This makes me think about something. Why don't we support this as a standard?

It would be nice if local ipv6 spelled out "local"

imagine this: local::homelab in your url-bar just working

edit: Yes I know DNS solves this problem, but it would be very neat non the less, making 128bits of packet overhead actually serve a purpose without any software glue.

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jjmarr 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

The `.local` TLD exists as a zeroconf domain name for this purpose on local networks. Your homelab can advertise as `homelab.local` without setting up custom DNS servers.

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hgoel 2 days ago | parent [-]

Or .internal if you do setup your own DNS servers.

	▲	throw0101c 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		.internal is reserved by ICANN, but there is no IETF RFC ('just' a draft (for now)): * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top-level_domain#Reserved_doma... * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special-use_domain_name * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.internal * https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-davies-internal-... Not sure how important that is.

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gregoriol 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

We want IPs to be distinctive from domains, having real words in both would be highly confusing

	▲	himata4113 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		dots versus ::

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earthpyy 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Maybe because IPv6 digits are hexadecimal? and we also have DNS service for that.

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throw0101c 2 days ago | parent [-]

> Maybe because IPv6 digits are hexadecimal?

Mostly for us humans of course.

IPv4 addresses are generally in base-10, but binary and octal can also technically be used (on the CLI).

	▲	unrented7977 a day ago \| parent [-]
		My favorite IPv4 schema is a uint32. Lots of squinting and head scratching every time it pops up

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WorldMaker 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

mDNS already serves homelab.local style addresses.

Also, link local is almost always `fe80::` [0]. Today for privacy (and simplicity) reasons most devices pick a random address under that like `fe80::6923:83ab:201:273e`. But most operating systems allow configuring a static link address so if you really wanted you could use `fe80::403e:7ab` for something close to "homelab" (and `fe80::cafe` for your coffee maker) you absolutely can.

[0] The allocated range is fe80::/10 so fe(8|9|A|B)[0-F], but in practice it seems rare for devices today to use anything but fe80::.

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iknowstuff 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

mDNS does that. Your devices are already accessible on your network as eg “himatas-iphone.local” with no configuration required.

	▲	sigbottle 2 days ago \| parent \| next [-]
		mDNS my goat. I have a lot of spare machines and I do a lot of various experiments on said machines, some of which could brick the system even on NixOS. I now have a custom usb installer over mDNS and reflashing any compute I have from scratch for the express purpose of destroying it in a few days hasn't been easier
	▲	mahboi 2 days ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		mDNS is unreliable

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lxgr 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The 128 bits are serving a purpose alright: Globally unique host addressing.

Seems like you want to repurpose them to something completely different (what exactly)?

And what is “interpret this part of an IPv6 address completely differently than in all other contexts” if not software glue?

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vel0city 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

I don't have to imagine, in fact its even easier. I can just go to http://brother in by browser and it goes to my brother printer. Incredible!