Presentation during ION Belfast in the "IPv6 Success Stories: Network Operators Tell All!" session from Ian Farrer from Deutsche Telekom AG. In this session, we invite network operators to share their IPv6 success stories and lessons learned along the way that can help other managers of networks deploy IPv6. How did they do it? What technical, organizational, and political challenges did they face? Attendees will gain vital insight as network operators lay out the stages for IPv6 implementation—creating the business case for management buy-in, initiating a planning process, flipping the switch, and, finally, gathering measurements and proving success.

1. what if the ipv6 pushmi-pullyu
doesn’t exist?
Ian Farrer

2. 05/09/2014 2
REASONS FOR IPV6 – PUSH OR PULL?
THE ‘USUAL’ JUSTIFICATIONS
§ We’re out of v4
addresses!
§ So’s RIPE/ARIN/
APNIC….
§ Customers are
demanding v6!
§ Look at the new
services we can
build!
Image source: http://bodybalance4you.wordpress.com

3. If you already identified a push or a pull,
(hopefully) you’re acting on it
If not, by the time one appears, it’ll already
be too late to act on it
. . .So, what if you have neither?

4. 05/09/2014 4
WHO WANTS IPV6?
IN A TYPICAL ORGANIZATION….
Want Couldn’t Care
Less Don’t Want
Network Strategy
Network Engineering
Network Planning
Network Operations
Data Center Strategy
Data Center Engineering
Data Center Planning
Data Center Operations
Technology Marketing
Everyone Else
✓✓
✓
✓✓
✓
✓✓
✓
✓

5. STEP 1
MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO IPV6 ….
§ The world sees this as a problem for the ‘Network guys’, so as a network
guy, you might as well accept it and start working on the solution
(because if you’re not ready when it’s needed, it WILL be your fault!)
§ If you wait for the business case to appear, you’re going to miss the
05/09/2014 5
boat…
§ So, build an IPv6 submarine project
§ There are A LOT of free resources, training, requirements
and expertise out there. Getting yourself ready doesn’t
need to be expensive

6. 05/09/2014 6
STEP 2
GET GOING …
§ Get IPv6 in the office or on your test
environment
§ REAL IPv6 with real a real public
address allocation!
§ Give your engineers a chance to
work and play with v6
§ This bit is important – these guys
need to evangelize v6 to the other
techies. They’ve got to love it
themselves!
Image source: www.simplybastow.com
Get your techies hands
dir ty with v6!

7. STEP 3
BUILD A LAB….
§ A good IPv6 Test Lab will be one of your most valuable assets
§ If you’re going to put IPv6 on to your existing network infrastructure, then use whatever
test equipment that you already have.
05/09/2014 7
§ If you’re going to live in a dual-stack world, test in one!
§ The lab must be as comprehensive and complete as you can make it
§ Model your existing network
§ Test what you plan to deploy
§ Getting a response to a ‘ping6’ across a back to back link does not constitute an
exhaustive test plan!
§ When you’ve got it ready, use the lab as part of your internal marketing ….
§ à Showing people how it works is worth 20 meetings telling people how
it’s going to work

8. STEP 4
BREAKING THE CHICKEN AND EGG….
§ Why should I get my service ready for IPv6 when your network isn’t ready?
§ You can only break this cycle by getting IPv6 deployed onto your live network
§ Fortunately, networking infrastructure is comparatively the easiest part
§ Most of your networking equipment has probably supported v6 for a long time
§ If you don’t know what you need, documents like RIPE554 ‘Requirements for IPv6 in
05/09/2014 8
ICT Equipment’ are there to help you
§ There is a lot of experience about now. You’re already out of the early adopter phase…
§ The bigger challenges that you may find here are:
§ Dual-stack v4/v6 interworking – get on top of this, as you’ll be here for a while
§ Operating and maintaining the network
§ Network Security
This is where you need your v6 evangelists from step 2 above …

9. STEP 5
NEVER TOUCH A RUNNING SYSTEM…
But if it’s going to be upgraded or replaced, then don’t let it stay v4 only!
§ Once you’ve got your network infrastructure ready, you’re in a pretty strong
position
§ You now have the skills and experience to lead this
§ Work with the service owners to understand what their service does and
how they work
§ If new hardware/software/connectivity etc. are being purchased provide
support for creating IPv6 requirements
This step is the long slog – it may well take years to complete
(due to refresh cycles), but once the right skills and process are in place,
05/09/2014 9
it’ll get there!

10. WHAT IF THE IPV6 PUSHMI-PULLYU DOESN’T
EXIST?
§ If you haven’t found him
yet, he probably doesn’t
exist…
§ But this can’t be an
excuse for inaction
§ The world outside is
changing rapidly – the
amount of v6 connected
customers is growing
daily (20% in the RIPE
Region now)
‘Pushmi-Pullyu’ (Aypee Sixicus Excusicus) - MISSING
• Even if you don’t have a business case, you can still get your
business ready
– strictly confidential, confidential, internal, public – 05/09/2014 10
Image source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com

11. Thank you!