incomplete+permanent arp entries

[Sten Daniel Sørsdal]

Vitaliy Ovsyannikov wrote:
> Hello, freebsd-net.
> 
>   I've noticed what it is possible to make incomplete+permanent
> entries in kernel arp table.
> 
> xx# arp -s 1.2.3.4 pub
> arp: invalid Ethernet address 'pub'
> 
> # arp 1.2.3.4
> 1.2.3.4 (1.2.3.4) at (incomplete) on vlan1 permanent [vlan]
> 
> In result of it's permanent entry, kernel doesn't listening for
> arp-replies for this host.
> 
> My question is simple: is it bug or feature?
> 

I think i understand why you ask though, the answer could easily go both 
ways.

But my conclussion was that, to me, the man page and the error message 
indicates it is a bug. By that i mean that arp reports the ethernet 
address to be invalid but it still performs the task as if the ethernet 
address was valid and no synopsis written for this case. I'd go with bug 
and say that the same application can be done with 'route -blackhole 
-host 1.2.3.4 127.0.0.1' or something similar.

If it turns out to be the right thing to do then perhaps you would be so 
kind as to sendbug(1) it?

-- 
Sten Daniel Sørsdal

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