Implementing IPv6
Jul 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Ciprian Popciviu
The transition to IPv6 will be necessary sooner rather than later.
Summary
Figure 2. IPv4/IPv6 mixed infrastructures supporting broadcasting services.
Select image to enlarge.
The convergence of broadcasting services onto an IP infrastructure is inevitable. If your service already leverages IPv4 transport, you need to start planning for the integration of IPv6 and a migration and expansion of existing services to IPv6. Most technical and operational aspects of operating an IP network for broadcasting services will apply to the new infrastructure, which at first will operate in parallel over the same hardware as the IPv4 one.
If you are looking to implement IP transport, then you should plan it in a version-agnostic (IPv4/IPv6) way and focus on IPv6 wherever possible; plan to leapfrog. (See Figure 2.) IPv6 transport or capabilities might not be available in all infrastructures you need; however, with expected exhaustion of the IPv4 address space by 2011, the transition to IPv6 will become necessary sooner rather than later. The important thing is to be prepared, to understand where IPv6 will become critical first (distribution, for example) and to address the needs of existing customers and those of new ones. (At the consumer level, IPv6 adoption is faster in Asia and Europe.)
It is never too early to start inventorying IPv6 capabilities and the needs of the IP infrastructure supporting your current or future broadcast services. Early planning ensures timely readiness and lower implementation and operating costs.
Ciprian Popoviciu, PhD, CCIE, leads the Systems and Infrastructure Data Center architecture team at Cisco Systems. He is co-author of two IPv6 books, “Deploying IPv6 Networks” and “Global IPv6 Strategies,” and is a senior member of the IEEE.
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