Name: stC104175 Date: 04/03/2000


this is version-independant.

There is not currently a way to discover all the interfaces on
a host using pure java.

java.net.InetAddr.getAllByName(java.lang.String); relies on DNS
and cannot list all of the interfaces on a host.

something equivalent to Stevens' get_ifi_info() function from
Unix Network Programming Volume 1, chapter 16.6, which lists
all the interfaces on a host, even if they are unrelated by name.

this is an essential feature for creating server code in java.
(Review ID: 103180)
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Name: skT45625 Date: 11/03/2000


This is irrelevant as this issue includes all versions of the SDK

  Description of problem:
InetAddress.getLocalHost() is designed to only pull the IP of the first NIC that
it finds with a connection. This can cause problems when a machine is
Multihomed, is on a dial-up and ethernet network, or is using VPN, becuase only
one InetAddress is returned.

Why is this a problem:
Many people now have more than one local IP Address. And many applications and
programs use IP Addresses as a means of security.
EX1: Let's say you have one connection to a secure network. In this secure
network, only requests from a cretain IP Range are allowed. Now one goes along
and grabs the Ip Address of the machine, but low and behold It is not on that
network. Now the connection is not allowed, as the port you opened up on your
machine is on the wrong IpAddress to talk to the server on the secure network.
EX2: Let's say one uses the IPAddress of a client machine to determine who is
logged onto a machine. This presents a unique issue, because you cannot try all
the IpAddresses, to find out which adapter has registered with the server.
(Review ID: 111452)
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