Re: IPv6 is OVER!
And keeping in mind adding just ONE bit breaks IPv4 compatibility. Completely. Period. Because the IPv4 stacks expects 32-bit addresses. Not 31 or less, not 33 or more, 32. It's hard-coded into the spec and can't be changed or extended.
So add an extended header at the start of the data packet, put the extra address bits somewhere in that, and define some special SRC/DST values for the existing fields that say 'this is an extended v4 packet'. Existing v4 stacks will route based on the existing address fields so that "real" v4 packets buzz about as normal and "extended" v4 packets get routed transparently to some new dual-stack systems that can handle the extended header. Systems that can fully process the extended headers can use them to reach new systems that don't have old v4 addresses.
That way dual-stack systems can talk to anyone, v4 systems can still talk to v4, and v4 networks can transparently route between islands of "extended v4".
OK, the extended header idea needs to play tricks, so its a hack that offends the purists, but so what?
Biting the hand that feeds IT
