IPv6 Act Now

I attended the RIPE 61 meeting this month, and, not unexpectedly for a group that has some interest in IP addresses, the topic of IPv4 address exhaustion, and the related topic of the transition of the network to IPv6 has captured a lot of attention throughout the meeting. One session I found particularly interesting was one on the transition to IPv6, where folk related their experiences and perspectives on the forthcoming transition to IPv6.

I found the session interesting, as it exposed some commonly held beliefs about the transition to IPv6, so I’d like to share them here, and discuss a little about why I find them somewhat fanciful.

Read more on CircleID…

Have you learned to think and dream in hex yet? That is what you are going to have to look forward to as we transition to using IPv6. Because we will be working in hexadecimal numbers we may need a little assistance converting hex to something more visual when creating our IPv6 addressing plans. That is why IPv6 subnet calculators may be useful. However, there are few subnet calculators that can handle IPv6 addresses.

More on NetworkWorld…

Cisco today announced that it leads in total USGv6 certification for routers, switches and firewalls, aligning with President Barack Obama’s recent directive that all U.S. government agencies upgrade their IT infrastructures in support of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), as the remaining pool of IPv4 addresses shrinks. In addition to certifying its routers, switches and firewalls, Cisco is introducing new features in its ASR 1000 Series routers, use cases, and professional services to help customers transition to IPv6. Additionally, Cisco is the first technology vendor to be certified by the IPv6 Forum to offer IPv6 education and certification for information technology professionals.

More from Yahoo…

With cyberspace almost full, Samantha Amjadali finds out it’s going to take half a trillion dollars to avoid a global squeeze.

IPV6. It is the ultimate case of procrastination; a problem so big, so complex and so expensive, the world has ignored it for two decades.

Read more from Sydney Morning Herald

Inspired by a collaboration with the OECD on IPv6 deployment, the RIPE NCC is aiming to provide more IPv6 deployment statistics to network operators, and a wider audience of stakeholders including national governments. One result is a new infographic that shows the percentage of networks (ASes) that announce one or more IPv6 prefixes in the global routing table.

Read more on RIPE Labs…

Discussion of IPv6 issues is high on the agenda at this week’s RIPE 61 Meeting in Rome, Italy. Kicking off on Monday morning with two IPv6 workshops (one basic course, one on security issues), sessions later in the week will look at subjects including fixing dualstack brokenness, requirements for IPv6 in government tenders for ICT equipment, and experiences with residential customer IPv6 roll-out.

For thos not in Rome, you can take part in the RIPE Meeting remotely. The full agenda (including agendas for each Working Group) are available online.

Read more at RIPE 61…

IPv4 running out and companies must act now, warns Department for Business and Innovation. The government has backed calls for companies to start adopting IPv6 address spaces at the launch of 6UK, a new organisation designed to help businesses on this path.

Vint Cerf, chief internet evangelist at Google, and regarded as one of the ‘fathers of the internet’, called on the government to do more. “The government could offer tax credits or other incentives to businesses that purchase IPv6 equipment,” he said at the 6UK launch event.

Read more on v3.co.uk…