IPv6 isn't SMTP

[Cutler James R <james.cutler () consultant com>]

Wow, what a lot of NANOG traffic about IPv6 readiness for SMTP!

Please explain my misunderstanding on the following:

1.  IPv6 is a Routing Layer Protocol (with some associated helpers, like RA, ND, DHCP-PD, and the like). 

2.  SMTP is an Application Layer Protocol, supposedly independent of Routing and lower layers of the protocol stack. 
Various communities have added connection initiation requirements that sometimes impinge upon layer 3 by requiring 
name/address correlations in DNS and none of which depend directly on technical aspects of layer 3 addressing. 
[ignoring obsolescent MTA implementations]

3.  Arguing about IPv6 in the context of requirements upon SMTP connections is playing that uncomfortable game with 
one’s own combat boots.  And not particularly productive.

I look forward to furthering my education.


James R. Cutler
James.cutler () consultant com
PGP keys at http://pgp.mit.edu

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