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Also referred to as IPng (next generation Internet
protocol), or simply IPv6, it is an upgraded of version 4 (IPv4) and
belongs to the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/ICP)
stack, used to identify, by means of a logical address, the interface
or interfaces (connection point) of each computer or device connected
to Internet or a local network.
Viewed by some as the biggest effort made in
Internet in the past decade, this new version is without a doubt a
critical tool for pioneering and developing new and previously
inconceivable applications and services for current and future
networks such as next-generation networks (NGN). Therefore, IPv6 is
considered as a key element in:
This is possible thanks to the competitive
advantages and efficiency provided by IPv6 compared to IPv4, such as
large addressing capabilities, along with more efficient and
standardized distribution and allocation by the so-called Regional
Internet Registries (RIRs), among other features, which makes it
possible to overcome the evident constraints of version 4, which has a
support that is not very efficient in aspects such as: address
autoconfiguration in computers and communication equipment, user and
device mobility, service quality, multimedia traffic transmission in
real time, use of so-called always-on technologies such as digital
subscriber line (xDSL), Ethernet to the home and fiber to the premises,
power line communications (PLC), etc.
Since it was created 12 years ago, version 6 has
matured, grown stronger and broadened its use and applications to such
an extent that, for several years now, many presentations and
demonstrations have been made with participants from various parts of
the world, such as the Global IPv6 Service Launch Event in Brussels,
Belgium in 2004, where real demonstrations of the great potential of
the new version were made, highlighting the following:
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Distance cooperation environments
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Automobile with IPv6, using technologies such as
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and WiFi
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Digital television channel (EuroNews)
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Remote control of instruments and digital video (microscopes,
telescopes, among others)
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Remote control and household surveillance (household
appliances, cameras, curtains, etc.)
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IPv6 in space (via satellite using technologies
such as DVB-S/MPEG-2)
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High-definition television with IPv6 and service
quality (HDTV/IPv6 and QoS)
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Multicast with IPv6 via the so-called M6Bone
network - IPv6 transmission over PLC links, etc
In Latin America, for example, in March and October
2004, the work that was being conducted by various universities and
institutions was consolidated with the establishment of the Latin
American and Caribbean IPv6 Task Force (LAC IPv6 TF), endorsed by the
Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (LACNIC), and
various national and institutional Network Information Centers (NICs).
The background for IPv6 in this region dates back
to the end of 1998 when institutions such as the National Research
Network of Brazil (Red Nacional de Pesquisa--RNP) and the National
Autonomous University of Mexico (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de
México—UNAM) started research and initial testing in this area.
Recently, in 2005, there was a major breakthrough
in the region, with the allocation of 32 IPv6 prefixes by the regional
RIR, and the number continues to grow.
This story to be continued….
If you wish to participate directly in everything
involving IPv6, do not fail to attend and participate in the Workshop
on IPv6 Address Allocation Policies to be held in Buenos Aires,
Argentina on September 13, 2006. This Workshop shall be examining
aspects such as IPv6 features, IPv4 to IPv6 transition mechanisms,
IPv6 address allocation policies, the impact of IPv6 on the operation
of traditional telecommunication services, and the outlook for new
services.
Azael Fernández
Alcantara
NETLab
Responsible of IPv6
Project in UNAM
Coordinator of the
Working Groups of IPv6 IPv6 in
Internet2 (CUDI and CLARA)
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IPv6: Critical tool for
pioneering network development
