(pilif already covered the main arguments, so I'll keep this short)
> ftp server ... port 8000
Of course there are workarounds. This one requires specifying a non-standard port every time you want to use your server. That may be easy[1] now, but it becomes increasingly problematic the more times you create these workarounds.
The bigger issue is that hosts behind the NAT are not first-class citizens of the internet. They require an imprimatur[2] to publish. If you live in a privileged area that has a static v4 address, this isn't a huge problem. If you live in China behind 3+ layers of NAT, getting a port forwarded to your host isn't going to happen. As NAT becomes more complicated with more layers, even the insane hacks[3] we have to punch holes in NAT (which already require a 3rd party's permission (imprimatur)) start to fail. This will become an increasingly common problem as competition over v4 addresses increases[4].
> Not totally sure what good it will do still though ;)
It will enable the development of new network software that doesn't work over NAT. This type of benefit isn't immediately useful, so think of it as an investment.
It will let more people gain the benefit of being able to publish without needing the permission of a 3rd party. You may not find that important personally, but impartial media access is one of the most important properties of the internet. If we are not vigilant and robust in defense of every peer's right to publish, we will loose it. This isn't a theoretical concern, given how centralized the internet has become in the era of Facebook and Google.
[1] modulo the serious problems that FTP has with NAT that pilif already mentioned
[2] While I don't agree with everything in the essay (some things have changed since 2003), John Walker (co-founder of Autodesk) wrote a very insightful warning about the trend towards requiring an imprimatur to publish: https://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/digital-imprimatur/
> ftp server ... port 8000
Of course there are workarounds. This one requires specifying a non-standard port every time you want to use your server. That may be easy[1] now, but it becomes increasingly problematic the more times you create these workarounds.
The bigger issue is that hosts behind the NAT are not first-class citizens of the internet. They require an imprimatur[2] to publish. If you live in a privileged area that has a static v4 address, this isn't a huge problem. If you live in China behind 3+ layers of NAT, getting a port forwarded to your host isn't going to happen. As NAT becomes more complicated with more layers, even the insane hacks[3] we have to punch holes in NAT (which already require a 3rd party's permission (imprimatur)) start to fail. This will become an increasingly common problem as competition over v4 addresses increases[4].
> Not totally sure what good it will do still though ;)
It will enable the development of new network software that doesn't work over NAT. This type of benefit isn't immediately useful, so think of it as an investment.
It will let more people gain the benefit of being able to publish without needing the permission of a 3rd party. You may not find that important personally, but impartial media access is one of the most important properties of the internet. If we are not vigilant and robust in defense of every peer's right to publish, we will loose it. This isn't a theoretical concern, given how centralized the internet has become in the era of Facebook and Google.
[1] modulo the serious problems that FTP has with NAT that pilif already mentioned
[2] While I don't agree with everything in the essay (some things have changed since 2003), John Walker (co-founder of Autodesk) wrote a very insightful warning about the trend towards requiring an imprimatur to publish: https://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/digital-imprimatur/
[3] http://www.brynosaurus.com/pub/net/p2pnat/
[4] http://www.potaroo.net/tools/ipv4/index.html