A new version of "IPv6 Node Information Queries" was published recently.
Title : IPv6 Node Information Queries
Author(s) : M. Crawford
Filename : draft-ietf-ipngwg-icmp-name-lookups-09.txt
Pages : 15
Date : 20-May-02
After discussion with the Internet AD's an applicability statement was
added to this draft. This should resolve the issues raised during the IETF
last call regarding the scope of usage for the mechanisms in this draft.
The applicability statement limits usage to diagnostic and debugging tools
and is based on experience with current implementations of these
mechanisms. An example of IPv6 debugging tools using "IPv6 Node
Information Queries" is the PING6 program in the KAME IPv6 implementation
that is used in most BSD distributions, MacOS X, JunOS, and
ExtremeWare. Similar tools are also included in USAGI (Linux) IPv6 stack.
The applicability statement is section 6 of the draft and is follows:
6. Applicability Statement
IPv6 Node Information Queries include the capability to provide
forward and reverse name lookups independent of the DNS by sending
packets directly to IPv6 nodes or groups of nodes.
The applicability of these mechanics is currently limited to
diagnostic and debugging tools. These mechanisms can be used to
learn the addresses and names for nodes on the other end of a
point-to-point link or nodes on a shared-medium link such as an
Ethernet. This is very useful when debugging problems or when
bringing up IPv6 service where there isn't global routing or DNS
name services available. IPv6's large auto-configured addresses
make debugging network problems and bringing up IPv6 service
difficult without these mechanisms. An example of a IPv6 debugging
tool using IPv6 Node Information Queries is the ping6 program in the
KAME, USAGI, and other IPv6 implementations [KAME].
The mechanisms defined in this document may have wider applicability
in the future (for example, name lookups in zero configuration
networks, global reverse name lookups, etc.), but any use beyond
debugging and diagnostic tools is left for further study and is
beyond the scope of this document.
The AD's have indicated that they will do another IETF last call for
Proposed Standard given the length of time since the previous IETF last call.
Bob
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