[NFS] Status of NFS over IPv6

[Chuck Lever]

Le Rouzic wrote:
>>> While there is some interest in IPv6 among some of Linux's corporate 
>>> sponsors, there really isn't an overwhelming "killer" requirement for 
>>> IPv6, so there isn't much motivation to get all this completed.  I 
>>> have to admit I'm pretty burned out on all this because of how 
>>> complicated it has all become.  I'd be happy if someone stepped 
>>> forward and volunteered to help or take over the integration.
>>>   
> Some basic tests have been also done on the submitted Aurélien's patchs
> and we will be running the robustness tests we are regularly doing for 
> ipv4.
> See also at http://nfsv4.bullopensource.org/doc/rpc_testsuite.php
> for this list of tests (cthon04, ffsb, fsx...)
> 
>>
>> We hope the interest of community about IPv6 will grow.
>> Feel free to send comments on the code.
>>  
>>
> Some customers are already asking it but  were waiting of its availibity.
> There are also products based on NFSV4 features which are interested in.

Yeah, it's kind of unfortunate that we can't be completely specific 
about the requests/requirements/use cases.  But here's what I know:

1.  Apparently there is a bureaucratic (ie non-technical) requirement 
from the US Federal government for IPv6 support in new computer software 
deployments.  I forget when this requirement kicks in, or what exactly 
"IPv6 support" really entails.

2.  The APAC market wants IPv6 because of an explosion of individual IP 
network accessors, although arguably that can be addressed for a little 
while with judicious application of NAT routers.

Otherwise, the companies I've worked for recently have had no real 
customer requests for IPv6 support in NFS.

NFS community resources are focused largely on NFSv4.1 and pNFS design 
and implementation.  However, here's some of what I think we need to get 
IPv6 done:

+  A coherent design for handling IPv6 address caching and export rules 
on the server side

+  Help from the netdev folks with reviewing our proposed IPv6 changes

+  A cunning plan to stage the integration of all the various pieces

+  Beta testers (ie real environments that can deploy NFS over IPv6 in 
real conditions)

+  A whiff of project planning to help us know what the real deadlines are
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