Countdown to IPv6: It's Time to Plan for Migration

Computerworld Australia — Questions surrounding Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) have been debated for the past decade, beginning with when and why to deploy. The network address space problem on the Internet, which IPv6 is expected to solve, also has been disquieting for organisations planning ahead for their future network growth.

Common networked applications and communications have not yet required IPv6. So far, networks have been stable with IPv4 and the amount of allotted address space. IPv4, however, offers a strict ceiling of 4.3 billion addresses. Each device connecting to the Internet requires a unique address. Work-through tactics such as network address translation, though, have effectively extended the life of IPv4. The date for true IPv4 address scarcity, hindering a network's growth potential, has been predicted to be some time in 2010.

While IPv6 offers almost limitless addresses, in the trillions, among other benefits such as simplifying networks with the auto-configuration of mobile devices, there are a few issues to be aware of when planning for IPv6. First, no single business case for IPv6 adoption is available to apply to all organisations. One constant is that the best step is to gain the latest intelligence and plan comprehensively.

Since 2000, there have been four primary objections to what many call IPv6 hype:

• Network equipment, switches and devices did not yet properly support it;

• IPv6 would require many "bumps and bruises" to have installed;

• IPv6 had no suitable applications; and

• IPv4 remained useful with plenty of time and IP address space left.

Various efforts by the standards community, vendors and the user community have helped allay many IPv6 fears. IPv6, now built into some Ethernet switches, has undergone countless tests within academic, military and government environments over the past four years. These tests have focused on conformance, interoperability, functionality and performance.

The Internet Engineering Task Force has spent more than 10 years designing IPv6. In addition, the IPv6 Forum, a worldwide collection of vendors, ISPs, researchers and educational institutions, was assembled to promote its adoption. In conjunction with this, the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory has been conducting tests on vendor gear to ensure it successfully passes both interoperability and conformance tests. The net result of testing has demonstrated the reliability and interoperability of IPv6 solutions.

Ethernet switches and operating systems are also supporting IPv6 and IPv4 concurrently, providing translation of both technologies and offering a smooth transition for users. Applications are also getting up to speed, with the most visibility coming with the Windows Vista platform and its out-of-the box support of both IPv4 and IPv6. Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 were the first to implement IPv6 in dual-stack architecture, used as building blocks to enable IPv6 within Vista. Apple's Mac OSX and Linux also come with IPv6 support, giving a wider menu of software options to prospective organisations.

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