9 Sep
2017
9 Sep
'17
9:22 p.m.
There are 1.8 * 10^19 /64 IPv6 subnets. Why do we need a block? We can
just use individual, dedicated IPv6 subnets for every ham on the planet,
and never make a tiny dent in the available subnets. Let's get away from
the central-hub-oriented architecture of the 44 net, and 'go native'.
Yes, we're going to need some gateways for linking IPv4 and IPv6
networks during the transition - these already exist for a number of
protocols (e.g. http). Other services like email servers may need to
remain dual stack for some time, or we may need to use relay servers.
But please, we need an architecture that involves very little
administrative overhead, and with as little central control as
possible. The sticking point is usually in how to determine that we're
allowing legal ham traffic onto the ham bands, perhaps a set of
certificate-issuing facilities of some sort. This would make it possible
to have a number of facilities around the globe, independent of one
another, that would issue certificates that ham stations would use to
identify valid ham traffic coming over the Internet. The certs would not
be needed over the air, eliminating issues about ham traffic encryption
laws in most countries. If a particular certificate authority became an
issue, it can be invalidated. In countries like the US, each state or
region could have its own cert issuer. In smaller countries with few
hams, several countries might get together and have a single cert
issuer, rather than one per country.
There are already places on the Internet where customers have only IPv6
client addresses - and this is growing. We need to move to the forefront
of such technology, not wait around and be followers.
- Richard, VE7CVS
On 9/9/2017 12:41 PM, Patrick Ryan KC6VVT wrote:
Couple of points:
Current users of IPv4 44 group are international amateur radio operators
that are currently far beyond mainstream amateur radio casual users of the
'World Wide Web', using their knowledge in non-Windows based programs and
techniques with a steep learning curve, as I understand it.
Therefore, there is little to no popularized appeal to the casual potential
amateur radio user of 44 group addresses.
As for me, a casual reader of this group, I would love to be able to create
a sub-net in the 44 reserved area within my devices (desktop, laptop,
notebook, smartphone or tablet, smart ham radio) and be able to link or
'tunnel in' and share my home station equipment outputs, or to remote my
station and related equipment.
Some missed or forgotten opportunities I would like to have seen using an
IPv4 44 group address in amateur radio might be:
Subnet for my amateur radio used computers (using ipconfig);
Packet wormhole (yes, I used them in the past, but life is too short for
1200 baud PBBS);
APRS-IS (tier 1, 2, 3 and more, especially everyday users using aprs.fi
and others);
Echolink and IRLP (or any future Voice over IP - VOIP);
WinLink 2000 (for last mile Internet carried email via amateur radio);
Remote Station (individual or club station linking by a more modest
operator station);
HSMM (High Speed Multi Media/ Mesh);
Amateur Television
and who knows what else in my amateur radio future.
Instead, amateur radio operators are instead using commercial addresses
allotted from ISP vendors, where costs prohibit an assigned fixed address.
Perhaps the ISP may be route to their 44 group address from any assigned
and random address, If only they could convince their ISP provider to let
them use an alias subnet from the 44 group, easily obtained by a
non-existant central registry.
*If we can not make the 44 group more available with good to fair
popularizing of applications to everyday amateur radio operators, it will
be gone before we know it. *
With a larger base of everyday 44 group users in our amateur radio
community, there would be more justification for future dedicated
assignments in IPv6 addresses. We were lucky to get IPv4 block fro amateur
radio experimentation, and it seems one (or more) individuals were able to
make it so. Thanks for that, but it sad the window is closing on this era.
73 de Pat KC6VVT