Wireshark-dev: Re: [Wireshark-dev] Display IPv6 extension headers outside of the IPv6 subtree

From: João Valverde <joao.valverde@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2015 02:18:08 +0100


On 08/21/2015 05:45 PM, João Valverde wrote:
Hi,

I would like to propose a patch to remove IPv6 extension headers from
the IPv6 subtree and display them as normal IP protocols in the UI.

Arguments for:

a) The current behaviour really, really, (really) hurts legibility
b) It would be consistent among all extension headers (see for example
MobileIPv6 vs AH - why the difference?)[1]
c) Extension headers aren't special in this regard, the IP protocol
space is shared
d) IPv6 extension headers over IPv4 would be dissected, as they should.

I'll probably be submitting a patch for review to address this. I don't even think it is an error to carry an IPv6 extension header on top of IPv4. One my pending tasks involves exactly this: finishing an IPv6 to IPv4 translator that carries an IPv6 routing header on top of IPv4 (that then gets translated back to IPv6).


An expert info error can then be displayed where appropriate.
e) It would do away with the hack (?) used for the AH dissector (I
think, I haven't looked very closely yet here).

Arguments against:
?)

Would anyone object to this proposal?

Thanks!

João V.

[1]https://bugs.wireshark.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=10705