While the technical foundations of IPv6 are well established, significant work is still needed in order to deploy IPv6 across the globe.
This is according to the Internet Society, an independent global Internet policy body, which believes that 2012 will be a pivotal year in IPv6 service deployment.
IPv6 is the next-generation Internet protocol (IP) address standard intended to supplement and eventually replace IPv4, the protocol most Internet services use today.
In SA, ICASA councillor William Stucke says that since a significant portion of the country's Internet market is dependent on Telkom's ADSL infrastructure, it needs to move radically to replace this if it wants a smooth transition to IPv6.
Stucke urges local Internet service providers (ISPs) to acquire IPv6 addresses from the Registry of Internet Number Resources for Africa if they have not done so already, and to enable their networks to handle both IPv4 and IPv6.
Last week, the Internet Society rolled out Deploy360, an online resource to support the deployment of IPv6, domain name system security (DNSSEC), and other key Internet technologies. It says the domain name system (DNS) translates domain names humans can remember into the IP addresses computers use to identify each other.
According to the organisation, Deploy360 serves as a go-to information source to assist network operators, developers, content providers, consumer electronics manufacturers and enterprise customers with the implementation of new Internet technologies and standards.
“Major Internet industry players must take action to ensure a successful transition, including offering IPv6 connectivity to users, providing services over the IPv6 network, and updating software and firmware,” says Leslie Daigle, chief Internet technology officer for the Internet Society.
“DNS security helps ensure that a domain name typed into a browser delivers the intended IP address by verifying response data. It also provides a building block for providing additional data security. DNSSEC is slowly gaining momentum, but there is still much work to be done.”
The organisation explains that components of Deploy360 include a Web portal with technical resources and educational articles, operational practices, case studies and deployment information.
It also hosts four ION conferences each year to bring together network engineers and leading industry experts, as well as social media interactions to encourage year-round deployment discussions.
Lastly, the Society adds, Deploy360 facilitates speaking engagements at technical industry conferences and events around the globe, including a tutorial on IPv6, in conjunction with the Consumer Electronics Show.
Initially, Deploy360 will focus on IPv6 and DNSSEC deployments, which are vital to ensuring the open development, evolution and use of the Internet for the benefit of people throughout the world, says the Internet Society.
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