Re: ipv4 and ipv6 stacks for new link layers?

[Olaf Titz]

> In current architecture, you have to patch kernel IPv6 and IPv4
> protocols when you add new link layer that they don't recognize.

Which is right, because the IP layer is the place which knows how to
map IP addresses to link layer addresses.

IP must know its link layer. E.g. it needs a way to decide if the link
layer is multicast capable at all.

> I think that is worse than allow a new driver to provide a simple
> service function which maps IPv4/6 multicast address into link layer
> address, when asked.

"Link layer address" is not a generic concept at all, even though too
much code assumes everything is Ethernet.

Olaf
-
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at  http://www.tux.org/lkml/