IPv6 and localhost

[Bill Davidsen]

Wolfgang S. Rupprecht wrote:
> 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.

-- 
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