
- bit 7, `NBD_FLAG_SEND_DF`: do not fragment a structured reply. The
  server MUST set this transmission flag to 1 if the
  `NBD_CMD_READ` request supports the `NBD_CMD_FLAG_DF` flag, and
  MUST leave this flag clear if structured replies have not been
  negotiated. Clients MUST NOT set the `NBD_CMD_FLAG_DF` request
  flag unless this transmission flag is set.
- bit 8, `NBD_FLAG_CAN_MULTI_CONN`: Indicates that the server operates
  entirely without cache, or that the cache it uses is shared among all
  connections to the given device. In particular, if this flag is
  present, then the effects of `NBD_CMD_FLUSH` and `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FUA`
  MUST be visible across all connections when the server sends its reply
  to that command to the client. In the absence of this flag, clients
  SHOULD NOT multiplex their commands over more than one connection to
  the export.
- bit 9, `NBD_FLAG_SEND_RESIZE`: defined by the experimental `RESIZE`
  [extension](https://github.com/NetworkBlockDevice/nbd/blob/extension-resize/doc/proto.md).
- bit 10, `NBD_FLAG_SEND_CACHE`: documents that the server understands
  `NBD_CMD_CACHE`; however, note that server implementations exist
  which support the command without advertising this bit, and
  conversely that this bit does not guarantee that the command will
  succeed or have an impact.
- bit 11, `NBD_FLAG_SEND_FAST_ZERO`: allow clients to detect whether
  `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES` is faster than a corresponding write. The
  server MUST set this transmission flag to 1 if the
  `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES` request supports the `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FAST_ZERO`
  flag, and MUST set this transmission flag to 0 if
  `NBD_FLAG_SEND_WRITE_ZEROES` is not set. Servers MAY set this this
  transmission flag even if it will always use `NBD_ENOTSUP` failures for
  requests with `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FAST_ZERO` set (such as if the server
  cannot quickly determine whether a particular write zeroes request
  will be faster than a regular write). Clients MUST NOT set the
  `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FAST_ZERO` request flag unless this transmission flag
  is set.
- bit 12, `NBD_FLAG_BLOCK_STATUS_PAYLOAD`; defined by the experimental
  `EXTENDED_HEADERS`
  [extension](https://github.com/NetworkBlockDevice/nbd/blob/extension-ext-header/doc/proto.md).

Clients SHOULD ignore unknown flags.

#### Option types

These values are used in the "option" field during the option haggling
of the newstyle negotiation.

* `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME` (1)

    Choose the export which the client would like to use, end option
    haggling, and proceed to the transmission phase.

    Data: String, name of the export, as free-form text.
    The length of the name is determined from the option header. If the
    chosen export does not exist or requirements for the chosen export
    are not met (e.g., the client did not initiate TLS for an export
    where the server requires it), the server MUST terminate the
    session.

    A special, "empty", name (i.e., the length field is zero and no name
    is specified), is reserved for a "default" export, to be used in cases
    where explicitly specifying an export name makes no sense.

    This is the only valid option in nonfixed newstyle negotiation. A
    server which wishes to use any other option MUST support fixed
    newstyle.

    A major problem of this option is that it does not support the
    return of error messages to the client in case of problems. To
    remedy this, `NBD_OPT_GO` has been introduced (see below).
    A client thus SHOULD use `NBD_OPT_GO` in preference to
    `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME` but SHOULD fall back to `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`
    if `NBD_OPT_GO` is not supported (not falling back will prevent
    it from connecting to old servers).

* `NBD_OPT_ABORT` (2)

    The client desires to abort the negotiation and terminate the
    session. The server MUST reply with `NBD_REP_ACK`.

    The client SHOULD NOT send any additional data with the option;
    however, a server SHOULD ignore any data sent by the client rather
    than rejecting the request as invalid.

    Previous versions of this document were unclear on whether
    the server should send a reply to `NBD_OPT_ABORT`. Therefore
    the client SHOULD gracefully handle the server closing the
    connection after receiving an `NBD_OPT_ABORT` without it
    sending a reply. Similarly the server SHOULD gracefully handle
    the client sending an `NBD_OPT_ABORT` and closing the connection
    without waiting for a reply.

* `NBD_OPT_LIST` (3)

    Return zero or more `NBD_REP_SERVER` replies, one for each export,
    followed by `NBD_REP_ACK` or an error (such as
    `NBD_REP_ERR_SHUTDOWN`). The server MAY omit entries from this
    list if TLS has not been negotiated, the server is operating in
    SELECTIVETLS mode, and the entry concerned is a TLS-only export.

    The client MUST NOT send any additional data with the option, and
    the server SHOULD reject a request that includes data with
    `NBD_REP_ERR_INVALID`.

* `NBD_OPT_PEEK_EXPORT` (4)

    Was defined by the (withdrawn) experimental `PEEK_EXPORT` extension;
    not in use.

* `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` (5)

    The client wishes to initiate TLS.

    The client MUST NOT send any additional data with the option.  The
    server MUST either reply with `NBD_REP_ACK` after which point the
    connection is upgraded to TLS, or an error reply explicitly
    permitted by this document (for example, `NBD_REP_ERR_INVALID` if
    the client included data).

    When this command succeeds, the server MUST NOT preserve any
    negotiation state (such as a request for
    `NBD_OPT_STRUCTURED_REPLY`, or metadata contexts from
    `NBD_OPT_SET_META_CONTEXT`) issued before this command.  A client
    SHOULD defer all stateful option requests until after it
    determines whether encryption is available.

    See the section on TLS above for further details.

* `NBD_OPT_INFO` (6) and `NBD_OPT_GO` (7)

    Both options have identical formats for requests and replies. The only
    difference is that after a successful reply to `NBD_OPT_GO` (i.e. one
    or more `NBD_REP_INFO` then an `NBD_REP_ACK`), transmission mode is
    entered immediately.  Therefore these commands share common
    documentation.

    `NBD_OPT_INFO`: The client wishes to get details about an export
    with the given name for use in the transmission phase, but does
    not yet want to move to the transmission phase.  When successful,
    this option provides more details than `NBD_OPT_LIST`, but only
    for a single export name.

    `NBD_OPT_GO`: The client wishes to terminate the handshake phase
    and progress to the transmission phase. This client MAY issue this
    command after an `NBD_OPT_INFO`, or MAY issue it without a
    previous `NBD_OPT_INFO`.  `NBD_OPT_GO` can thus be used as an
    improved version of `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME` that is capable of
    returning errors.

    Data (both commands):

    - 32 bits, length of name (unsigned); MUST be no larger than the
      option data length - 6
    - String: name of the export
    - 16 bits, number of information requests
    - 16 bits x n - list of `NBD_INFO` information requests

    The client MAY list one or more items of specific information it
    is seeking in the list of information requests, or it MAY specify
    an empty list. The client MUST NOT include any information request
    in the list more than once. The server MUST ignore any information
    requests it does not understand. The server MAY reply to the
    information requests in any order. The server MAY ignore information
    requests that it does not wish to supply for policy reasons (other
    than `NBD_INFO_EXPORT`). Equally the client MAY refuse to negotiate
    if not supplied information it has requested. The server MAY send
    information requests back which are not explicitly requested, but
    the server MUST NOT assume that such information requests are
    understood and respected by the client unless the client explicitly
    asked for them. The client MUST ignore information replies it
    does not understand.

    If no name is specified (i.e. a zero length string is provided),
    this specifies the default export (if any), as with
    `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`.

    The server replies with a number of `NBD_REP_INFO` replies (as few
    as zero if an error is reported, at least one on success), then
    concludes the list of information with a final error reply or with
    a declaration of success, as follows:

    - `NBD_REP_ACK`: The server accepts the chosen export, and has
      completed providing information.  In this case, the server MUST
      send at least one `NBD_REP_INFO`, with an `NBD_INFO_EXPORT`
      information type.
    - `NBD_REP_ERR_UNKNOWN`: The chosen export does not exist on this
      server.  In this case, the server SHOULD NOT send `NBD_REP_INFO`
      replies.
    - `NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD`: The server requires the client to
      initiate TLS before any revealing any further details about this
      export.  In this case, a FORCEDTLS server MUST NOT send
      `NBD_REP_INFO` replies, but a SELECTIVETLS server MAY do so if
      this is a TLS-only export.
    - `NBD_REP_ERR_BLOCK_SIZE_REQD`: The server requires the client to
      request size constraints using `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE` prior to
      entering transmission phase, because the server will be using
      non-default size constraints. The server MUST NOT send this
      error if size constraints were requested with
      `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE` with the `NBD_OPT_INFO` or `NBD_OPT_GO`
      request. The server SHOULD NOT send this error if it is using
      default size constraints or size constraints negotiated out of
      band. A server sending an `NBD_REP_ERR_BLOCK_SIZE_REQD` error
      SHOULD ensure it first sends an `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE`
      information reply in order to help avoid a potentially
      unnecessary round trip.

    Additionally, if TLS has not been initiated, the server MAY reply
    with `NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD` (instead of `NBD_REP_ERR_UNKNOWN`) to
    requests for exports that are unknown. This is so that clients
    that have not initiated TLS cannot enumerate exports.  A
    SELECTIVETLS server that chooses to hide unknown exports in this
    manner SHOULD NOT send `NBD_REP_INFO` replies for a TLS-only
    export.

    For backwards compatibility, clients SHOULD be prepared to also
    handle `NBD_REP_ERR_UNSUP` by falling back to using `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`.

    Other errors (such as `NBD_REP_ERR_SHUTDOWN`) are also possible,
    as permitted elsewhere in this document, with no constraints on
    the number of preceding `NBD_REP_INFO`.

    If there are no intervening option requests between a successful
    `NBD_OPT_INFO` (that is, one where the reply ended with a final
    `NBD_REP_ACK`) and an `NBD_OPT_GO` with the same parameters
    (including the list of information items requested), then
    the server MUST reply with the same set of information, such as
    transmission flags in the `NBD_INFO_EXPORT` reply, although the
    ordering of the intermediate `NBD_REP_INFO` messages MAY differ.
    Otherwise, due to the intervening option requests or the use of
    different parameters, the server MAY send different data in the
    successful response, and/or MAY fail the second request.

    The reply to an `NBD_OPT_GO` is identical to the reply to
    `NBD_OPT_INFO` save that if the reply indicates success (i.e. ends
    with `NBD_REP_ACK`), the client and the server both immediately
    enter the transmission phase. The server MUST NOT send any zero
    padding bytes after the `NBD_REP_ACK` data, whether or not the
    client negotiated the `NBD_FLAG_C_NO_ZEROES` flag. The client MUST
    NOT send further option requests unless the final reply from the
    server indicates an error.

* `NBD_OPT_GO` (7)

    See above under `NBD_OPT_INFO`.

* `NBD_OPT_STRUCTURED_REPLY` (8)

    The client wishes to use structured replies during the
    transmission phase.  The client MUST NOT send any additional data
    with the option, and the server SHOULD reject a request that
    includes data with `NBD_REP_ERR_INVALID`.

    The server replies with the following, or with an error permitted
    elsewhere in this document:

    - `NBD_REP_ACK`: Structured replies have been negotiated; the
      server MUST use structured replies to the `NBD_CMD_READ`
      transmission request.  Other extensions that require structured
      replies may now be negotiated.
    - For backwards compatibility, clients SHOULD be prepared to also
      handle `NBD_REP_ERR_UNSUP`; in this case, no structured replies
      will be sent.

    It is envisioned that future extensions will add other new
    requests that may require a data payload in the reply.  A server
    that supports such extensions SHOULD NOT advertise those
    extensions until the client negotiates structured replies; and a
    client MUST NOT make use of those extensions without first
    enabling the `NBD_OPT_STRUCTURED_REPLY` extension.

    If the client requests `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` after this option, it
    MUST renegotiate structured replies and any other dependent
    extensions that it desires to use.

* `NBD_OPT_LIST_META_CONTEXT` (9)

    Return a list of `NBD_REP_META_CONTEXT` replies, one per context,
    followed by an `NBD_REP_ACK` or an error.

    This option SHOULD NOT be requested unless structured replies have
    been negotiated first. If a client attempts to do so, a server
    MAY send `NBD_REP_ERR_INVALID`.

    Data:
    - 32 bits, length of export name.  
    - String, name of export for which we wish to list metadata
      contexts.  
    - 32 bits, number of queries  
    - Zero or more queries, each being:  
       - 32 bits, length of query.  
       - String, query to list a subset of the available metadata
         contexts.  The syntax of this query is
         implementation-defined, except that it MUST start with a
         namespace and a colon.  

    For details on the query string, see the "Metadata querying"
    section; note that a namespace may document that a different set
    of queries are valid for `NBD_OPT_LIST_META_CONTEXT` than for
    `NBD_OPT_SET_META_CONTEXT`, such as when using an empty leaf-name
    for wildcarding.

    If the option request is syntactically invalid (such as a query
    length that would require reading beyond the original length given
    in the option header), the server MUST fail the request with
    `NBD_REP_ERR_INVALID`.  For requests that are semantically invalid
    (such as lacking the required colon that delimits the namespace,
    or using a leaf name that is invalid for a known namespace), the
    server MAY fail the request with `NBD_REP_ERR_INVALID`.  However,
    the server MUST ignore query strings belonging to an unknown
    namespace.  If none of the query strings find any metadata
    contexts, the server MUST send a single reply of type
    `NBD_REP_ACK`.

    The server MUST reply with a list of zero or more
    `NBD_REP_META_CONTEXT` replies, followed by either a final
    `NBD_REP_ACK` on success or by an error (for instance
    `NBD_REP_ERR_UNSUP` if the option is not supported).  If an error
    is returned, the client MUST disregard any context replies that
    may have been sent.

    If zero queries are sent, then the server MUST return all the
    metadata contexts that are available to the client to select on
    the given export.  However, this list may include wildcards that
    require a further `NBD_OPT_LIST_META_CONTEXT` with the wildcard as
    a query, rather than an actual context that is appropriate as a
    query to `NBD_OPT_SET_META_CONTEXT`, as set out below.  In this
    case, the server SHOULD NOT fail with `NBD_REP_ERR_TOO_BIG`.

    If one or more queries are sent, then the server MUST return those
    metadata contexts that are available to the client to select on
    the given export with `NBD_OPT_SET_META_CONTEXT`, and which match
    one or more of the queries given. The support of wildcarding
    within the leaf-name portion of the query string is dependent upon
    the namespace.  The server MAY send contexts in a different order
    than in the client's query.  In this case, the server MAY fail
    with `NBD_REP_ERR_TOO_BIG` if too many queries are requested.

    In either case, however, for any given namespace the server MAY,
    instead of exhaustively listing every matching context available
    to select (or every context available to select where no query is
    given), send sufficient context records back to allow a client
    with knowledge of the namespace to select any context.  This may
    be helpful where a client can construct algorithmic queries. For
    instance, a client might reply simply with the namespace with no
    leaf-name (e.g.  'x-FooBar:') or with a range of values (e.g.
    'x-ModifiedDate:20160310-20161214'). The semantics of such a reply
    are a matter for the definition of the namespace. However each
    namespace returned MUST begin with the relevant namespace,
    followed by a colon, and then other UTF-8 characters, with the
    entire string following the restrictions for strings set out
    earlier in this document.

    The metadata context ID in these replies is reserved and SHOULD be
    set to zero; clients MUST disregard it.

* `NBD_OPT_SET_META_CONTEXT` (10)

    Change the set of active metadata contexts. Issuing this command
    replaces all previously-set metadata contexts (including when this
    command fails); clients must ensure that all metadata contexts
    they are interested in are selected with the final query that they
    sent.

    This option MUST NOT be requested unless structured replies have
    been negotiated first. If a client attempts to do so, a server
    SHOULD send `NBD_REP_ERR_INVALID`.

    A client MUST NOT send `NBD_CMD_BLOCK_STATUS` unless within the
    negotiation phase it sent `NBD_OPT_SET_META_CONTEXT` at least
    once, and where the final time it was sent, it referred to the
    same export name that was ultimately selected for transmission
    phase with no intervening `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS`, and where the server
    responded by returning least one metadata context without error.

    Data:
    - 32 bits, length of export name.  
    - String, name of export for which we wish to list metadata
      contexts.  
    - 32 bits, number of queries  
    - Zero or more queries, each being:  
       - 32 bits, length of query  
       - String, query to select metadata contexts. The syntax of this
         query is implementation-defined, except that it MUST start with a
         namespace and a colon.  

    If zero queries are sent, the server MUST select no metadata
    contexts.

    The server MAY return `NBD_REP_ERR_TOO_BIG` if a request seeks to
    select too many contexts. Otherwise the server MUST reply with a
    number of `NBD_REP_META_CONTEXT` replies, one for each selected
    metadata context, each with a unique metadata context ID, followed
    by `NBD_REP_ACK`. The server MAY ignore queries that do not select
    a single metadata context, and MAY return selected contexts in a
    different order than in the client's request.  The metadata
    context ID is transient and may vary across calls to
    `NBD_OPT_SET_META_CONTEXT`; clients MUST therefore treat the ID as
    an opaque value and not (for instance) cache it between
    connections. It is not an error if a `NBD_OPT_SET_META_CONTEXT`
    option does not select any metadata context, provided the client
    then does not attempt to issue `NBD_CMD_BLOCK_STATUS` commands.

* `NBD_OPT_EXTENDED_HEADERS` (11)

    Defined by the experimental `EXTENDED_HEADERS`
    [extension](https://github.com/NetworkBlockDevice/nbd/blob/extension-ext-header/doc/proto.md).

#### Option reply types

These values are used in the "reply type" field, sent by the server
during option haggling in the fixed newstyle negotiation.

* `NBD_REP_ACK` (1)

    Will be sent by the server when it accepts the option and no further
    information is available, or when sending data related to the option
    (in the case of `NBD_OPT_LIST`) has finished. No data.

* `NBD_REP_SERVER` (2)

    A description of an export. Data:

    - 32 bits, length of name (unsigned); MUST be no larger than the
      reply packet header length - 4
    - String, name of the export, as expected by `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`,
      `NBD_OPT_INFO`, or `NBD_OPT_GO`
    - If length of name < (reply packet header length - 4), then the
      rest of the data contains some implementation-specific details
      about the export. This is not currently implemented, but future
      versions of nbd-server may send along some details about the
      export. Therefore, unless explicitly documented otherwise by a
      particular client request, this field is defined to be a string
      suitable for direct display to a human being.

* `NBD_REP_INFO` (3)

    A detailed description about an aspect of an export.  The response
    to `NBD_OPT_INFO` and `NBD_OPT_GO` includes zero or more of these
    messages prior to a final error reply, or at least one before an
    `NBD_REP_ACK` reply indicating success.  The server MUST send an
    `NBD_INFO_EXPORT` information type at some point before sending an
    `NBD_REP_ACK`, so that `NBD_OPT_GO` can provide a superset of the
    information given in response to `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`; all other
    information types are optional.  A particular information type
    SHOULD only appear once for a given export unless documented
    otherwise.

    A client MUST NOT rely on any particular ordering amongst the
    `NBD_OPT_INFO` replies, and MUST ignore information types that it
    does not recognize.

    The acceptable values for the header *length* field are determined
    by the information type, and includes the 2 bytes for the type
    designator, in the following general layout:

    - 16 bits, information type (e.g. `NBD_INFO_EXPORT`)  
    - *length - 2* bytes, information payload  

    The following information types are defined:

    * `NBD_INFO_EXPORT` (0)

      Mandatory information before a successful completion of
      `NBD_OPT_INFO` or `NBD_OPT_GO`.  Describes the same information
      that is sent in response to the older `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME`,
      except that there are no trailing zeroes whether or not
      `NBD_FLAG_C_NO_ZEROES` was negotiated.  *length* MUST be 12, and
      the reply payload is interpreted as follows:

      - 16 bits, `NBD_INFO_EXPORT`  
      - 64 bits, size of the export in bytes (unsigned)  
      - 16 bits, transmission flags  

    * `NBD_INFO_NAME` (1)

      Represents the server's canonical name of the export. The name
      MAY differ from the name presented in the client's option
      request, and the information item MAY be omitted if the client
      option request already used the canonical name.  This
      information type represents the same name that would appear in
      the name portion of an `NBD_REP_SERVER` in response to
      `NBD_OPT_LIST`. The *length* MUST be at least 2, and the reply
      payload is interpreted as:

      - 16 bits, `NBD_INFO_NAME`  
      - String: name of the export, *length - 2* bytes  

    * `NBD_INFO_DESCRIPTION` (2)

      A description of the export, suitable for direct display to the
      human being.  This information type represents the same optional
      description that may appear after the name portion of an
      `NBD_REP_SERVER` in response to `NBD_OPT_LIST`. The *length*
      MUST be at least 2, and the reply payload is interpreted as:

      - 16 bits, `NBD_INFO_DESCRIPTION`  
      - String: description of the export, *length - 2* bytes  

    * `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE` (3)

      Represents the server's advertised size constraints; see the
      "Size constraints" section for more details on what these values
      represent, and on constraints on their values.  The server MUST
      send this info if it is requested and it intends to enforce size
      constraints other than the defaults. After sending this
      information in response to an `NBD_OPT_GO` in which the client
      specifically requested `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE`, the server can
      legitimately assume that any client that continues the session
      will support the size constraints supplied (note that this
      assumption cannot be made solely on the basis of an
      `NBD_OPT_INFO` with an `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE` request, or an
      `NBD_OPT_GO` without an explicit `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE`
      request). The *length* MUST be 14, and the reply payload is
      interpreted as:

      - 16 bits, `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE`  
      - 32 bits, minimum block size  
      - 32 bits, preferred block size  
      - 32 bits, maximum payload size  

* `NBD_REP_META_CONTEXT` (4)

    A description of a metadata context. Data:

    - 32 bits, NBD metadata context ID.
    - String, name of the metadata context. This is not required to be
      a human-readable string, but it MUST be valid UTF-8 data.

There are a number of error reply types, all of which are denoted by
having bit 31 set. All error replies MAY have some data set, in which
case that data is an error message string suitable for display to the user.

* `NBD_REP_ERR_UNSUP` (2^31 + 1)

    The option sent by the client is unknown by this server
    implementation (e.g., because the server is too old, or from another
    source).

* `NBD_REP_ERR_POLICY` (2^31 + 2)

    The option sent by the client is known by this server and
    syntactically valid, but server-side policy forbids the server to
    allow the option (e.g., the client sent `NBD_OPT_LIST` but server
    configuration has that disabled)

* `NBD_REP_ERR_INVALID` (2^31 + 3)

    The option sent by the client is known by this server, but was
    determined by the server to be syntactically or semantically
    invalid. For instance, the client sent an `NBD_OPT_LIST` with
    nonzero data length, or the client sent a second
    `NBD_OPT_STARTTLS` after TLS was already negotiated.

* `NBD_REP_ERR_PLATFORM` (2^31 + 4)

    The option sent by the client is not supported on the platform on
    which the server is running, or requires compile-time options that
    were disabled, e.g., upon trying to use TLS.

* `NBD_REP_ERR_TLS_REQD` (2^31 + 5)

    The server is unwilling to continue negotiation unless TLS is
    initiated first. In the case of `NBD_OPT_INFO` and `NBD_OPT_GO`
    this unwillingness MAY (depending on the TLS mode) be limited
    to the export in question. See the section on TLS above for
    further details.

* `NBD_REP_ERR_UNKNOWN` (2^31 + 6)

    The requested export is not available.

* `NBD_REP_ERR_SHUTDOWN` (2^31 + 7)

    The server is unwilling to continue negotiation as it is in the
    process of being shut down.

* `NBD_REP_ERR_BLOCK_SIZE_REQD` (2^31 + 8)

    The server is unwilling to enter transmission phase for a given
    export unless the client first acknowledges (via
    `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE`) that it will obey non-default block sizing
    requirements.

* `NBD_REP_ERR_TOO_BIG` (2^31 + 9)

    The request or the reply is too large to process.

* `NBD_REP_ERR_EXT_HEADER_REQD` (2^31 + 10)

    Defined by the experimental `EXTENDED_HEADERS`
    [extension](https://github.com/NetworkBlockDevice/nbd/blob/extension-ext-header/doc/proto.md).

### Transmission phase

#### Flag fields

##### Command flags

This field of 16 bits is sent by the client with every request and provides
additional information to the server to execute the command. Refer to
the "Request types" section below for more details about how a given flag
affects a particular command.  Clients MUST NOT set a command flag bit
that is not documented for the particular command; and whether a flag is
valid may depend on negotiation during the handshake phase.

- bit 0, `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FUA`; This flag is valid for all commands, provided
  `NBD_FLAG_SEND_FUA` has been negotiated, in which case the server MUST
  accept all commands with this bit set (even by ignoring the bit). The
  client SHOULD NOT set this bit unless the command has the potential of
  writing data (current commands are `NBD_CMD_WRITE`, `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES`
  and `NBD_CMD_TRIM`), however note that existing clients are known to set this
  bit on other commands. Subject to that, and provided `NBD_FLAG_SEND_FUA`
  is negotiated, the client MAY set this bit on all, no or some commands
  as it wishes (see the section on Ordering of messages and writes for
  details). If the server receives a command with `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FUA`
  set it MUST NOT send its reply to that command until all write
  operations (if any) associated with that command have been
  completed and persisted to non-volatile storage. If the command does
  not in fact write data (for instance on an `NBD_CMD_TRIM` in a situation
  where the command as a whole is ignored), the server MAY ignore this bit
  being set on such a command.
- bit 1, `NBD_CMD_FLAG_NO_HOLE`; valid during `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES`.
  SHOULD be set to 1 if the client wants to ensure that the server does
  not create a hole. The client MAY send `NBD_CMD_FLAG_NO_HOLE` even
  if `NBD_FLAG_SEND_TRIM` was not set in the transmission flags field.
  The server MUST support the use of this flag if it advertises
  `NBD_FLAG_SEND_WRITE_ZEROES`.
- bit 2, `NBD_CMD_FLAG_DF`; the "don't fragment" flag, valid during
  `NBD_CMD_READ`.  SHOULD be set to 1 if the client requires the
  server to send at most one content chunk in reply.  MUST NOT be set
  unless the transmission flags include `NBD_FLAG_SEND_DF`.  Use of
  this flag MAY trigger an `NBD_EOVERFLOW` error chunk, if the request
  length is too large.
- bit 3, `NBD_CMD_FLAG_REQ_ONE`; valid during
  `NBD_CMD_BLOCK_STATUS`. If set, the client is interested in only one
  extent per metadata context. If this flag is present, the server
  MUST NOT send metadata on more than one extent in the reply. Client
  implementers should note that using this flag on multiple contiguous
  requests is likely to be inefficient.
- bit 4, `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FAST_ZERO`; valid during
  `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES`. If set, but the server cannot perform the
  write zeroes any faster than it would for an equivalent
  `NBD_CMD_WRITE`, then the server MUST fail quickly with an error of
  `NBD_ENOTSUP`. The client MUST NOT set this unless the server advertised
  `NBD_FLAG_SEND_FAST_ZERO`.
- bit 5, `NBD_CMD_FLAG_PAYLOAD_LEN`; defined by the experimental
  `EXTENDED_HEADERS`
  [extension](https://github.com/NetworkBlockDevice/nbd/blob/extension-ext-header/doc/proto.md).

##### Structured reply flags

This field of 16 bits is sent by the server as part of every
structured reply.

- bit 0, `NBD_REPLY_FLAG_DONE`; the server MUST clear this bit if
  more structured reply chunks will be sent for the same client
  request, and MUST set this bit if this is the final reply.  This
  bit MUST always be set for the `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_NONE` chunk,
  although any other chunk type can also be used as the final
  chunk.

The server MUST NOT set any other flags without first negotiating
the extension with the client, unless the client can usefully
react to the response without interpreting the flag (for instance
if the flag is some form of hint).  Clients MUST ignore
unrecognized flags.

#### Structured reply types

These values are used in the "type" field of a structured reply.  Some
chunk types can additionally be categorized by role, such as *error
chunks* or *content chunks*.  Each type determines how to interpret
the "length" bytes of payload.  If the client receives an unknown or
unexpected type, other than an *error chunk*, it MUST initiate a hard
disconnect.  A server MUST NOT send a chunk where any variable-length
portion of the chunk is larger than any advertised maximum payload
size (however, the overall chunk may exceed the maximum payload by the
small amount of fixed-length overhead inherent in the chunk type).

* `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_NONE` (0)

  *length* MUST be 0 (and the payload field omitted).  This chunk
  type MUST always be used with the `NBD_REPLY_FLAG_DONE` bit set
  (that is, it may appear at most once in a structured reply, and
  is only useful as the final reply chunk).  If no earlier error
  chunks were sent, then this type implies that the overall client
  request is successful.  Valid as a reply to any request.

* `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_OFFSET_DATA` (1)

  This chunk type is in the content chunk category.  *length* MUST be
  at least 9.  It represents the contents of *length - 8* bytes of the
  export, starting at the absolute *offset* from the start of the
  export.  The data MUST lie within the bounds of the original offset
  and length of the client's request, and MUST NOT overlap with the
  bounds of any earlier content chunk or error chunk in the same
  reply.  This chunk MAY be used more than once in a reply, unless the
  `NBD_CMD_FLAG_DF` flag was set.  Valid as a reply to `NBD_CMD_READ`.

  The payload is structured as:

  64 bits: offset (unsigned)  
  *length - 8* bytes: data  

* `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_OFFSET_HOLE` (2)

  This chunk type is in the content chunk category.  *length* MUST be
  exactly 12.  It represents that the contents of *hole size* bytes,
  starting at the absolute *offset* from the start of the export, read
  as all zeroes.  The hole MUST lie within the bounds of the original
  offset and length of the client's request, and MUST NOT overlap with
  the bounds of any earlier content chunk or error chunk in the same
  reply.  This chunk MAY be used more than once in a reply, unless the
  `NBD_CMD_FLAG_DF` flag was set.  Valid as a reply to `NBD_CMD_READ`.

  The payload is structured as:

  64 bits: offset (unsigned)  
  32 bits: hole size (unsigned, MUST be nonzero)  

* `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_BLOCK_STATUS` (5)

  *length* MUST be 4 + (a positive integer multiple of 8).  This reply
  represents a series of consecutive block descriptors where the sum
  of the length fields within the descriptors is subject to further
  constraints documented below.  A successful block status request MUST
  have exactly one status chunk per negotiated metadata context ID.

  The payload starts with:

  32 bits, metadata context ID  

  and is followed by a list of one or more descriptors, each with this
  layout:

  32 bits, length of the extent to which the status below
     applies (unsigned, MUST be nonzero)  
  32 bits, status flags  

  If the client used the `NBD_CMD_FLAG_REQ_ONE` flag in the request,
  then every reply chunk MUST contain exactly one descriptor, and that
  descriptor MUST NOT exceed the *length* of the original request.  If
  the client did not use the flag, and the server replies with N
  extents, then the sum of the *length* fields of the first N-1
  extents (if any) MUST be less than the requested length, while the
  *length* of the final extent MAY result in a sum larger than the
  original requested length, if the server has that information anyway
  as a side effect of reporting the status of the requested region.
  When multiple metadata contexts are negotiated, the reply chunks for
  the different contexts need not have the same number of extents or
  cumulative extent length.

  Servers SHOULD NOT send more than 2^20 extents in a single reply
  chunk; in other words, the size of
  `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_BLOCK_STATUS` should not be more than 4 + 8*2^20
  (8,388,612 bytes), even if this requires that the server truncate
  the response in relation to the *length* requested by the client.

  Even if the client did not use the `NBD_CMD_FLAG_REQ_ONE` flag in
  its request, the server MAY return fewer descriptors in the reply
  than would be required to fully specify the whole range of requested
  information to the client, if looking up the information would be
  too resource-intensive for the server, so long as at least one
  extent is returned.  Servers should however be aware that most
  client implementations will likely follow up with a request for
  extent information at the first offset not covered by a
  reduced-length reply.

* `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_BLOCK_STATUS_EXT` (6)

  Defined by the experimental `EXTENDED_HEADERS`
  [extension](https://github.com/NetworkBlockDevice/nbd/blob/extension-ext-header/doc/proto.md).

All error chunk types have bit 15 set, and begin with the same
*error*, *message length*, and optional *message* fields as
`NBD_REPLY_TYPE_ERROR`.  If nonzero, *message length* indicates
that an optional error string message appears next, suitable for
display to a human user.  The header *length* then covers any
remaining structured fields at the end.

* `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_ERROR` (2^15 + 1)

  This chunk type is in the error chunk category.  *length* MUST
  be at least 6.  This chunk represents that an error occurred,
  and the client MAY NOT make any assumptions about partial
  success. This type SHOULD NOT be used more than once in a
  structured reply.  Valid as a reply to any request.  Note that
  *message length* MUST NOT exceed the 4096 bytes string length
  limit.

  The payload is structured as:

  32 bits: error (MUST be nonzero)  
  16 bits: message length (no more than header *length* - 6)  
  *message length* bytes: optional string suitable for
    direct display to a human being  

* `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_ERROR_OFFSET` (2^15 + 2)

  This chunk type is in the error chunk category.  *length* MUST
  be at least 14.  This reply represents that an error occurred at
  a given offset, which MUST lie within the original offset and
  length of the request; the client can use this offset to
  determine if request had any partial success.  This chunk type
  MAY appear multiple times in a structured reply, although the
  same offset SHOULD NOT be repeated.  Likewise, if content chunks
  were sent earlier in the structured reply, the server SHOULD NOT
  send multiple distinct offsets that lie within the bounds of a
  single content chunk.  Valid as a reply to `NBD_CMD_READ`,
  `NBD_CMD_WRITE`, `NBD_CMD_TRIM`, `NBD_CMD_CACHE`,
  `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES`, and `NBD_CMD_BLOCK_STATUS`.

  The payload is structured as:

  32 bits: error (MUST be nonzero)  
  16 bits: message length (no more than header *length* - 14)  
  *message length* bytes: optional string suitable for
     direct display to a human being  
  64 bits: offset (unsigned)  

If the client receives an unknown or unexpected type with bit 15
set, it MUST consider the current reply as errored, but MAY
continue transmission unless it detects that *message length* is
too large to fit within the *length* specified by the header.  For
all other messages with unknown or unexpected type or inconsistent
contents, the client MUST initiate a hard disconnect.

#### Request types

The following request types exist:

* `NBD_CMD_READ` (0)

    A read request. Length and offset define the data to be read. The
    server MUST reply with either a simple reply or a structured
    reply, according to whether the structured replies have been
    negotiated using `NBD_OPT_STRUCTURED_REPLY`. The client SHOULD NOT
    request a read length of 0; the behavior of a server on such a
    request is unspecified although the server SHOULD NOT disconnect.

    *Simple replies*

    If structured replies were not negotiated, then a read request
    MUST always be answered by a simple reply, as documented above
    (using magic 0x67446698 `NBD_SIMPLE_REPLY_MAGIC`, and containing
    length bytes of data according to the client's request), which in
    turn means any client request with a length larger than the
    maximum payload size will fail.

    If an error occurs, the server SHOULD set the appropriate error code
    in the error field. The server MAY then initiate a hard disconnect.
    If it chooses not to, it MUST NOT send any payload for this request.

    If an error occurs while reading after the server has already sent
    out the reply header with an error field set to zero (i.e.,
    signalling no error), the server MUST immediately initiate a
    hard disconnect; it MUST NOT send any further data to the client.

    *Structured replies*

    If structured replies are negotiated, then a read request MUST
    result in a structured reply with one or more chunks (each using
    magic 0x668e33ef `NBD_STRUCTURED_REPLY_MAGIC`), where the final
    chunk has the flag `NBD_REPLY_FLAG_DONE`, and with the following
    additional constraints.

    The server MAY split the reply into any number of content chunks;
    each chunk MUST describe at least one byte, although to minimize
    overhead, the server SHOULD use chunks with lengths and offsets as
    an integer multiple of 512 bytes, where possible (the first and
    last chunk of an unaligned read being the most obvious places for
    an exception).  The server MUST NOT send content chunks that
    overlap with any earlier content or error chunk, and MUST NOT send
    chunks that describe data outside the offset and length of the
    request, but MAY send the content chunks in any order (the client
    MUST reassemble content chunks into the correct order), and MAY
    send additional content chunks even after reporting an error
    chunk.  A server MAY support read requests larger than the maximum
    payload size by splitting the response across multiple chunks (in
    particular, a request for more than 2^32 - 8 bytes containing data
    rather than holes MUST be split to avoid overflowing the 32-bit
    `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_OFFSET_DATA` length field); however, the server is
    also permitted to reject large read requests up front with
    `NBD_EOVERFLOW`, so a client should be prepared to retry with
    smaller requests if a large request fails.

    When no error is detected, the server MUST send enough data chunks
    to cover the entire region described by the offset and length of
    the client's request.

    To minimize traffic, the server MAY use a content or error chunk
    as the final chunk by setting the `NBD_REPLY_FLAG_DONE` flag, but
    MUST NOT do so for a content chunk if it would still be possible
    to detect an error while transmitting the chunk.  The
    `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_NONE` chunk is always acceptable as the final
    chunk.

    If an error is detected, the server MUST still complete the
    transmission of any current chunk (it MUST use padding bytes which
    SHOULD be zero, for any remaining data portion of a chunk with
    type `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_OFFSET_DATA`), but MAY omit further content
    chunks.  The server MUST include an error chunk as one of the
    subsequent chunks, but MAY defer the error reporting behind other
    queued chunks.  An error chunk of type `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_ERROR`
    implies that the client MAY NOT make any assumptions about
    validity of data chunks (whether sent before or after the error
    chunk), and if used, SHOULD be the only error chunk in the reply.
    On the other hand, an error chunk of type
    `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_ERROR_OFFSET` gives fine-grained information about
    which earlier data chunk(s) encountered a failure; as such, a
    server MAY still usefully follow it with further non-overlapping
    content chunks or with error offsets for other content chunks.
    The server MAY send an error chunk with no corresponding content
    chunk, but MUST ensure that the content chunk is sent first if a
    content and error chunk cover the same offset.  Generally, a
    server SHOULD NOT mix errors with offsets with a generic error.
    As long as all errors are accompanied by offsets, the client MAY
    assume that any data chunks with no subsequent error offset are
    valid, that chunks with an overlapping error offset errors are
    valid up until the reported offset, and that portions of the read
    that do not have a corresponding content chunk are not valid.

    A client MAY initiate a hard disconnect if it detects that the server
    has sent invalid chunks (such as overlapping data, or not enough
    data before claiming success).

    In order to avoid the burden of reassembly, the client MAY set the
    `NBD_CMD_FLAG_DF` flag ("don't fragment").  If this flag is set,
    the server MUST send at most one content chunk, although it MAY
    still send multiple chunks (the remaining chunks would be error
    chunks or a final type of `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_NONE`).  If the area
    being read contains both data and a hole, the server MUST use
    `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_OFFSET_DATA` with the zeroes explicitly present.
    A server MAY reject a client's request with the error `NBD_EOVERFLOW`
    if the length is too large to send without fragmentation, in which
    case it MUST NOT send a content chunk; however, the server MUST
    support unfragmented reads in which the client's request length
    does not exceed 65,536 bytes.

* `NBD_CMD_WRITE` (1)

    A write request. Length and offset define the location and amount of
    data to be written. The client MUST follow the request header with
    *length* number of bytes to be written to the device. The client
    SHOULD NOT request a write length of 0; the behavior of a server on
    such a request is unspecified although the server SHOULD NOT
    disconnect.

    The server MUST write the data to disk, and then send the reply
    message. The server MAY send the reply message before the data has
    reached permanent storage, unless `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FUA` is in use.

    If an error occurs, the server MUST set the appropriate error code
    in the error field.

* `NBD_CMD_DISC` (2)

    A disconnect request. The server MUST handle all outstanding
    requests, shut down the TLS session (if one is running), and
    close the TCP session.  A client MUST NOT send
    anything to the server after sending an `NBD_CMD_DISC` command.

    The values of the length and offset fields in a disconnect request
    MUST be zero.

    There is no reply to an `NBD_CMD_DISC`.

* `NBD_CMD_FLUSH` (3)

    A flush request. The server MUST NOT send a
    successful reply header for this request before all write requests
    for which a reply has already been sent to the client have reached
    permanent storage (using fsync() or similar).

    A client MUST NOT send a flush request unless `NBD_FLAG_SEND_FLUSH`
    was set in the transmission flags field.

    For a flush request, *length* and *offset* are reserved, and MUST be
    set to all-zero.

* `NBD_CMD_TRIM` (4)

    A hint to the server that the data defined by length and offset is
    no longer needed. A server MAY discard *length* bytes starting at
    offset, but is not required to; and MAY round *offset* up and
    *length* down to meet internal alignment constraints so that only
    a portion of the client's request is actually discarded. The
    client SHOULD NOT request a trim length of 0; the behavior of a
    server on such a request is unspecified although the server SHOULD
    NOT disconnect.

    After issuing this command, a client MUST NOT make any assumptions
    about the contents of the export affected by this command, until
    overwriting it again with `NBD_CMD_WRITE` or `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES`.

    A client MUST NOT send a trim request unless `NBD_FLAG_SEND_TRIM`
    was set in the transmission flags field.

* `NBD_CMD_CACHE` (5)

    A cache request.  The client is informing the server that it plans
    to access the area specified by *offset* and *length*.  The server
    MAY use this information to speed up further access to that area
    (for example, by performing the actions of `NBD_CMD_READ` but
    replying with just status instead of a payload, by using
    posix_fadvise(), or by retrieving remote data into a local cache
    so that future reads and unaligned writes to that region are
    faster).  However, it is unspecified what the server's actual
    caching mechanism is (if any), whether there is a limit on how
    much can be cached at once, and whether writes to a cached region
    have write-through or write-back semantics.  Thus, even when this
    command reports success, there is no guarantee of an actual
    performance gain.  A future version of this standard may add
    command flags to request particular caching behaviors, where a
    server would reply with an error if that behavior cannot be
    accomplished.

    If an error occurs, the server MUST set the appropriate error code
    in the error field. However failure on this operation does not
    imply that further read and write requests on this area will fail,
    and, other than any difference in performance, there MUST NOT be
    any difference in semantics compared to if the client had not used
    this command.  When no command flags are in use, the server MAY
    send a reply prior to the requested area being fully cached.

    Note that client implementations exist which attempt to send a
    cache request even when `NBD_FLAG_SEND_CACHE` was not set in the
    transmission flags field, however, these implementations do not
    use any command flags.  A server MAY advertise
    `NBD_FLAG_SEND_CACHE` even if the command has no effect or always
    fails with `NBD_EINVAL`; however, if it advertised the command, the
    server MUST reject any command flags it does not recognize.

* `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES` (6)

    A write request with no payload. *Offset* and *length* define the
    location and amount of data to be zeroed. The client SHOULD NOT
    request a write length of 0; the behavior of a server on such a
    request is unspecified although the server SHOULD NOT disconnect.

    The server MUST zero out the data on disk, and then send the reply
    message. The server MAY send the reply message before the data has
    reached permanent storage, unless `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FUA` is in use.

    A client MUST NOT send a write zeroes request unless
    `NBD_FLAG_SEND_WRITE_ZEROES` was set in the transmission flags
    field. Additionally, a client MUST NOT send the
    `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FAST_ZERO` flag unless `NBD_FLAG_SEND_FAST_ZERO` was
    set in the transmission flags field.

    By default, the server MAY use trimming to zero out the area, even
    if it did not advertise `NBD_FLAG_SEND_TRIM`; but it MUST ensure
    that the data reads back as zero.  However, the client MAY set the
    command flag `NBD_CMD_FLAG_NO_HOLE` to inform the server that the
    area MUST be fully provisioned, ensuring that future writes to the
    same area will not cause fragmentation or cause failure due to
    insufficient space.

    If the server advertised `NBD_FLAG_SEND_FAST_ZERO` but
    `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FAST_ZERO` is not set, then the server MUST NOT fail
    with `NBD_ENOTSUP`, even if the operation is no faster than a
    corresponding `NBD_CMD_WRITE`. Conversely, if `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FAST_ZERO`
    is set, the server SHOULD NOT fail with `NBD_EOVERFLOW` regardless of
    the client length, MUST fail quickly with `NBD_ENOTSUP` unless the
    request can be serviced in less time than a corresponding
    `NBD_CMD_WRITE`, and SHOULD NOT alter the contents of the export when
    returning an `NBD_ENOTSUP` failure. The server's
    determination on whether to fail a fast request MAY depend on a
    number of factors, such as whether the request was suitably
    aligned, on whether the `NBD_CMD_FLAG_NO_HOLE` flag was present,
    or even on whether a previous `NBD_CMD_TRIM` had been performed on
    the region.  If the server did not advertise
    `NBD_FLAG_SEND_FAST_ZERO`, then it SHOULD NOT fail with
    `NBD_ENOTSUP`, regardless of the speed of servicing a request, and
    SHOULD fail with `NBD_EINVAL` if the `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FAST_ZERO` flag
    was set. A server MAY advertise `NBD_FLAG_SEND_FAST_ZERO` whether
    or not it will actually succeed on a fast zero request (a fast
    failure of `NBD_ENOTSUP` still counts as a fast response);
    similarly, a server SHOULD fail a fast zero request with
    `NBD_ENOTSUP` if the server cannot quickly determine in advance
    whether proceeding with the request would be fast, even if it
    turns out that the same request without the flag would be fast
    after all.

    One intended use of a fast zero request is optimizing the copying
    of a sparse image source into the export: a client can request
    fast zeroing of the entire export, and if it succeeds, follow that
    with write requests to just the data portions before a single
    flush of the entire image, for fewer transactions overall.  On the
    other hand, if the fast zero request fails, the fast failure lets
    the client know that it must manually write zeroes corresponding
    to the holes of the source image before a final flush, for more
    transactions but with no time lost to duplicated I/O to the data
    portions.  Knowing this usage pattern can help decide whether a
    server's implementation for writing zeroes counts as fast (for
    example, a successful fast zero request may start a background
    operation that would cause the next flush request to take longer,
    but that is okay as long as intermediate writes before that flush
    do not further lengthen the time spent on the overall sequence of
    operations).

    If an error occurs, the server MUST set the appropriate error code
    in the error field.

    The server SHOULD return `NBD_ENOSPC` if it receives a write zeroes request
    including one or more sectors beyond the size of the device. It SHOULD
    return `NBD_EPERM` if it receives a write zeroes request on a read-only export.

* `NBD_CMD_BLOCK_STATUS` (7)

    A block status query request. Length and offset define the range
    of interest.  The client SHOULD NOT request a status length of 0;
    the behavior of a server on such a request is unspecified although
    the server SHOULD NOT disconnect.

    A client MUST NOT send `NBD_CMD_BLOCK_STATUS` unless within the
    negotiation phase it sent `NBD_OPT_SET_META_CONTEXT` at least
    once, and where the final time that was sent, it referred to the
    same export name used to enter transmission phase, and where the
    server returned at least one metadata context without an error.
    This in turn requires the client to first negotiate structured
    replies. For a successful return, the server MUST use a structured
    reply, containing exactly one chunk of type
    `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_BLOCK_STATUS` per selected context id, where the
    status field of each descriptor is determined by the flags field
    as defined by the metadata context.  The server MAY send chunks in
    a different order than the context ids were assigned in reply to
    `NBD_OPT_SET_META_CONTEXT`.

    The list of block status descriptors within the
    `NBD_REPLY_TYPE_BLOCK_STATUS` chunk represent consecutive portions
    of the export starting from specified *offset*.  If the client used
    the `NBD_CMD_FLAG_REQ_ONE` flag, each chunk contains exactly one
    descriptor where the *length* of the descriptor MUST NOT be
    greater than the *length* of the request; otherwise, a chunk MAY
    contain multiple descriptors, and the final descriptor MAY extend
    beyond the original requested size if the server can determine a
    larger length without additional effort.  On the other hand, the
    server MAY return less data than requested.  In particular, a
    server SHOULD NOT send more than 2^20 status descriptors in a
    single chunk.  However the server MUST return at least one status
    descriptor, and since each status descriptor has a non-zero
    length, a client can always make progress on a successful return.

    The server SHOULD use different *status* values between
    consecutive descriptors where feasible, although the client SHOULD
    be prepared to handle consecutive descriptors with the same
    *status* value.  The server SHOULD use descriptor lengths that are
    an integer multiple of 512 bytes where possible (the first and
    last descriptor of an unaligned query being the most obvious
    places for an exception), in part to avoid an amplification effect
    where a series of smaller descriptors can cause the server's reply
    to occupy more bytes than the *length* of the client's request.
    The server SHOULD use descriptor lengths that are an integer
    multiple of any advertised minimum block size, with an obvious
    exception at the end of the image if the image size itself is
    unaligned. The status flags
    are intentionally defined so that a server MAY always safely
    report a status of 0 for any block, although the server SHOULD
    return additional status values when they can be easily detected.

    If an error occurs, the server SHOULD set the appropriate error
    code in the error field of an error chunk. However, if the error
    does not involve invalid usage (such as a request beyond the
    bounds of the export), a server MAY reply with a single block
    status descriptor with *length* matching the requested length,
    rather than reporting the error; in this case the context MAY
    mandate the status returned.

    A client MAY initiate a hard disconnect if it detects that the
    server has sent an invalid chunk. The server SHOULD return
    `NBD_EINVAL` if it receives a `NBD_CMD_BLOCK_STATUS` request including
    one or more sectors beyond the size of the device.

* `NBD_CMD_RESIZE` (8)

    Defined by the experimental `RESIZE`
    [extension](https://github.com/NetworkBlockDevice/nbd/blob/extension-resize/doc/proto.md).

* Other requests

    Some third-party implementations may require additional protocol
    messages which are not described in this document. In the interest of
    interoperability, authors of such implementations SHOULD contact the
    maintainer of this document, so that these messages can be listed here
    to avoid conflicting implementations.

#### Error values

The error values are used for the error field in the reply message.
Originally, error messages were defined as the value of `errno` on the
system running the server; however, although they happen to have similar
values on most systems, these values are in fact not well-defined, and
therefore not entirely portable.

Therefore, the allowed values for the error field have been restricted
to set of possibilities. To remain intelligible with older clients, the
most common values of `errno` for that particular error has been chosen
as the value for an error.

The following error values are defined:

* `NBD_EPERM` (1), Operation not permitted.
* `NBD_EIO` (5), Input/output error.
* `NBD_ENOMEM` (12), Cannot allocate memory.
* `NBD_EINVAL` (22), Invalid argument.
* `NBD_ENOSPC` (28), No space left on device.
* `NBD_EOVERFLOW` (75), Value too large.
* `NBD_ENOTSUP` (95), Operation not supported.
* `NBD_ESHUTDOWN` (108), Server is in the process of being shut down.

The server SHOULD return `NBD_ENOSPC` if it receives a write request
including one or more sectors beyond the size of the device.  It also
SHOULD map the `EDQUOT` and `EFBIG` errors to `NBD_ENOSPC`.  It SHOULD
return `NBD_EINVAL` if it receives a read or trim request including one or
more sectors beyond the size of the device, or if a read or write
request is not aligned to advertised minimum block sizes. Finally, it
SHOULD return `NBD_EPERM` if it receives a write or trim request on a
read-only export.

The server SHOULD NOT return `NBD_EOVERFLOW` except as documented in
response to `NBD_CMD_READ` when `NBD_CMD_FLAG_DF` is supported, or when
a command without payload requests a length larger than an advertised
maximum payload length.

The server SHOULD NOT return `NBD_ENOTSUP` except as documented in
response to `NBD_CMD_WRITE_ZEROES` when `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FAST_ZERO` is
supported.

The server SHOULD return `NBD_EINVAL` if it receives an unknown command.

The server SHOULD return `NBD_EINVAL` if it receives an unknown
command flag. It also SHOULD return `NBD_EINVAL` if it receives a
request with a flag not explicitly documented as applicable to the
given request.

Which error to return in any other case is not specified by the NBD
protocol.

The server SHOULD NOT return `NBD_ENOMEM` if at all possible.

The client SHOULD treat an unexpected error value as if it had been
`NBD_EINVAL`, rather than disconnecting from the server.

## Experimental extensions

In addition to the normative elements of the specification set out
herein, various experimental non-normative extensions have been
proposed. These may not be implemented in any known server or client,
and are subject to change at any point. A full implementation may
require changes to the specifications, or cause the specifications to
be withdrawn altogether.

These experimental extensions are set out in git branches starting
with names starting with the word 'extension'.

Currently known are:

* The `EXTENDED_HEADER` [extension](https://github.com/NetworkBlockDevice/nbd/blob/extension-ext-header/doc/proto.md).

* The `RESIZE` [extension](https://github.com/NetworkBlockDevice/nbd/blob/extension-resize/doc/proto.md).

Implementers of these extensions are strongly suggested to contact the
[mailinglist](mailto:nbd@other.debian.org) in order to help
fine-tune the specifications before committing to a particular
implementation.

Those proposing further extensions should also contact the
[mailinglist](mailto:nbd@other.debian.org). It is
possible to reserve command codes etc. within this document
for such proposed extensions. Aside from that, extensions are
written as branches which can be merged into master if and
when those extensions are promoted to the normative version
of the document in the master branch.

## Compatibility and interoperability

Originally, the NBD protocol was a fairly simple protocol with few
options. While the basic protocol is still reasonably simple, a growing
number of extensions has been implemented that may make the protocol
description seem overwhelming at first.

In an effort to not overwhelm first-time implementers with various
options and features that may or may not be important for their use
case, while at the same time desiring maximum interoperability, this
section tries to clarify what is optional and what is expected to be
available in all implementations.

All protocol options and messages not explicitly mentioned below should
be considered optional features that MAY be negotiated between client
and server, but are not required to be available.

### Baseline

The following MUST be implemented by all implementations, and should be
considered a baseline:

- NOTLS mode
- The fixed newstyle handshake
- During the handshake:

    - the `NBD_OPT_INFO` and `NBD_OPT_GO` messages, with the
      `NBD_INFO_EXPORT` response.
    - Servers that receive messages which they do not implement MUST
      reply to them with `NBD_REP_ERR_UNSUP`, and MUST NOT fail to parse
      the next message received.
    - the `NBD_OPT_ABORT` message, and its response.
    - the `NBD_OPT_LIST` message and its response.

- During the transmission phase:

    - Simple replies
    - the `NBD_CMD_READ` message (and its response)
    - the `NBD_CMD_WRITE` message (and its response), unless the
      implementation is a client that does not wish to write
    - the `NBD_CMD_DISC` message (and its resulting effects, although
      no response is involved)

Clients that wish to use more messages MUST negotiate them during the
handshake phase, first.

### Maximum interoperability

Clients and servers that desire maximum interoperability SHOULD
implement the following features:

- TLS-encrypted communication, which may be required by some
  implementations or configurations;
- Servers that implement size constraints through
  `NBD_INFO_BLOCK_SIZE` and desire maximum interoperability SHOULD NOT
  require them.  Similarly, clients that desire maximum
  interoperability SHOULD implement querying for size
  constraints. Since some clients default to a block size of 512
  bytes, implementations desiring maximum interoperability MAY default
  to that size.  Clients that do not implement querying for size
  constraints SHOULD abide by the rules laid out in the section "Size
  constraints", above.
- Clients or servers that desire interoperability with older
  implementations SHOULD implement the `NBD_OPT_EXPORT_NAME` message in
  addition to `NBD_OPT_INFO` and `NBD_OPT_GO`.
- For data safety, implementing `NBD_CMD_FLUSH` and the
  `NBD_CMD_FLAG_FUA` flag to `NBD_CMD_WRITE` is strongly recommended.

### Future considerations

The following may be moved to the "Maximum interoperability" or
"Baseline" sections at some point in the future, but some significant
implementations are not yet ready to support them:

- Structured replies; the Linux kernel currently does not yet implement
  them.

## About this file

This file tries to document the NBD protocol as it is currently
implemented in the Linux kernel and in the reference implementation. The
purpose of this file is to allow people to understand the protocol
without having to read the code. However, the description above does not
come with any form of warranty; while every effort has been taken to
avoid them, mistakes are possible.

In contrast to the other files in this repository, this file is not
licensed under the GPLv2. To the extent possible by applicable law, I
hereby waive all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this
file and release it into the public domain.

The purpose of releasing this into the public domain is to allow
competing implementations of the NBD protocol without those
implementations being considered derivative implementations; but please
note that changing this document, while allowed by its public domain
status, does not make an incompatible implementation suddenly speak the
NBD protocol.
