GE ML1200 instruction manual Introduction to IPv6, What’s changed in IPV6?

CHAPTER 5: IP ADDRESSING IP ADDRESSING

5.5IPv6

This section explains how to access the GE MultiLink switches using IPv6 instead of IPv4 addressing. IPv6 provides a much larger address space and its use is often required.

Assumptions

It is assumed here that the user is familiar with IP addressing schemes and has other supplemental material on IPv6, configuration, routing, setup and other items related to IPv6. This user guide does not discuss these details.

5.5.1Introduction to IPv6

IPv6 is short for "Internet Protocol Version 6". IPv6 is the "next generation" protocol or IPng and was recommended to the IETF to replace the current version Internet Protocol, IP Version 4 ("IPv4"). IPv6 was recommended by the IPv6 (or IPng) Area Directors of the Internet Engineering Task Force at the Toronto IETF meeting on July 25, 1994 in RFC 1752: The Recommendation for the IP Next Generation Protocol. The recommendation in question, was approved by the Internet Engineering Steering Group and a proposed standard was created on November 17, 1994. The core set of IPv6 protocols was created as an IETF draft standard on August 10, 1998.

IPv6 is a new version of IP, designed to be an evolutionary step from IPv4. It is a natural increment to IPv4. It can be installed as a normal software upgrade in internet devices and is interoperable with the current IPv4. Its deployment strategy is designed to have no dependencies. IPv6 is designed to run well on high performance networks (e.g. Gigabit Ethernet, OC-12, ATM, etc.) and at the same time still be efficient on low bandwidth networks (e.g. wireless). In addition, it provides a platform for the new level of internet functionality that will be required in the near future.

IPv6 includes a transition mechanism designed to allow users to adopt and deploy it in a highly diffuse fashion, and to provide direct interoperability between IPv4 and IPv6 hosts. The transition to a new version of the Internet Protocol is normally incremental, with few or no critical interdependencies. Most of today's internet uses IPv4, which is now nearly twenty years old. IPv4 has been remarkably resilient in spite of its age, but it is beginning to have problems. Most importantly, there is a growing shortage of IPv4 addresses, which are needed by all new machines added to the Internet.

IPv6 fixes a number of problems in IPv4, such as the limited number of available IPv4 addresses. It also adds many improvements to IPv4 in areas such as routing and network auto configuration. IPv6 is expected to gradually replace IPv4, with the two coexisting for a number of years during the transition period.

5.5.2What’s changed in IPV6?

The changes from IPv4 to IPv6 fall primarily into the following categories:

•Expanded Routing and Addressing Capabilities – IPv6 increases the IP address size from 32 bits to 128 bits, to support more levels of addressing hierarchy, a much greater number of addressable nodes, and simpler auto-configuration of

MULTILINK ML1200 MANAGED FIELD SWITCH – INSTRUCTION MANUAL 5–31