Quick Links... Contact Us Search Merit Site Stats Email Lists Directions to Merit Network Maps Blogs Network Openness Policy Network Status Join Our Community Policies FAQs Search Merit Site | Text Version | Site Map | Log In

About Merit   Services   Network   Support & Resources   Network Research   News   Events   Home

Merit Network Blog IP V6     By Donald J. Welch - October 17, 2008 12:53 pm At the latest NANOG (North American Network Operators Group) held in October, IP V6 was a major topic. It has been a hot topic for quite some time now. In fact, a few meetings ago NANOG turned off IP V4 for a while to give the attendees some better insight into the difficulty of making IP V6 work. There were a number of talks about IP V6. The main arguments were whether the deployment of IP V6 was very small or tiny. The range of IP V6 vs IP V4 traffic in the studies was a high of ˝ of 1 percent to a low of .003 percent. IP V6 is not ubiquitous by any stretch. Another interesting observation was that IP V6 traffic was not growing as fast as IP V4 traffic. Why should we care? The organizations that allocate address space will run out of address space in about 18 months give or take 6 months. When we run out this will not immediately stop the network, but networks that are growing may start running out of addresses as they need to add new customers, or their customers grow. The first way they will deal with this is by making use of all their available address space. This makes sense, but for simplicity most networks are inefficient in their address allocation. Using these spare addresses will complicate routing. As providers are scavenging their own space for unused addresses, others with addresses to spare may be willing to provide them. Some have speculated about a “gray market” for IP V4 addresses, but however it happens, the address space will become more fragmented. Routing the Internet is already a challenge. This will make it more so, both for the engineers doing the routing and for the hardware that has to actually route these packets. More complexity usually means more service disruptions. Some, like Larry Roberts have talked about how the growth of load on routers is going to outstrip their capability in the near future. Fragmented address space will add to this problem. So we may begin to expect more frequent slowdowns and disruptions in the next few years. As IP V6 capable hardware and software works itself into the inventory we will see more use of IP V6. The key will be a “tipping point” where IP V6 addressing becomes the norm and IP V4 will only be used for legacy systems. I don’t know when the “tipping point” will occur, but when it does those networks that are not ready will have to rush. This may cost in hardware and software, in staff time, and in service disruptions. In my opinion, developing a plan, funding the plan, and executing the plan so that you are ready is vital. You should also make sure your providers are ready. Post a Comment   Blog Archive   Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 11.16.09 By Gregory Monroe - November 16, 2009 9:50 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 11.12.09 By Gregory Monroe - November 12, 2009 12:35 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 11.3.09 By Gregory Monroe - November 03, 2009 12:21 pm Merit Network Blog Members in the News 10.30 By Brian Warkoczeski - October 29, 2009 4:28 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 10.26.09 By Gregory Monroe - October 26, 2009 10:42 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 10.19.09 By Gregory Monroe - October 19, 2009 10:58 am Merit Network Blog Members in the News 10.08 By Brian Warkoczeski - October 08, 2009 1:03 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 10.6.09 By Gregory Monroe - October 06, 2009 1:19 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 9.29.09 By Gregory Monroe - September 29, 2009 12:33 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 9.21.09 By Gregory Monroe - September 21, 2009 12:35 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 9.16.09 By Gregory Monroe - September 16, 2009 12:41 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 9.8.09 By Gregory Monroe - September 08, 2009 11:25 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 8.24.09 By Gregory Monroe - August 24, 2009 10:36 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 8.17.09 By Gregory Monroe - August 17, 2009 12:09 pm Merit Network Blog Members in the News 8.14 By Brian Warkoczeski - August 14, 2009 9:14 am Professional Learning MJTS Call for Presentations By Brian Warkoczeski - August 06, 2009 12:53 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Members in the News 7.24 By Brian Warkoczeski - July 24, 2009 12:47 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 7.21.09 By Gregory Monroe - July 21, 2009 11:29 am Merit Network Blog Members in the News 7.16 By Brian Warkoczeski - July 16, 2009 11:05 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 7.13.09 By Gregory Monroe - July 13, 2009 11:06 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 7.7.09 By Gregory Monroe - July 07, 2009 11:19 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 7.2.09 By Gregory Monroe - July 02, 2009 11:55 am Merit Network Blog Members in the News 6.30 By Brian Warkoczeski - June 30, 2009 4:20 pm Merit Network Blog NANOG46 Videos Available By Brian Warkoczeski - June 25, 2009 9:31 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 6.23.09 By Gregory Monroe - June 23, 2009 11:54 am Professional Learning Archived Merit Member Conference videos now available By Brian Warkoczeski - June 17, 2009 9:43 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 6.15.09 By Gregory Monroe - June 15, 2009 11:41 am Professional Learning Merit Member Conference Concludes By Brian Warkoczeski - June 12, 2009 3:57 pm Professional Learning Day Two of Merit Member Conference Begins By Brian Warkoczeski - June 12, 2009 10:32 am Professional Learning Dale Dougherty Brings Ingenuity to Merit Member Conference By Brian Warkoczeski - June 11, 2009 2:47 pm Professional Learning Merit Member Conference Extra! CEO and President Don Welch Announces Landmark Agreement with Internet2 By Gregory Monroe - June 11, 2009 1:51 pm Professional Learning Richard Katz starts 2009 Merit Member Conference By Brian Warkoczeski - June 11, 2009 10:47 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 6.8.09 By Gregory Monroe - June 08, 2009 11:52 am Merit Network Blog New White Paper on Botnets Released By Brian Warkoczeski - June 03, 2009 4:40 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 6.1.09 By Gregory Monroe - June 01, 2009 12:56 pm Merit Network Blog Members in the News 5.29 By Brian Warkoczeski - May 29, 2009 11:42 am Merit Stimulus Blog Introducing Merit Stimulus Blog By Gregory Monroe - May 26, 2009 12:56 pm Merit Network Blog Members in the News 5.18 By Brian Warkoczeski - May 18, 2009 4:14 pm Merit Network Blog New RSS Feeds Available By Brian Warkoczeski - May 14, 2009 10:02 am Merit Network Blog Members in the News 5.8 By Brian Warkoczeski - May 08, 2009 9:44 am Merit Network Blog Members in the News 4.30 By Brian Warkoczeski - April 30, 2009 3:41 pm Merit Network Blog MJTS video archive now available By Brian Warkoczeski - April 23, 2009 2:02 pm Merit Network Blog Members in the News 4.17 By Brian Warkoczeski - April 17, 2009 11:33 am Merit Network Blog Members in the News 4.9 By Brian Warkoczeski - April 09, 2009 3:33 pm Merit Network Blog Members in the News 4.2 By Brian Warkoczeski - April 02, 2009 10:08 am Merit Network Blog Informative Mailing Lists By Brian Warkoczeski - March 30, 2009 11:26 am Merit Network Blog Members in the News 3.24 By Brian Warkoczeski - March 24, 2009 8:28 am Merit Network Blog Stimulus Legislation Information By Brian Warkoczeski - March 17, 2009 8:44 am Merit Network Blog Members in the News 3.11 By Brian Warkoczeski - March 11, 2009 10:46 am Merit Network Blog Members in the News 3.3 By Brian Warkoczeski - March 02, 2009 4:51 pm Merit Network Blog Members in the News 2.23 By Brian Warkoczeski - February 23, 2009 11:25 am Merit Network Blog NANOG45 Presentations Available Online By Brian Warkoczeski - February 16, 2009 1:47 pm Merit Network Blog Members in the News 2.12 By Brian Warkoczeski - February 12, 2009 10:44 am Merit Network Blog Featured Speakers for Merit Member Conference By Brian Warkoczeski - February 02, 2009 4:34 pm Merit Network Blog Merit Services Webinar By Brian Warkoczeski - January 29, 2009 4:16 pm Merit Network Blog Technology issues part of first week for new President By Brian Warkoczeski - January 23, 2009 12:28 pm Merit Network Blog Merit Services Seminar Videos By Brian Warkoczeski - January 05, 2009 9:56 am Merit Network Blog E-Rate Application Window By Brian Warkoczeski - December 02, 2008 8:19 am Merit Network Blog Tracking Flu Outbreaks Online By Brian Warkoczeski - November 13, 2008 10:10 am Merit Network Blog Is Web technology improving your brain? By Brian Warkoczeski - October 27, 2008 4:15 pm Merit Network Blog PBS and YouTube Aim to Document Election Day By Brian Warkoczeski - October 16, 2008 10:01 am Merit Network Blog Justice Department Releases Cybercrime Survey Results By Brian Warkoczeski - September 23, 2008 4:54 pm Merit Network Blog Internet Traffic Growth Slowing World-Wide, But Utilization Up in U.S. By Donald J. Welch - September 08, 2008 9:50 am Merit Network Blog NANOG Launches New Web Site By Brian Warkoczeski - September 08, 2008 8:51 am Merit Network Blog Price War Erupts for High-Speed Internet Home Service By Donald J. Welch - September 02, 2008 10:58 am Merit Network Blog Manage It or Just Buy More By Donald J. Welch - August 28, 2008 8:49 am Merit Network Blog Net Neutrality vs. File Sharing on Campus By Donald J. Welch - August 25, 2008 10:13 am Merit Network Blog Thinking About Virtual Worlds By Donald J. Welch - August 25, 2008 9:40 am Merit Network Blog What is Merit? By Donald J. Welch - August 20, 2008 4:33 pm Merit Network Blog New Merit Network Blogs By Brian Warkoczeski - August 18, 2008 9:56 am

Home	Print This Send This

About Merit | Services | Network | Resources & Support | Network Research News | Events | Contact | Site Map | Merit Widget | Merit Network Home Copyright © 2009 Merit Network, Inc. 1000 Oakbrook Drive, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104-6794 Phone: (734) 527-5700    Fax: (734) 527-5790    E-mail: