Re: IPv6 and localhost

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Allen Kistler wrote:
Bill Davidsen <davidsen@xxxxxxx> wrote:
"Wolfgang S. Rupprecht" <wolfgang rupprecht+gnus200901 gmail com>
Allen Kistler <an037-ooai8@xxxxxxxxx> writes:

So the question really is:  Is there a reason localhost is not both
the IPv4 loopback and the IPv6 loopback (*other* than hiding some bugs
in some programs)?  Or should Fedora (and eventually Red Hat) change
the default /etc/hosts shipped/created with anaconda?

One of the first things I do on an install is get rid of the lame
distribution /etc/hosts file.  I've done this since fc4 and fedora,
just like netbsd and openbsd has no need for the silly targeted
localhost names.  The other silly thing is the "localhost.localdomain"
entry coming first.  Really, what is that about???  "localhost" has
worked just fine for over 2 decades.  Software understands it.  What
advantage is there to rocking the boat?

Using the hosts file for the local name and the names of a few useful hosts is protection against some fascist ISP deciding to block or DNAT all DNS queries to the ISP servers. So they can block lookup of sites they deem harmful.

I'm not certain I follow how the ISP gets involved with the definition of localhost in /etc/hosts, but I haven't seen any reason not to call the lack of an IPv6 definition for localhost (specifically not "localhost6") a bug and to try to get it fixed.

I read Woldgang's post "One of the first things I do on an install is get rid of the lame distribution /etc/hosts file" a bit literally and was defending the use of hosts to prevent DNS spoofing.

My inclination is to file a bug against the F11 alpha when it comes out next week, since it's anaconda that creates the default file content. I expect some resistance to change, but I can only hope that BZ doesn't become the venue of a debate on it, though.

I believe that localhost is required by some applications, but I agree that localdomain is probably a historical artifact.

--
Bill Davidsen <davidsen@xxxxxxx>
  "We have more to fear from the bungling of the incompetent than from
the machinations of the wicked."  - from Slashdot

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