Cisco this week enhanced its range of IPv6 for carrier core and edge routers in an effort to facilitate the eventual migration of IPv4.
The Carrier-Grade IP version 6 line of solutions includes a new hardware module for Cisco CRS-1 router, and software for that system, as well as the border router ASR 9000. Cisco also announced professional service offerings to help customers transition from IPv4 to IPv6.
Internet Evolution
Cisco says there are 700 days left until the last block of IPv4 addresses are assigned. For 2015, 15 billion Internet IP terminals. IPv6 enhancements deployed this week are intended to provide a bridge from IPv4 to IPv6 for the entire network, while at the same time preserving the existing IPv4 addresses to facilitate migration.
IPv4 has a finite set of unique addresses, which total about $ 4 million, which are being rapidly depleted due to the growth of Internet-connected devices and smart devices. IPv6 addresses are 340 unique undecillion – or more than 50 billion billion billion – for every person on earth, more than enough to continue to support the demand for IP addresses, Cisco says.
However, IPv4 and IPv6 protocols are not directly compatible, so a network migration from IPv4 to IPv6 requires preservation of IPv4, while orchestrating a smooth transition to IPv6 and prudent.
This has been the main reason why the industry has been putting this migration even though IPv6 was developed a decade ago. But with the IPv4 address depletion is facing imminent, the time may have come to accelerate the adoption of IPv6.
“I think we’ve reached the point where we should be concerned about it,” says Glen Hunt, an analyst at Current Analysis. “The problem biggets could be that we have been crying wolf about IPv6 and defining ways to move to attack the problem. It’s probably something to take seriously two to five years from now, but (the companies) have to start prepare. ”
With that, Cisco announced the Carrier-Grade engine service for the CRS-1. deep in the core network service provider implemented, this module supports large-scale, network address translation, high performance (NAT).
At the edge, Cisco launched IPv6 Carrier-Grade Solution for its ASR Series routers. This is software that helps activate NAT on the edge of a network of small and distributed IP networks.
The software is aimed at first tunnel IPv6 over IPv4, then the inverse function of IPv6 addresses to IPv4 outnumbered.
Finally, Cisco offers services to implement IPv6 Carrier-Grade solution. This is professional services designed to make the transition to IPv6 smoothly and reduce the risk for network operations. Services include initial planning and IPv6 readiness assessment for the design and implementation.
All products will be available in early 2010. Cisco did not disclose pricing.