IPv6 deployment:conclusion
Introduction to IPv6
Implementing a simple SOHO network using IPv6
Implementing a small development network using IPv6
Implementing a medium-sized IPv6 campus network
Conclusions
IPv6 overcomes many of the limitations of IPv4 while introducing new features and functionality to make the job of the network administrator easier. Where IPv6 is significantly different from IPv4, the changes are meant to enhance the administration experience. Where the similarities to IPv4 remain, the IPv6 protocol feels "familiar".
In the overcoming of IPv4's weaknesses, IPv6 has made great strides. The most obvious is that IPv6 has an address space of 128 bits (versus 32 bits in IPv4), which allows many more machines to be connected to a network. In addition, IPv6 improves router performance issues through the use of more succinct network datagram headers, multicast membership maintenance, reduced network broadcasts, and packet fragmentation delegation.
The fact that the technology is new represents major challenges to implementers. However, many of the challenges are superficial because the underlying architecture and principles of network design have not changed. Thus many changes in IPv6 are superficial. For instance, IPv6 no longer uses "private addresses [RFC 1918]" but instead uses two types of network addresses called "site-local" and "link-local" addresses. The "Address Resolution Protocol" and "Router Discovery Protocol" have been replaced with the Neighbor Discovery Protocol. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is not necessary as hosts can negotiate their addresses on startup.
Finally, the textbook implementation techniques that are used for many IPv4 networks are very similar for IPv6 networks. This allows IPv6 implementers to leverage their existing expertise in the deployment of next generation networks using the IPv6 framework.
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Main article: IPv6 deployment