Re: 6to4 vs forwarding IP proto41 in NAT

[Carlos Friacas <cfriacas@fccn.pt>]

On Wed, 16 Jul 2003, Tim Chown wrote:

>
> There are two uses for the document:
>
> 1.  To alert people to the (to some obvious) protocol41 "trick" to carry an
>     IPv6 tunnel into a NAT network.   This is very handy for early adoptors
>     (the IPv6 geeks).    It is not a long-term solution.

If it is documented (approved), it might be considered a long-term
solution by some people... because it would classify as an "hack"
documented by the ietf!

And moreover, some ipv6 projects/sites already document this. Euro6ix is
an example.



> 2.  To alert NAT vendors to the fact that if they make what should be a
>     simple mod to their formware - *if* they are not already supporting IPv6
>     in some other way e.g. 6to4 or better - they can enable their geek
>     customers to use IPv6 at home.

Again, focusing on "geek customers" will not take IPv6 usage anywhere.
IPv6 deployment (and usage) will only rely on *everybody* using it
(sometimes), without having to know IPv6 is there.

Vendors work based on demand: if you have 5 or 50 geeks sending emails,
they do nothing, if some big enterprise requests it, they will try
to comply promptly.



> I think it's a useful informational document, so long as the "trick" is
> just seen as an early adoptor/last resort mechanism.
>
> It is a mechanism we use a lot btw.

...but certainly wish not having to do it... ;-)))



> tim

Regards,

./Carlos                                                "Networking is fun!"
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