alt Hacker NewsThis 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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We want IPs to be distinctive from domains, having real words in both would be highly confusing
Maybe because IPv6 digits are hexadecimal? and we also have DNS service for that.
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::.
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?
mDNS does that. Your devices are already accessible on your network as eg “himatas-iphone.local” with no configuration required.
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!
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.