IETF: End Work on IPv4
draft-ietf-sunset4-ipv6-ietf-01

Abstract

The IETF will stop working on IPv4, except where needed to mitigate documented security issues, to facilitate the transition to IPv6, or to enable IPv4 decommissioning.

Status of This Memo

This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.

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This Internet-Draft will expire on March 22, 2018.

Copyright Notice

Copyright (c) 2017 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the document authors. All rights reserved.

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Table of Contents

• 1. Statement
• 2. Security Considerations
• 3. IANA Considerations
• 4. Acknowledgements
• 5. References
• 5.1. Normative References
• 5.2. Informative References
• Author's Address

1. Statement

The IETF has developed IPv6 to replace IPv4.

Ongoing focus is required to ensure that future IETF work is capable of IPv6-only operation. Until the time when IPv4 is no longer in wide use and/or declared historic, the IETF needs to continue to update IPv4-only protocols and features for vital operational or security issues. "Vital" means "necessary for successfully operating IPv4 networks." Similarly, the IETF needs to complete the work related to IPv4-to-IPv6 transition tools for migrating more traffic to IPv6. Some changes may be necessary in IPv4 protocols to facilitate decommissioning IPv4 in a way that does not create unacceptable impact to applications or users. These sorts of IPv4-focused activities, in support of security, transition, and decommissioning, will continue, where accompanied by problem statements based on operational experience.

• The IESG will review proposed working group charters to ensure that work will be capable of operating without IPv4, except in cases of IPv4 security, transition, and decommissioning work.
• The IETF will update IPv4 protocols and features to facilitate IPv4 decommissioning. No IPv4-only feature will be added unless there's an equivalent feature added in the IPv6 version.
• New IETF work will explicitly support IPv6, or be IP version agnostic (because it is implemented above the network layer), except IPv4-specific transition technologies.
• The IETF will not initiate new IPv4 extension technology development.
• New IETF work must function completely on IPv6-only nodes and networks.

2. Security Considerations

It is possible that bugs inherent to IPv4 will yet be discovered. The IETF will document these, and may mitigate them if consensus exists that mitigation is required.

3. IANA Considerations

This document does not direct IANA to alter its processes for allocating IPv4 addresses according to its processes. This is unlikely to be a significant activity for long.

4. Acknowledgements

This document is based largely on draft-george-ipv6-support, and I thank Wes George for his significant work on that document. Terry Manderson was also essential in developing this document.

5. References

5.1. Normative References

5.2. Informative References

Author's Address