Bug#604948: IPv6 problems in Squeeze

[Kolbjørn Barmen <kolbjorn.barmen@uninett.no>]

Package: linux-image-2.6.32-5-amd64
Version: 2.6.32-27

With ipv6 buildt into kernel and not available as a kernel module, there
is no way to pass on the module options that those of us who run IPv6 in
production environments very often need.

For example, I have servers that need to explicitly have IPv6 configured
staticly, that sit on LANs that have autoconf/ra enabled.

On debian this should mean having ipv6 in /etc/modules, and for example in
/etc/modprobe.d/ipv6.conf have "ipv6 options disable_ipv6=1 autoconf=0"
and also a whole range of entries in for example /etc/sysctl.d/ipv6.conf:

net.ipv6.conf.default.autoconf=0
net.ipv6.conf.default.accept_ra=0
net.ipv6.conf.default.disable_ipv6 = 0
net.ipv6.conf.all.autoconf=0
net.ipv6.conf.all.accept_ra=0
net.ipv6.conf.lo.disable_ipv6=0
net.ipv6.conf.eth0.disable_ipv6=0

(these are marvels of the 2.6.31 kernel or thereabouts.)

and then lastly, one do ofcourse need entries in /etc/network/interfaces.


Now - it would ofcourse be _very much_ prefared that if one in
/etc/network/interfaces configure interfaces with static ipv6 addresses
and static router, all of the above happen automatically. A workaround
that we've been using till now is to have in interfaces for example:

auto eth0
   iface eth0 inet static
      address 10.10.10.10
      gateway 10.10.10.1
      netmask 255.255.255.0
   iface eth0 inet6 static
      address 2001:700:0::beaf
      gateway 2001:700::1
      netmask 64
   up /sbin/sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.eth0.autoconf=0
   up /sbin/sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.eth0.accept_ra=0

But this only work _most_ of the time. Every now and then the sysctl lines are
not performed quickly enough and due to bad luck the server also picks up
autoconf address and router announcement, ending up with double set of
addresses and non-static default route.

So I beg you - let ipv6 continue to exist as module and not be buildt into kernel.

-- 
Kolbjørn Barmen
UNINETT Driftsenter