The authors take a dim view of all these and believe that the market will
prove the original Internet design to be the most effective network alternative,
in spite of the seemingly endless commercial initiatives to “add value to the
network” by carriers and their suppliers.
The transition from IPv4 to IPv6 will also require doubling the number of
interfaces below and above the IP Layer 3, but this seems to be a normal
penalty for such a key transition.
Fighting Complexity
Internet engineering guidelines have always stressed the importance of find-
ing the simplest possible solution to a problem. As the complexity of Internet
technology continues to grow, this topic tends to surface in email lists and at
various conferences have been held on the topic of avoiding complexity, such
as in “IMS 101”[1].
Figure 3.5 shows the self perpetuating circle of complexity as presented at
the North American Network Operators Group (NANOG) in October 2002.
Figure 3.5 The circle of complexity and its components.
Courtesy David Meyer.
Architectural Principles of the Internet 51