IPv6 and localhost

[Bill Davidsen]

Allen Kistler wrote:
> Bill Davidsen <davidsen at tmr.com> wrote:
>> "Wolfgang S. Rupprecht" <wolfgang rupprecht+gnus200901 gmail com>
>>> Allen Kistler <an037-ooai8 at yahoo.com> 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 at tmr.com>
   "We have more to fear from the bungling of the incompetent than from
the machinations of the wicked."  - from Slashdot