After deciding to integrate Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), IT groups face a series of technical and planning decisions with long-lasting ramifications, including:
Should we fully transition to IPv6 all at once, or integrate it gradually?
Is it preferable to IPv6-enable the entire network infrastructure before transitioning applications?
What is the best approach when applications need to co-exist on IPv4 and IPv6?
How can we take advantage of new IPv6 features, such as peer-to-peer communications and autoconfiguration, and reduce management requirements?
How can we increase business efficiency with new IPv6-enabled functions such as mobility, sensor networking, and collaboration?
How can we help ensure security for both IPv4 and IPv6 during the transition?
These and other decisions affect the ease of the IPv6 integration and how soon organizations can realize the business benefits. This white paper examines issues involved in planning the IPv6 integration by describing the experience of a global construction and project-management company with offices in more than 100 countries. It begins with ten essential planning steps for organizations planning for IPv6 deployment and integration. The remainder of the paper describes each of the company’s carefully coordinated integration projects: the Cisco network foundation, applications, management, and security.
