Thomas,

I don't think that client / server functionality are so well defined in most of 
the IPv6 RFCs, but are more of the node / router functional split.  I think 
giving some additional information about how a particular node is used is good 
- but at the end of the day, most of the node functionality will be delivered 
in terms of an OS, where the client / server functionality split is really not 
important, IMO.

Additionally, in an IPv6-world, my hope is that things will be a bit more 
interesting in terms of the roles of IPv6 nodes.  As you might know, we have 
made a port of the Apache web server to mobile phones, and have that in trial 
(using IPv4).  We use DDNS to manage connectivity to the server.  In an IPv6 
world, we definitely would like to use privacy extentions, as we do not 
consider that the mobile web server should be accessed by everyone, but would 
want to use some level of authentication for clients connecting to the 
webserver. 

In summary, I am not sure if this paragraph:

   That said, the problem addressed by Privacy Extensions only happen
   when a device regularly changes its point of attachment (i.e., for
   mobile devices) and where the mobile device is associated with a
   single (or small number) of users In such sitatuations, privacy may
   be a concern and RFC4941 SHOULD be implemented. In other cases,
   RFC4941 provides limited or no benefit. In particular, RFC4941
   provide little benefit to servers.

makes sense, I would prefer dropping this paragraph.  
 
About this paragraph:

   It is recommended that this behavior be configurable on a
   connection basis within each application when available.  It is
   noted that a number of applications do not work with addresses
   generated with this method, while other applications work quite
   well with them.

I remember during discussions that some people were worried that not all 
applications would work with privacy extensions.  Maybe it makes sense to 
remove the requirement, but adjust it so that it provides a bit more 
information, something like:

   It is
   noted that a number of applications do not work with addresses
   generated with this method, while other applications work quite
   well with them. One should consider how applications might use
   addresses generated with this mechanism.

-- or something like that.

John


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of ext 
Thomas Narten
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 10:35 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Node Requirements: Issue 14 - Privacy Extensions

The document currently says:

>    5.7.3.  Privacy Extensions for Address Configuration in IPv6 - RFC 
> 4941
> 
>    Privacy Extensions for Stateless Address Autoconfiguration [RFC4941]
>    SHOULD be supported.  It is recommended that this behavior be
>    configurable on a connection basis within each application when
>    available.  It is noted that a number of applications do not work
>    with addresses generated with this method, while other applications
>    work quite well with them.

IMO, additional context is needed. As 4941 itself states, RFC 4941 is only 
useful for mobile devices -- devices that actually move around within the 
network. Servers generally do not do that. Plus, servers are by definition 
visible (so folk can access them). Thus, in the case of servers, a blanket 
SHOULD is not appropriate. I'd like to propose the following replacement text:

   Privacy Extensions for Stateless Address Autoconfiguration
   [RFC4941] addresses a specific problem involving a mobile device
   that regularly changes its point of attachment to the
   Internet. When using Stateless Address Autoconfiguration [RFC
   4862], the Interface Identifier portion of formed addresses stays
   constant and is globally unique. Thus, although a node's global
   IPv6 address will change as it changes its point of attachment, the
   Interface Identifier portion of those addresses remain the same,
   making it possible for servers to track the location of an
   individual device as it moves around. This may raise privacy
   concerns as described in [RFC 4862].

   That said, the problem addressed by Privacy Extensions only happen
   when a device regularly changes its point of attachment (i.e., for
   mobile devices) and where the mobile device is associated with a
   single (or small number) of users In such sitatuations, privacy may
   be a concern and RFC4941 SHOULD be implemented. In other cases,
   RFC4941 provides limited or no benefit. In particular, RFC4941
   provide little benefit to servers.
   
Note also that I propose dropping:

   It is recommended that this behavior be configurable on a
   connection basis within each application when available.  It is
   noted that a number of applications do not work with addresses
   generated with this method, while other applications work quite
   well with them.

The above recommendation is not in RFC 4941, and I do not believe it is 
appropriate for an AS to be adding a requirement that 4941 itself does not 
mention.

Comments?

Thomas
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