IPv6 – That Network is Mine
When it comes to the network, I’m a selfish guy. I want to use my computer and phone anytime, from anywhere, and with anyone. I want it all and when it is convenient for me. I honestly don’t feel too bad about this selfish streak since everyone I know wants the same things from the network. Most people don’t care about problems that result from sharing the network – they just want unlimited and uninterrupted access.
To meet this need, the Internet, public services and many corporate networks are moving to IPv6, a newer version of basic IP protocol. Why is there such a need to change when the existing standard, IPv4, is still running our networks just fine? Well, quite frankly, the world is running out of IPv4 addresses. Current fixes to share IPv4 addresses among users and devices cause performance, scalability and reliability problems as new devices and new video, voice, and collaborative applications become pervasive.
What’s the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
First and foremost IPv6 extends the number of addresses significantly. The Internet, based on the venerable IPv4 packet format, has been burning most of the available addresses (roughly 4 billion) in its first 25 years of existence. IPv6 enhances the length of the address field from 32 bits to 128 bits, resulting in enough addresses to cope with the growth of the Internet for centuries to come, and enabling true borderless connectivity (anybody, anything, anywhere, anytime).
The move to IPv6 is driven by a carrot and a stick:
The stick is that IPv4 is running out. Okay, that should be obvious by now.
The carrot is that there are many new applications and devices that service provider can provide services to, and enterprises can use to enhance their business processes and increase productivity. Like SmartGrid, sensor networks, home appliances and security, pervasive mobile applications and many more ….all require a lot of IP addresses, and end to end connectivity that only IPv6 can provide over the long run.
One of the easier ways to move from IPv4 to IPv6 is to set up your existing network to run both IP versions simultaneously, in what is known as “dual stack” networks.
At the Cisco San Jose campus, our network managers converted buildings 23 and 24, where my office is, to run both IPv4 and IPv6 networks on the full suite of Cisco Catalyst switches (C3500, C4500, C6500). A single port on the switch can handle both IPv4 and IPv6 seamlessly, enabling me to give my Windows XP machine its own unique IP address with existing Ethernet cabling. My browser or my email then decides which protocol stack to use, depending on the reachability of the destination application and the response received from the DNS server. For example Google has enabled IPv6 access now so every time I hit Google search from my browser, I’m using IPv6. That simple!
Now, I don’t have to share. Well, at least I don’t have to share my IP address.
Most Operating systems (Windows, Mac OS, Linux) support both IPv4 and IPv6 in parallel and applications running on these machines can use either protocol seamlessly. But it does not stop there - mobile devices, the fastest growing connected device segment, will need to connect to IPv6 fairly soon, as we are running out of IPv4 addresses globally. Just look at the publicly available requirements that mobile carriers like Verizon send out to 4G mobile devices vendors last June. IPv6 is required. IPv4 is optional.
In the not too distant future, Smartphones like the Blackberry and the iPhone will use IPv6. According to Verizon, they may only be able to connect to next generation mobile network over IPv6.
Lucky for me, I’m ready today, for the fast approaching future when my desktop computer will need IPv6 to talk to my smartphone directly.
I’m also ready for the range of peer-to-peer IPv6 applications that will be on the market soon. These applications will enable me to exchange media like video and phone conferences directly with my peers from remote sites like hotels and conferences. A unique IP will enable secure networks with the freedom to share information when I want and with the people I want regardless of where I am.
As an example, Microsoft’s recently released OS, Windows 7, has a feature called DirectAccess that gives mobile users seamless access to corporate networks without the need for VPN , AND it provides IT administrators access to the PC whenever and wherever it is coming on line. DirectAccess needs IPv6 and IPSec to work. While it is probably only a minor feature of Windows 7 for most people, it is another clear sign that demands on people to work remotely is creating demand for IPv6 applications.
Apple’s “Back to my Mac” is also using similar combination of IPv6 (eventually tunneled over IPv4 service provider network) and encryption to provide connectivity to your Mac back home… from anywhere in the world.
It’s clear IPv6 is coming soon. When the option to use IPv6 at Cisco came up, I immediately switched over. And I must admit, the switch was much easier than I anticipated.
While IPv4 still works today, it made sense for me to make the necessary plans and preparations for IPv6 now, so I don’t get left behind.
You see, while I try to be generous with my friends and especially my family, when it comes to the network, I don’t like to share.
Best
Alain Fiocco
Posted by Alain Fiocco at 12:36PM PST
Jan Zorz Nov 4, 2009
Hey. Nice post.
Of course nobody want’s to share IP, specially advanced user is against that idea… but ISP’s will have no choice, as translation mechanisms seems not to work. So, to keep v4 internet accessible for their users, ISP can choose IP sharing or CGN (LSN). What is lesser evil?
Regards, Jan Zorz