7 Actions to get your network ready for IPv6

IPv4 is depleting so fast and time comes to get ready for IPv6. IPv6 may come to real life by 2012/2013.

I am making a big claim here and I think I need to back it up with some facts:

• IPv4 address space is estimated to deplete somewhere in 2011. Check this Report.
• U.S government agencies are ready for IPv6 since June 2008.
• Large service providers are IPv6 ready or being ready now. Google your service provider.
• Content providers are preparing for IPv6. Google is one of the leaders in this transition. Just do a simple search to see the efforts toward IPv6.

I suggest the following actions to get your network ready for IPv6:

1. Orient yourself with IPv6. I recommend you start familiarizing yourself with IPv6, addressing, routing protocols, discovery protocols, etc.
2. Start Playing IPv6 in your LAB scenarios, if you are testing a technology that can be tested with IPv6, use IPv6.
3. IPv6 is originally designed to coexist with IPv4, use IPv6 in addition to the existing IPv4 wherever possible in your network. Use it on capable routers, hosts and servers.
4. Buy only devices that support IPv6 in addition to IPv4. If you are buying new devices/applications or replacing old ones, make sure they support IPv6, this is very important to protect your investment.
5. Connect to service providers that have clear plans and time lines for supporting IPv6. Ask your service provider explicitly about their plans for IPv6.
6. If  you work for a service provider or something similar, make sure you recommend IPv6 capable devices to your customers. Specially for broadband users.
7. Attend seminars/webinars, join groups and forums and keep moving with the world in this smooth transition, so far.

Start getting ready now. I wish you an easy and smooth transition.