9–13 Jun 2025
Brighton, UK
Europe/London timezone

IPv6 - Are we there yet? No. Are we moving? Mostly.

12 Jun 2025, 09:00
1h 30m
Studio Theatre

Studio Theatre

Description

Many organisations are only considering transitioning to IPv6 when they are running out of IPv4 addresses. The canonical solution is dual stack, IPv4 and IPv6 coexisting on the same link, until it's safe to shut off IPv4. But does this really help? IPv4 addresses continue to be used and some problems may remain hidden until the very last moment. Is there a better way forward?

Enter IPv6-Mostly, a technique that allows networks to selectively 'pretend' they are IPv6-Only. Through this approach, endpoints signal that they no longer need IPv4, and the network ensures this 'white lie' is seamless and believable. The beauty of IPv6-Mostly lies in its ability to enable a controlled and incremental transition to IPv6-Only, and highlight where IPv4 is still needed or where it can be de-commissioned.

In this BoF I would like to briefly introduce this technique for people who may not be familiar with it, and share some deployment experiences, including both horror and success stories.
The majority of the session will be an interactive discussion, encouraging participants from all levels of experience - whether they have already implemented IPv6-Mostly, are just beginning to explore it, or are simply curious about the technique - to share their experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another.

Presentation materials

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