Linux Kernel Eyes IPv6-Only Builds, Legacy IPv4
David Woodhouse’s patch series would let Linux be built IPv6-only or IPv4-only by splitting out a new `CONFIG_LEGACY_IP` switch. Phoronix notes the deprecation language is partly tongue-in-cheek, but the build-time cleanup and protocol separation are real goals.
This is half April Fools, half legitimate kernel housekeeping: the joke is the naming, but the architectural direction makes sense for a codebase that still carries a lot of shared IPv4/IPv6 baggage. Splitting protocol support at build time could simplify kernel maintenance and trim dead paths in environments that only need one stack. IPv6-only builds are most useful for appliances, embedded systems, and controlled infra where unused networking surface is a liability. The "Legacy IP" framing is provocative, but any real deprecation would need a long runway because the ecosystem still depends on IPv4 everywhere. This fits a broader Linux networking trend toward making core stacks less modular and easier to reason about at build time.
DISCOVERED
10d ago
2026-04-01
PUBLISHED
10d ago
2026-04-01
RELEVANCE
AUTHOR
Bender