The transition to the IPv6 (or Internet Protocol Versions 6) standard is an eventuality that will have to be dealt with by enterprises around the globe.
All devices on a network require an IP address in order for them to be accessible. As the number of IP-enabled devices - ranging from laptops, cameras and hand phones to parking meters - grows at an exponential rate, the number of available IPv4 addresses has been shrinking.
Africa's leading systems integrator, Dimension Data, and strategic network infrastructure solution provider, Infoblox, have been collaborating to bring Infoblox's award-winning offerings designed to ease the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 to the market in South Africa.
Infoblox's domain name resolution (DNS), IP address management (IPAM) and network change and configuration management (NCCM) solutions smoothes the way for the transition to the new IPv6 schema, without requiring a rip and replace approach to existing infrastructure, reducing both the risk and costs associated with transition.
“Dimension Data fulfils a consultative role for many of our clients and is actively involved in assessing ICT risks and developing road maps that will mitigate these effectively,” says Michael Abendanon, General Manager, Dimension Data Network Integration Middle East and Africa.
“The implementation of IPv6 has been on the horizon for a while and is now becoming a pressing issue that will require assistance to address. Instead of hitting a roadblock on the path to IPv6, innovative solutions like the Infoblox suite coupled with Dimension Data's expertise will help manage this process in a way that enables clients to leapfrog their competition in the transition to IPv6.”
This integration has become even more relevant since the issue of the last remaining IPv4 address ranges by IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) in early February 2011. This means that the next generation of IP ranges known as IPv6 will soon become more and more prevalent.
“What many don't understand is that the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 is not a trivial matter, such as flicking a switch; it's a process that will need to be managed closely,” says Dirk Marichal, Infoblox Vice-President of EMEA.
“The new paradigm is the direct result of an explosion in the networking environment causing significant and increasing complexity for network and operations IT teams. Because it affects so many aspects of the network, ranging from security policies and application compatibility to performance risks, it's a challenge most enterprises don't have all the in-house skills to tackle efficiently.
Companies will either have to outsource (which not all organisations have the appetite for) or implement enhanced automation and management tools to help navigate the new landscape.”
From a business aspect, the Infoblox offering encourages the optimisation of existing resources. Automation frees up personnel and budget, both of which can be deployed elsewhere. Current financial climates are not conducive to a 'rip and replace' approach, nor is this necessary.
Leveraging built-in automation, DNS and IP address and network change management expertise, the Infoblox solution is geared to help clients easily manage the transition between sophisticated IPv6 and existing IPv4 technologies while simultaneously creating a future-facing environment.
“What's more, it also allows businesses to reclaim unused IP addresses that they have already paid for, effectively 'recycling' these resources. It also clamps down on duplications and other inefficiencies unlocking additional costs,” say Marichal.
“The effect of IPT, telepresence, virtualisation and cloud computing on the networking environment is something that Dimension Data Network Integration is intimately acquainted with. Through relationships with partners like Infoblox, we are able to guide our clients through the minefield that is part of modern ICT. While many business will be able to get by on their existing IPv4 platforms, they will need to be compatible with the future and it is critical that we are able to offer the ability to effectively manage a hybrid alternative where business can straddle both platforms with ease,” says Abendanon.
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