transcript

A fake email. It reads: From: Linus Torvalds torvalds@linux-foundation.org To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: [RFC] Remove IPv4 support from kernel, effective next merge window Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2025 10:42:00 -0700 Message-ID: 20250815-drop-ipv4@linux-foundation.org

Hey folks,

After yet another deeply technical and entirely calm discussion about HRT (High-Resolution Timers) that somehow devolved into 200+ replies, personal insults, and at least one GIF of a raccoon, I have decided it’s time to take drastic measures.

Effective next merge window, we will be removing IPv4 support from the kernel. This will both (a) resolve the maintainers’ scheduling disputes, and (b) force the world into the IPV6 utopia we were promised back in 1998.

If you need IPv4 after this point, you can either:

run an ancient kernel from before the change (good luck with the bugs), or rewrite your applications to use IPv6 and learn to love colons in your addresses. Yes, I realize this will break roughly *everything *. No, I don’t care. I have already switched all my machines to IPv6-only, except for the toaster, which unfortunately still insists on using a 192. 168. x. x address. The toaster will be replaced.

If you disagree with this decision, I suggest you take it up with the HRT maintainers. But please keep it civil this time. (Or at least keep the raccoon GIFs under 1MB.)

  • Linus
    • Janx@piefed.socialEnglish
      31·
      14 hours ago

      It may be inevitable, but if you wonder why ipv6 has been slow to adopt, it’s because no one want to type in 32 alphanumeric digits for every single device, every time…

        • The_Decryptor@aussie.zoneEnglish
          1·
          4 hours ago

          Yeah, we have mDNS for a reason.

          Or even just link the DHCPv6 server to the DNS, that’s the default config in most cases anyway.

      • vividspecter@aussie.zone
        6·
        11 hours ago

        it’s because no one want to type in 32 alphanumeric digits for every single device, every time…

        Use DNS; I almost never type in an IP manually. You can also make short IPv6 addresses that are just the prefix and a bunch of zeros using ‘::’ followed by one (or more) characters.

        Something like:

        2001:0DB8::1

      • mushroommunk@lemmy.today
        9·
        14 hours ago

        I mean I did say I hate ipv6…

        But seriously, I think it has more to do with it’s slightly different, easier for ISPs to just add another NAT layer or whatever instead of learn the minor differences.

        • Possibly linux@lemmy.zipEnglish
          1·
          9 hours ago

          Large ISPs with limited IPv4 use a ton of IPv6

          Its the small shops and ancient companies that are the problem.

        • Ekky@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          5·
          13 hours ago

          Also gives them more control, and they can charge extra for open ports.

      • CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        3·
        11 hours ago

        I’m slowly moving in the direction and have learned a lot, but in my home network, all my devices get a bunch of IPs and services seem to choose at random the IP to listen on. My ISP changes my prefix at random. Devices don’t register in DNS. So even if I use the ULA it’s a lot of fucking typing.

        I also had this thing for a while where the MAC of a bhyve VM would change at boot so even the ULA changed. That fucked me for a while.

        Opnsense lets me create aliases allowing me to create firewall rules, so at least that works now… kinda. But i haven’t figured out privacy extensions.

        So yes, you’re right, 32 digits is a lot to keep in mind.

        • Possibly linux@lemmy.zipEnglish
          2·
          9 hours ago

          You could just assign private IP

          In IPv6 land you can have infinite amounts of addresses including pone or more private addresses.