The State of IPv6

IPv6 is a mature protocol that has been refined over the last fifteen years. Most large ISPs have deployed IPv6 in their networks and offer both IPv4 and IPv6 connectivity to customers. Top web destinations such as Google, Facebook, and Netflix serve content using IPv6. Network infrastructure vendors have been busy implementing IPv6 features in routers, firewalls, and load balancers. The technology is ready. Are your network and engineering staff prepared?

 

The Urgency in Deploying IPv6

By the end of 2012, your ability to obtain new IP version 4 (IPv4) addresses will be severely restricted. The organizations responsible for allocating IPv4 addresses are nearly out of addresses. How many unused IPv4 addresses are currently allocated to your business? If you lack an existing supply of unused IPv4 space, you will not be able to deploy new services over the Internet without resorting to crude work-arounds. You have a critical business continuity issue on your hands that can only be addressed by planning and implementing IPv6 on your network.

 

Working with Brooks to Migrate to IPv6

Although IPv4 and IPv6 are mostly incompatible, the two protocols can coexist in the network. This typically means that a wholesale upgrade to your network infrastructure is not required. Depending on your network, the size and difficultly of the migration effort vary. No technical migration is without risk. Choosing to do business with Jeff Loughridge of Brooks can help minimize that risk. Jeff has experience implementing IPv6 at the world’s largest ISPs. He uses the following steps to ensure a deliberate and risk-averse migration.

  • Obtain network baseline that describes how services are currently delivered using IPv4, network features, key performance metrics
  • Assess IPv6 capabilities on existing network gear
  • Conduct IPv6 training so that your engineers can participate in the migration and fix day-to-day incidents on the network post-migration
  • Partner with your engineers to create a detailed design document that encompasses areas such as network connectivity, routing protocol design, IPv6 addressing scheme, security considerations, critical data flows, and feature interaction
  • Develop migration procedure for introducing IPv6 into the network
  • Support the maintenance activities for implementing IPv6

 

The U.S. government’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) projects that companies will spend over $20B on IPv6 through the year 2028. If you seek guidance in your IT investments to support IPv6, call Jeff today at 703-229-0098 or send him an email.