IPv6

We Need to Get Started Now

2008-02-12T11:49:00.000-08:00

Michael Sinatra, an IPv6 wizard at UC Berkeley had the following words of wisdom on a recent mailing list posting:

"My point in that talk is that there are bumps even in places where you
don't expect them, such as applications that _do_ support IPv6 (but not
easy dual-stack) or registrars that, to their credit, have implemented
AAAA glue for years (but had some bugs in their implementation and there
hasn't been sufficient use of the registration system to tickle those
bugs).  However, for me and my organization, that has been justification
for moving ahead now.  It's precisely because with think there WILL be 
some pain, bumps, and delays in converting to dual-stack that we feel we 
need to get started now.  We still have a little bit of time before the
crunch comes; if we move now, we believe we will be in a much better 
position than if we wait until we absolutely have to migrate."

For the full posting and other IPv6 discussions, visit ARIN at http://lists.arin.net/pipermail/ppml/2008-February/009960.html

Who's afraid of IPv4 address depletion? Apparently no one.

2008-02-08T10:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/020608-ipv4-address-depletion.html

This article discusses the results of a survey from BT INS which concludes that few companies in the U.S. are feeling a sense of urgency to implement IPv6. Page 4 of the article does give us a big fat clue on what is needed to get people to move forward: a reasonable business case that they can sell internally.

"But IT professionals say they need more evidence of the bottom-line business benefits associated with IPv6 in order to deploy it.

When asked what would help them convince upper management to deploy IPv6, 24% said case studies showing a positive return on investment for IPv6, 22% said case studies linking IPv6 solutions to business drivers, and 18% said case studies showing how IPv6 helped a company achieve a competitive advantage.

In contrast, only 9% of survey respondents said evidence that IPv4 address depletion was imminent would persuade upper management to upgrade to IPv6."

So, how do we get there?

IPv6 Address Added for Root Servers in the Root Zone

2008-02-07T10:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-04feb08.htm

Addition enhances end-to-end connectivity for IPv6 networks

4 February 2008

MARINA DEL REY, Calif.: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers today took another step along the path of deployment for the next-generation IPv6 Internet addressing system.

IPv6 addresses were added for six of the world’s 13 root server networks (A, F, H, J, K, M) to the appropriate files and databases. This move allows for the possibility of fuller IPv6 usage of the Domain Name System (DNS). Prior to today, those using IPv6 had needed to retain the older IPv4 addressing system in order to be able to use domain names.

Video: U.S. Government Readiness for IPv6 June deadline

2008-02-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

http://www.fcw.com/360/ipv6/

As the June deadline for having a backbone for the new protocol approaches, Federal Computer Week, Government Computer News and Washington Technology assess where agencies are in meeting the goal. Each publication will take a different angle: FCW will concentrate on the elevator speech, a pitch feds can give senior executives to get IPv6 awareness and support; GCN will look at allocating new IP addresses; and WT will focus on how IPv6 is going to affect system integrators and their government customers.

This week, check out an interesting video about U.S. Government agency readiness.

U.S. Government Profile for IPv6

2008-02-01T10:17:00.000-08:00

http://www.antd.nist.gov/usgv6/profile.html

Most topical is the document "A Profile for IPv6 in the U.S. Government -- Version 1.0". This is really the second draft and is open for public comments until February 28, 2008.

Training could be the missing leg of IPv6

2008-02-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

http://www.fcw.com/print/13_7/news/97880-1.html

From early 2007

GSA ensuring offerings are IPv6-compliant

2008-02-01T10:06:00.000-08:00

http://www.fcw.com/online/news/151500-1.html

The portfolio team will identify IPv6 products and services that need to be on a schedule or in a GWAC.

The communications team will work with agencies’ IPv6 points of contact to understand agency transition needs and inform them of existing capabilities.

The team is developing a Web site and a brochure, which will be available early next month, and will hold an acquisition event in April in California.