[arin-ppml] The role of NAT in IPv6

[Gams, Matthew D]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dan White [mailto:dwhite at olp.net]
> Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 1:31 PM
> To: Gams, Matthew D
> Cc: Gary Giesen; 'arin-ppml at arin.net'
> Subject: Re: The role of NAT in IPv6
> 
> On 15/04/10 10:21 -0500, Gams, Matthew D wrote:
> >This assumes that just because you access the Internet you should be
> globally routable. I know it's too late to debate addressing schemes as
> IPv6 is already here but just because you have an insanely large address
> pool doesn't mean every toaster needs to have a globally unique address.
> 
> Frederick P Brooks, in his new Design on Design book, articulates
> something
> that I've always strongly believed in. When discussing several key
> components of a good design (not networking specific):
> 
> 	Generality is the ability to use a function for many ends. It
> expresses
>      the professional humility of the designer, his conviction that
> users
>      will be inventive beyond his imagination and that needs may change
>      beyond his ability to forecast. The designer should avoid limiting
> a
>      function by his own notions about its use. When you don't know,
> grant
>      freedom.
> 
> Protocol designers should not be thinking about the wisdom of addressing
> a
> toaster. They have a different purpose. The same should be (mostly) true
> of
> the RIR allocation process, and the ISP assignment process.
> 
> The debate about how addresses should be used should be done at the end
> user or enterprise level. NAT will be used in IPv6, because many
> enterprise
> and home users will deem that to be most appropriate for their users.
> Those admins have the responsibility to secure their networks in
> whatever way makes most sense to them.
> 
> But I feel that ISPs and network operators that NAT in front of their
> enterprise, business, and residential customers are doing them a great
> disservice.

Agreed.
 

> --
> Dan White