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IPv6: Four Steps to Take Now: Page 2 of 3

4 Steps To Take Now

Once you get the go-ahead to begin transitioning to IPv6:

1. Appoint a team. In all but the smallest companies, planning for IPv6 is a cross-discipline effort. This is particularly true when there are multiple groups within your company that will be affected by the IPv6 project. For example, customer online account management, e-mail and Web sites, core network architecture, network security, and network management likely fall under different managers, but all have roles. Plus, an integrated team reduces the risk of the project being derailed by any one group or individual--a liability that, in our experience, has complicated many an IPv6 project.

2. Create a business case. Executives naturally want to know what they're spending money on and will want to understand your IPv6 project's return on investment. They'll want to know what services can be built around IPv6, but it's really about being able to continue doing what you already do, and to continue adding new customers, who'll have IPv6.

The key to "selling" your project in the boardroom is to emphasize that an IPv6 deployment is an infrastructure problem. Specifically, your network is running out of an essential resource. Imagine that all of the bandwidth you currently have, all of the server capacity you currently have, and all of the routers and switches you currently own are all you can ever get. This is the business case for IPv6.

3. Include IPv6 in all purchasing decisions. IPv6 shouldn't be considered a "special feature" or an add-on to any network or end user device, application, or operating system you purchase. It's as essential to IP capability as IPv4, and any vendor that doesn't support IPv6 on par with IPv4 shouldn't be considered in your purchasing decisions. Period.

Sounds straightforward, but including a simple "IPv6-capable" check box on a requirements list isn't enough. Each system in your network has specific protocol, performance, scaling, and security quirks. Some might require support of DHCPv6, or VRRPv6, or DNS AAAA (IPv6) Records, or certain IPv6 routing protocols. Others may not. Some might need to filter on specific details of IPv6 packet headers, and others won't. Some systems might need to process IPv6 packets in hardware. You get the point.

This is where your IPv6 team structure, reaching into every corner of your network, is invaluable. A detailed, system-specific list of IPv6 requirements not only reduces project risks, it's appreciated by most vendors. The more they understand your needs, the better they can recommend the right product or, in some cases, refine their development road maps.