Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is expected to gradually replace the current Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), with the two coexisting for a number of years during a transition period. However, forums propagating IPv6 the world over want the transition to happen faster because it will make the World Wide Web simpler and a lot more manageable.

Nokia recently demonstrated the industry's first mobile IPv6 call at a demo in Hong Kong. The call featured real-time streaming video between two CDMA Dual-Stack handset on separate CDMA access networks using Mobile IPv6. Sounds interesting, but what is IPv6?

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the next-generation of the Internet protocol and has many advantages over IPv4 both for the network operators and the end-users. IPv6 is designed to replace the current Internet Protocol IPv4. Since the time Internet became available for public access, users have been accessing the World Wide Web on a 35-year-old network access protocol called the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4). IPv4 was originally designed for the US Defense network. Over the years, with several band-aid additions, IPv4 has become a robust, easily implemented and interoperable protocol.
But, what the designers of this protocol did not anticipate was the terrific proliferation of Internet. IPng Area Directors of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) realized that very soon a day would come when the WWW will run out of IPv4 addresses. This would happen because of the number of devices that are now getting connected to the Net are growing very fast. Devices and appliances like handheld, refrigerators, microwave and air conditioners are also being enabled for Internet connectivity. All these concerns of scalability of the Internet addresses and the desire to provide additional functionality for modern devices, gave rise to the need for an overhaul of IPv4.

NEW RECOMMENDATIONS
On July 25, 1994, the recommendation for IPv6 (also called the Next Generation Internet Protocol) was made by IETF. The recommendation was approved by the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG) and made a Proposed Standard on November 17, 1994. The core set of IPv6 protocol was made an IETF Draft Standard on August 10, 1998. This new version resolves unanticipated IPv4 design issues and is poised to take the Internet into the next generation.

The designers of this new standard retained the strengths of IPv4 and extended the IP addressing capabilities from 32-bits to 128-bits. It also added the number of functionality that we are missing in IPv4. Most importantly, it developed transition mechanisms that make IPv4 and IPv6 coexist peacefully and guarantee a smooth transition.

“IPv6 can be installed as a normal software upgrade in Internet devices and is interoperable with the current IPv4. IPv6 is designed to run well on high performance networks (e.g. Gigabit Ethernet, ATM) and at the same time still be efficient for low bandwidth networks (e.g. wireless). Additionally, it provides a platform for new Internet functionality that will be required in the near future,” says Gopi Garge, Director IPv6 Forum India.

COMBINED EFFORTS
The IPv6 Forum India was formed in 2000. Since then, many memberships drives have been conducted and conferences are held regularly to propagate the use of IPv6 in India. “The IPv6 Forum India is a concerted effort to bring awareness of
IPv6 into India and propagate its widespread deployment and build an active IPv6 community within India,” says Gopi.

The first International IPv6 Forum was founded in 1999, by a worldwide consortium of leading Internet vendors, research and education networks. They had a clear mission to promote IPv6. Today, there are about 170 members participating in this mission. Similarly, many other countries have also formed their own IPv6 forums. All these forums act as a nodal point to facilitate the transition of IPv6 from IPv4.

In India, one of the aims of the forum was to reach the IPv6 awareness at the government level, which they succeeded when the Union Minister for IT and Communication, Dayanidhi Maran, in his 10-point agenda mentioned about the need to migrate to IPv6. Dayanidhi stated that worldwide the new IPv6 is being implemented on the Internet to accommodate increased number of users and take care of security concerns, and hence India also should migrate to IPv6 by 2006.

So far, the Government has been very positive about the priority that it has set for the growth of broadband in the country. It is planning to have a National Internet Exchange through which it hopes to connect all Internet service providers (ISPs) to achieve efficient Internet traffic routing, cost reduction, and improve the quality of service for the Internet users in India. Migrating to IPv6 this will make this a lot easier.

Today the IPv6 Forum India is supported by the Government, and has around eight corporate members. “We want more and more members from the industry to participate in this new revolution called IPv6,” says Gopi.

HOW IS IT BETTER
According to Gopi, service providers are the ones who will benefit the most. Besides, it will make life easier for application developers also. There are few test networks running in India. According to developers of these networks, applications run better and faster on IPv6, however, there may not be a significant change in the user experience. But for ISPs and application developers, there will be a perceptible change in managing the network.

“IPv6 can be installed as a normal software upgrade in Internet devices and is designed to run well on high performance networks” Gopi Garge Director, IPv6 Forum India

The changes are typically done to the software and some changes are required in the router configurations. High-bandwidth applications like streaming services will work a lot better on IPv6. Mobile IPv6 is a mobility protocol for IPv6 enabled handsets providing always-on capabilities and seamless mobility. Using the protocol enables terminals to maintain their IP connectivity as they move across networks with different access technologies, at least in theory.

Mobile IPv6 also provides enhanced security and route-optimization techniques that can reduce handoff latencies for real-time services, such as Voice over IP (VoIP)and broadcast services. Application developers can implement new dimensions of mobility on IPv6. The support for mobility is inherent in IPv6.

It also provides seamless mobility across access technologies (e.g. CDMA, WCDMA, WLAN) and is a powerful enabler for the next generation of services such as peer-to-peer services, push services and VoIP, which demand always-on global [access] and seamless mobility.

Private communication over a public medium like the Internet requires encryption services that protect the data being sent from being viewed or modified in transit. Although a standard now exists for providing security for IPv4 packets (known as Internet Protocol security or IPSec), this standard is optional and proprietary solutions are prevalent. IPv6 has inherent security features.

Most current IPv4 implementations must be either manually configured or use a stateful address configuration protocol such as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). With more computers and devices using IP, there is a need for a simpler and more automatic configuration of addresses and other configuration settings that do not rely on the administration of a DHCP infrastructure.

Thus, if the right technical implementations are made in India for better functioning of the Internet, then not only will the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 be smoother, but faster too. End-users will not face shortages of IP addresses any longer, giving
a better head way to their businesses.

NELSON JOHNY

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