nanog mailing list archives

Re: Adding GPS location to IPv6 header


From: "Carlos M. Martinez" <carlosm3011 () gmail com>
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:56:52 -0200

Just for redundancy's sake: No, L3 is **not** the place for this kind of
information. L3 is supposed to be simple, easy to implement, fast to
switch. In Spanish we have a very strong adjective for this kind of
ideas: "pésimo". I couldn't find a similar one in English without using
foul words :-)

In any case, and as it already has been pointed out, I can imagine an
upper layer protocol, similar to NTP that reports GPS coordinates. Come
to think of it, if NTP could be extended this would fit in nicely as
there are already lots of NTP nodes which already have GPS sensors.

Additionally, unless the proponents of this idea are expecting every
router manufacturer to build GPS chips into their gear and us datacentre
operators to drill holes on our roofs for the antennas, I don't see any
real useful role for this extension header.

cheers!

~Carlos

On 11/26/12 9:20 AM, Mohacsi Janos wrote:



On Sun, 25 Nov 2012, Ammar Salih wrote:

Thank you everyone, I appreciate your feedback and will try to
summarize few
points in one email to avoid duplication .. apologies if I missed any.





This is not data that should be sent on every packet. It becomes
redundant.



1- It does not have to be in every IPv6 header, only when there is
location
update.

It should not be in any IPv6 packet. It has to be in an upper layer
protocol.



2- the host should have the option of not sending location updates.

In worst case. Host should have an option to sending location update -
probably not in IP headers, but upper layer protocol.


3- I am suggesting an *extension header*, which means that operators will
have the option of not using it in case they don't want to.


I suggest an upper layer protocol. Something like HTTP, TCP or UDP
option. The server can initiate a carry, and a client can decide to
answer with location information.





----------------------------------------------------





A good alternative would be to create application layer protocols that
could request and send GPS positions.

1- there are already several application-layer mechanisms which have been
created for this purpose, none of them has been considered by major
service
providers, google for example is still using RIR info for determining
location-based settings like language.


2- Layer 7 will not be detected by layer 3 devices (routers) .. so
location-based service on layer-3 will not be possible.


3- Currently, many applications do not share same mechanisms to obtain
location or location-related data, GEOPRIV WG [1] works on http location
mechanism, but *for the sake of example* VoIP soft-switches may not
support
http protocol, so a new mechanism needs to be developed- which has
been done
[2] .. W3c has also specified another API that provides scripted
access to
geographical location information [3] which has not been considered by
others ..

that's why I am suggesting a unified lower layer *optional* mechanism
which
is capable of supporting all other applications.


I prefer application and at most the transport layer protocol extension.





[1]  https://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/geopriv/charter/

[2]       http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6442

[3]       http://dev.w3.org/geo/api/spec-source.html



----------------------------------------------------------------------------

------





 I see major privacy issues with this.  Why introduce more intelligence
which WILL eventually be used for more intrusion into the private
lives of
all of us?



1-  The host should have the option of not sending location updates.

2-       It's extension header, means it's up to the service provider
to use
the feature or not.

3-  Users are being routed through ISPs, if we don't trust the ISP then I
can assure you that ISP can get much more information than physical
location, any un-encrypted traffic -which is the majority- can be
analyzed
at the ISP level (up to layer-7).



Anythink you write on facebook for example *if you don't use https*
can be
detected, including location tags, relationships, activities, wall posts,
friends ... and much more, all your http traffic, including documents you
read, messages, usernames, passwords, bank accounts ...etc.



Other than ISP, sniffers can be connected to the same layer-2/layer-3
device
as mine, in this case I would worry about
usernames/passwords/accounts/files/keys/pictures/messages .. etc, but not
location as the sniffer in this case is mostly sitting at the same
physical
location as mine.



4- our locations currently are being sent anyways through RIR info,
without
our awareness or control, I am suggesting to have the end user control
the
feature, still his/her option though not to send location updates.



-------------------------------------------





Thank you everyone for your time and professional feedback, I highly
appreciate it!



Please be informed that this is only a draft, and I am requesting
comments,
I also apologize for those who felt uncomfortable about the draft *they
should not* as the whole feature is optional - in case its implemented.



Thanks,

Ammar







From: Ammar Salih [mailto:ammar.salih () auis edu iq]
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2012 3:00 PM
To: 'nanog () nanog org'
Subject: Adding GPS location to IPv6 header



Dears, I've proposed a new IPv6 "extension header", it's now posted on
IETF
website, your ideas and comments are most welcome!



http://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-add-location-to-ipv6-header/?include_t

ext=1



Thanks!

Ammar Salih









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