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The following content is from an older version of this website, and may not display correctly. Major organizations around the world, including colo and Internet providers, will switch to IPv6 as part of a 24-hour test to determine how operations will hand the move to the new Internet Protocol version tomorrow.
Some of the biggest names in the industry, including Google, Facebook, Yahoo! and more will be offering content over IPv6 ÔÇô the successor to IPv4 which is still in dominant use but has run out of free addresses for user devices.
Google said it has already been testing IPv6 heavily, even using it to support its YouTube services.
"Google has been supporting IPv6 since early 2008, when we first began offering search over IPv6," Google said in statement.
"Since then we've brought IPv6 support to YouTube and have been helping ISPs enable Google over IPv6 by default for their users.
"On World IPv6 Day, we'll be taking the next big step. Together with major web companies such as Facebook and Yahoo!, we will enable IPv6 on our main websites for 24 hours. This is a crucial phase in the transition, because while IPv6 is widely deployed in many networks, it's never been used at such a large scale before."
Google said it expects 0.5% or less of its users will be affected by its tests, with IPv4 being available to those experiencing problems.
Hardware makers and operating system vendors will also be watching the trials ÔÇô switching, routing and gateway providers have all had to provide upgrades to products to be able to make IPv6 a reality.
Cisco has committed to tomorrow's test ÔÇô it's focus on the day, according to Cisco engineer Mark Townsley will be security, deployment and maintenance.
IPv4 and IPv6 addresses will need to be unified across networks, software and applications ÔÇô a move that could pose some big challenges especially or small- and medium sized companies.
DatacenterDynamics earlier reported that IT administration and networking teams could find themselves requiring new technologies for IPv6 along with an overhaul of IP address lists altogether.
"It could be massive for data centers that have web sites hosted in house and links to small but important remote offices in other countries," DatacenterDynamics' Mike Foskett said. "Data center teams will have to ensure that their websites implement dual stacks so people can access via both IPv4 or IPv6.There are also issues with DNS lookup tables in different countries. In some cases staff will have to be trained to carry these changes out."
Cisco has released switches, routers and security devices designed for IPv6 testing.
"Customers are able to preserve existing investments by auditing existing systems and utilizing transition technologies where appropriate;prepare by rolling out IPv6 alongside IPv4 in a strategic manner;and will ultimately prosper with the transition to a full IPv6-enabled Internet. This will allow them to continue to build larger, more efficient networks that enable business innovation," Townsley said.
Many European research networks have been running IPv6 successfully for years now. The GEANT research network in Europe has been running native IPv6 since 2002 and the Finish University and Research Network has been had IPv6 running since 2003.
HEAnet in Ireland has run IPv6 on its public services since 2003 and the French NREDN RENATER has both IPv4 running alongside IPv6 services since 2003.
Tomorrow DatacenterDynamics will be visiting the Amsterdam Internet Exchange's More IP event which will explore the move from IPv4 to IPv6.
We will have more news from the event, and take a look at the developments from World IPv6 day throughout this week.
The exchange is made up of a number of colo, telco and other network-reliant providers including media companies.
If you would like to find out more about World IPv6 day, you can visit the Internet Society's home page at www.worldipv6day.org. The society provides IPv6 tests and information for your transition.