Re: RAO for IPv4

I agree with Thomas on this document.

Bob


On Oct 24, 2007, at 7:31 AM, ext Thomas Narten wrote:

> Bob Hinden and I had some further offlist discussion about this.
>
> My understanding is that the IPv4 RA option is very basic. It says
> "look at this packet". The option itself doesn't contain any
> additional information or "hint" as to what to look for or what the
> packet contains.
>
> The semantics of the IPv6 router alert option are different. The value
> itself is used to convey additional "hints" about processing.
>
> My sense is that the semantics of the IPv4 and IPv6 Router Alert
> option are sufficiently different that sharing the name space just
> doesn't make any sense.
>
> That is, the  ID says:
>
>     This document proposes the creation of a new IANA registry for
>     managing IPv4 Router Alert Option Values.  In conjunction with
>     this, it also proposes an update to the way in which IPv6 Router
>     Alert Option Values are assigned in the existing IANA registry.
>
> But there are no defined IPv4 Router Alert Option values (other than
> zero), and it would be inappropriate to change the semantics of any
> existing usages (too late for that) and it would also be inappropriate
> to consider doing this in the absense of a specific new application
> that would make use of a new value. This document does not propose
> such a new usage.
>
> Hence, at this point, I'm opposed to the actions called for in the
> document.
>
> Thomas