Subject: Re: [RFC] ip / ifconfig redesign

From: "Jeff V. Merkey" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 02 Dec 2005 15:40:15 -0700

Al Boldi wrote:

>The current ip / ifconfig configuration is arcane and inflexible.  The reason 
>being, that they are based on design principles inherited from the last 
>century.
>
>In a GNU/OpenSource environment, OpenMinds should not inhibit themselves 
>achieving new design-goals to enable a flexible non-redundant configuration.
>
>Specifically, '#> ip addr ' exhibits this issue clearly, by requiring to 
>associate the address to a link instead of the other way around.
>
>Consider this new approach for better address management:
>1. Allow the definition of an address pool
>2. Relate links to addresses
>3. Implement to make things backward-compatible.
>
>The obvious benefit here, would be the transparent ability for apps to bind 
>to addresses, regardless of the link existence.
>
>Another benefit includes the ability to scale the link level transparently, 
>regardless of the application bind state.
>
>And there may be many other benefits... (i.e. 100% OSI compliance)
>
>--
>Al
>
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Just what we need, another broken utility without backward 
compatibility. Make certain you preserve the existing commands so the whole
planet isn't broken as a result.

Jeff