L3 consequences of WLAN offload in cellular networks (was - endless DHCPv6 thread)

Sun Jan 1 12:38:59 UTC 2012

Alexander Harrowell wrote:

> Alternatively, you can work on the assumption that the WLAN
> is solely for nomadic use rather than true mobility, but a
> lot of devices will prefer the WLAN whenever possible.
> 
> Thoughts/experiences?

It depends on applications.

If mobile devices act as clients to 3G servers, what is important
is not IP addresses but 3G IDs, which must be authenticated even
if the mobile devices use WLAN.

On the other hand, if mobile devices act as servers to clients
in the Internet, fixed IP addresses, not necessarily IETF
standard mobile IP, are required.

Application developers with their own IP address spaces may
bundle services for fixed IP addresses with their applications
requiring fixed IP addresses. The applications may use, to
maintain the fixed IP addresses, their own protocols at the
application layer, or IETF standard mobile IP at the IP layer.

						Masataka Ohta