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A fake email. It reads: From: Linus Torvalds torvalds@linux-foundation.org To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: [RFC] Remove IPv4 support from kernel, effective next merge window Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2025 10:42:00 -0700 Message-ID: 20250815-drop-ipv4@linux-foundation.org

Hey folks,

After yet another deeply technical and entirely calm discussion about HRT (High-Resolution Timers) that somehow devolved into 200+ replies, personal insults, and at least one GIF of a raccoon, I have decided it’s time to take drastic measures.

Effective next merge window, we will be removing IPv4 support from the kernel. This will both (a) resolve the maintainers’ scheduling disputes, and (b) force the world into the IPV6 utopia we were promised back in 1998.

If you need IPv4 after this point, you can either:

run an ancient kernel from before the change (good luck with the bugs), or rewrite your applications to use IPv6 and learn to love colons in your addresses. Yes, I realize this will break roughly *everything *. No, I don’t care. I have already switched all my machines to IPv6-only, except for the toaster, which unfortunately still insists on using a 192. 168. x. x address. The toaster will be replaced.

If you disagree with this decision, I suggest you take it up with the HRT maintainers. But please keep it civil this time. (Or at least keep the raccoon GIFs under 1MB.)

  • Linus
  • moonshadow@slrpnk.net
    5·
    7 days ago

    I tried to do this but am too old, too dumb, or a little bit of both. Shine on my dude, if there’s any resources you found particularly helpful I’d love to see them. Got as far as getting an address from my isp but couldn’t even ping it x(

    • Scoopta@programming.dev
      1·
      2 days ago

      Hmmmm, I’m not sure I can think of any super good resources off the top of my head but I’ll let you know if I think of any. That’s kind of weird though, going IPv6 only is one thing but getting an address and a working connection is often transparent and automated unless you have a 3rd party (non-ISP provided) router.

      • moonshadow@slrpnk.net
        1·
        21 hours ago

        Yeah, ISP provided router was a non starter, no management whatsoever. No worries, hope your day’s going well