RFC2460 doesn't describe any types other than Type 0. And in RFC5095, it deprecated Type 0 Routing Header. Does that mean Routing Header is useless?
Basically, at this point in time, yes. The door is still open for future types, but I think the whole idea of the routing header was flawed to begin with. Add the fact that some variants of SDN want to do something similar, and I think the idea is dead.
I have never thought it a good idea to let end-devices try to dictate the path packets take through the network. Similarly, if you look at QoS, most successful QoS implementations usually overwrite the end-device supplied DSCP value in order to create a comprehensive, consistent QoS solution; everybody wants their traffic marked EF.
answered Dec 14 '15 at 2:29
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Yes, it the IPv6 version of "source route", which was a defunct (no one allowed it) option when v6 was designed. (yet more head-in-the-sand)– RickyDec 14 '15 at 6:16
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There are still valid uses, but they aren't very common. Mobile IPv6 for example. The official list is here: iana.org/assignments/ipv6-parameters/… Dec 14 '15 at 7:08