Hi Andrew !

Andrew Stone wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I currently need to use ntp where the server for several internal clients is a 127.x.x.x address, not 127.127.x.x.
This is a pretty unusual setup.

> I noticed it is fairly easy for me to modify the ISBADADR macro in ntp.h to allow these types of addresses. Is this the only change required?
ISBADADR() is only used to prohibit exactly that configuration. Thus it
would be the only change required. But attempting to use 127.0.0.0/8 for
real network communication will most likely bring you into all sorts of
trouble. ISBADADR() would be the least of your problems. See below:

> Also, what reservations do you guys have about changing this?

First reservation would be RFC 3330 (http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc3330).

To quote RFC3330:

...
127.0.0.0/8 - This block is assigned for use as the Internet host
loopback address. A datagram sent by a higher level protocol to an
address anywhere within this block should loop back inside the host.
This is ordinarily implemented using only 127.0.0.1/32 for loopback,
but no addresses within this block should ever appear on any network
anywhere [RFC1700, page 5].
...

This wisdom (even older than RFC3330) is put into many configurations
(e. g. interface/routing setups on hosts). Attempting to ignore age old
practice might burn you.
As I said - it looks like a pretty unusual setup.

There may be more reservations... :-)

You may be better off with RFC1918 if you are trying to find a private
address space.

>
> Thanks,
> Andrew

Frank

Andrew Stone wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I currently need to use ntp where the server for several internal
clients is a 127.x.x.x address, not 127.127.x.x.

I think you misunderstand NTP's use of the 127.127.x.x space. It is only
used for refclocks and nothing else. If you don't have a refclock
attached to the server, you don't need to know about these addresses.
You must *NOT* use them in any other way. 127.x.x.x is not allowed to be
used for any other purpose. You should use other private address space.
See Frank's message.

> I noticed it is fairly easy for me to modify the ISBADADR macro in
ntp.h to allow these types of addresses. Is this the only change required?

This is not allowed. See Frank's message on this.

> Also, what reservations do you guys have about changing this?

We won't be changing this.

Danny