• Marissa Aarons
• Kyle Armour
• Lindsay Little
• Eduardo Rayner

Links:

• Formal Report
• Operating Agreement

Resources:

• Internet Protocol version 6

• In Bed With IPv6 from Telephony by Tim McElligott

IPv6 Changeover

     Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the new program being implemented to replace IPv4.  By upgrading to IPv6, IP addresses will change from 32 bit to 128 bit.  This process will add two sets of zeros with each set containing about four to five zeros.  By doing this the amount of IP addresses available will double.  The reason for this changeover is due to the fact that we are running out of available IP addresses.  The potential impact this will have on the internet is enormous; for the reason that more computers can now connect to the internet.  This will give more access to more people. 

     The basis of IPv6 is increasing the IP addresses is to allow more people to a greater availability for personal and business use on the internet.  The goal of this project is to  increase the amount of access points around the world.  This helps with business getting products out to a more broad clientele and to allow people to talk all over the world.  This brings the world closer than ever before.

     The potential for businesses to grow with IPv6 is going to be high.  They can reach more customers throughout the world by having internet sales, web pages, and access to the internet.  This will help out with globalization and trying to make the "world flat" giving them the availability to sell their product world wide.  Not only does this help the business of the world but also the people in the private sector.  This allows third world citizens an opportunity to access the internet rather than being restricted like before.

     One of the problems that IPv6 is working on are the security issues.  It's potential to be a safer and more secure internet if everything is places just right and every single detail is worked out.  Until then, there are going to be some skeptics.  They are going to use converters for IPv4 to changeover to IPv6 which are dual-system. 

    The dual stack system sets the preferred protocol for the system being used and helps people communicate from IPv4 to IPv6.  There is going to be a system implied that will help people with the IPv4/IPv6 talk to people with IPv4 only and IPv6 only.  This system will help people communicate with each other on either system.  With the advances of IPv6 it was going to help make the routing systems faster for the internet, but since the routing technology has improved drastically, this function might not be needed by IPv6.

     The federal government is a little skeptical about jumping head first into this program.  First being that it is going to cost a substantial amount of money to improve all of the IPv4 networks.  But some of the US companies, such as Microsoft, are looking forward to the implementation of IPv6 which should give the US be more of a front runner rather than a back burner.  IPv6 seems to be the future of the internet and we can only progress from here.