RE: Link-local address use in URLs

Hi Phil,

The zone-id part of a scoped-address (for example, the "eth0" part of a
link-local address) is node-specific, and thus "MUST be used only within
a node and MUST NOT be sent on the wire unless every node that
interprets the format agrees on the semantics" (see RFC 4007, section
11.2).

Later in RFC 4007 (section 11.7), the subject of using scoped-addresses
in URLs is discussed: "However, the typed URL is often sent on the wire,
and it would cause confusion if an application did not strip the
<zone_id> portion before sending".  It goes on to discuss problems with
conflicts between scoped-address format and URI syntax (the '%'
character in particular) which makes parsing of such URLs problematic.
The section ends with "it is recommended to use an FQDN instead of a
literal IPv6 address in a URL, whenever an FQDN is available".

So basically, don't use link-local addresses in URLs if you can avoid
it.  It's unlikely to be portable or result in consistent behavior if it
works at all.

--Brian

	_____________________________________________ 
	From: 	[email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]  On
Behalf Of Bellino, Phil
	Sent:	Wednesday, 08 June, 2005 07:28
	To:	Users-IPv6; Users-Usagi
	Subject:	Link-local address use in URLs

	Hello,
	Running 2.6.11 kernel.
	I can use an IPv6 enabled web browser(such as Mozilla) from
another
	linux 2.6.11 kernel with non link-local addresses with no
problems
	to an http server application.  When I attempt to use the
link-local
	address "[fe80::xxxx.xxxx.xxxx.xxxx%eth0] the http server does
not
	understand it.

	I have seen on the web that the link-local address with a scope
does
	not work with URLs in general with Linux.

	Has anyone else seen this or can anyone confirm this?

	Thanks,
	Phil Bellino

	============================
	Phil Bellino
	MRV Communications, Inc.
	Boston Product Division
	295 Foster St.
	Littleton,MA 01460
	Tel: (978)952-4807
	Email: [email protected]
	============================


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