[arin-discuss] IPv6 Hurdles

[Matthew Wilder]

This is a perfect, practical testimonial showing how IPv6 needs to cross the chasm.  If you've read Geoffrey A. Moore's Crossing the Chasm, you know what I am talking about.  The focus and mindset of the innovators and early adopters is fundamentally different than even the early majority of a set of people.  To innovators and early adopters, technology is the end, and not a means to end.  Of course to the early majority, technology (in this case IPv6) is only a means to an end (connectivity).  

<aside>
This is the reason why large (often self-proclaimed "pragmatic") companies don't see the business case for IPv6.  Connectivity is available without IPv6, so there is no perceived issue.  This issue is exacerbated by modern capitalism's obsessions with short-term results, and the short-term focus that breeds even at the expense of longer-term results.
</aside>

What I am trying to get at here is that IPv6 first of all needs to become more relevant, and ARIN's recent messages have been great.  It is very helpful in raising awareness with senior management when you can point to clear warnings from resource stewards like ARIN.  Koodos.

Vendors of all sorts of network equipment need to help IPv6 cross the chasm by offering complete off-the-shelf solutions for the early majority.  The innovators and early adopters don't need this level of support, since they care enough to figure it all out for themselves.  But before IPv6 is going to be standard in our networks, it will require a bigger cross-section of vendors treating it like a necessary and robust standard.

Matthew Wilder


-----Original Message-----
From: arin-discuss-bounces at arin.net [mailto:arin-discuss-bounces at arin.net] On Behalf Of Keith W. Hare
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 2:21 PM
To: Lee Howard; arin-discuss at arin.net
Subject: Re: [arin-discuss] IPv6 Hurdles

 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lee Howard [mailto:spiffnolee at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 3:06 PM
> To: Keith W. Hare; arin-discuss at arin.net
> Subject: Re: [arin-discuss] IPv6 Hurdles
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Keith W. Hare <Keith at jcc.com>
> > To: "arin-discuss at arin.net" <arin-discuss at arin.net>
> > Sent: Friday, May 1, 2009 1:42:57 PM
> > Subject: [arin-discuss] IPv6 Hurdles
> > 
> > 1. Finding supported equipment that supports IPv6
> > 
> > At the moment, finding equipment that support IPv6 is the
> biggest road block.
> 
> What kind of equipment are you looking for?  Current desktop OSes 
> support IPv6.  Most routers and switches do, but YMMV depending on 
> features needed.

Most specifically, I need a firewall. 

> I found this website listing vendors support IPv6, but I don't know 
> whether it's claimed support or tested support:  
> http://www.ipv6-to-standard.org/ DoD also listed supported devices for 
> IPv6:
> http://jitc.fhu.disa.mil/apl/ipv6.html
> I've added these to the ARIN wiki:
> http://www.getipv6.info/index.php/Device_Support
> 

The DOD list is useful. However the number of different vendors with tested firewall products is small.

> > Sure, I could find a linux download that supports IPv6 and
> build my own
> > firewall, but networking and firewalls are not my primary
> job -- I do them
> > because somebody has to. I'm looking for off-the-shelf
> supported equipment.
> 
> If networking's not your thing, there's no shame in hiring a 
> consultant or VAR to build it (or just design it) for you.

My point is that I am not willing to build my own firewall. I want off-the-shelf supported products. 

> ...
> 
> From the main page, click IPv6 Deployment and Migration Planning.  
> You'll see a link to Device Support.  Yes, it would be nice to see 
> more devices listed, but I'm not sure it's realistic to list every 
> software version of each device, and providing cost would be 
> inappropriate for ARIN.

There has to be a useful point somewhere between listing nothing and listing every possible combination. 

Cost is really a surrogate for the approximate organization size a device is designed to support. For example, I'm looking for equipment to support an organization with less than 250 employees. I'm not looking for equipment to support the world wide network backbone.



Keith
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