Devil's Advocate - Segment Routing, Why?

Thu Jun 18 12:30:29 UTC 2020

> From: Mark Tinka <mark.tinka at seacom.mu>
> Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2020 12:51 PM
> 
> On 18/Jun/20 13:23, adamv0025 at netconsultings.com wrote:
> 
> >  is the current state is not the end state, this is a pretty dynamic industry
> that I'm sure is converging/evolving towards a v4:v6 parity, however the pace
> may be, which is understandable considering the scope of ground to be
> covered.
> 
> Which I am fine with  - if you give me a time line to say LDPv6,
> SR-OSPFv3 and SR-ISISv6 will be available on X date, I can manage my
> operation and expectations accordingly.
> 
> But if you say, "No LDPv6, no SR-OSPFv3, no SR-ISISv6... only SRv6", then
> that's an entirely different issue.
> 
> The good news is there currently is choice on the matter, but upending
> hundreds or thousands of boxes to prove that point should really be a last
> resort, as there are more pressing things we all have to deal with.
> 
Hence our current strategy is to stay on IPv4 control-plane (and IPv4 management plane) as it suits, and for the foreseeable future will suite, all our needs (which are to transport v4&v6 data packets via L2&L3 MPLS VPN services), there are simply more important projects than to experiment with v6 control-plane, like for instance perfecting/securing the v6 customer facing services (delivered over the underlying v4 signalled MPLS infrastructure, that no customer really cares about). 

But I understand your frustrations case it seems like you're taking the bullet for us late adopters and in a sense you are, cause say in 10 years from now when I decide to migrate to v6 control-plane and management-plane as then it might be viewed as common courtesy, it will be all there on a silver plate waiting for me allowing for a relatively effortless and painless move. All thanks to you fighting the good fight today.    

> 
> >  Yes you're right in acknowledging that we're not living in a perfect world
> and that choices are limited, but it's been like that since ever yet we
> managed to thrive by analysing our options and striving for optimal strategies
> year by year.
> 
> We can thank NAT44, CIDR, DHCP and PPPoE for that strategy over the years
> :-).
> 
> IPv6 is the future, and at some point, we'll have to stop hiding from it.
> 
And I'd say the future is now, cause there is an actual need for v6 services. 
But need for v6 control & management plane? - It's not like operators are losing business opportunities not having that. (they might even be viewed as conservative->stable, which might be preferred by some customers). 

adam 