Networking | News

Internet Society Launches IPv6 and DNSSEC Online Resource

• By Leila Meyer
• 01/10/12

The Internet Society has launched an online resource to assistorganizations with the switch from IPv4 to IPv6 and implementation ofDomain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC). The information hub,called Deploy360, provides technical documents, case studies, bestpractices, and other information and resources related to deployment ofIPv6 and DNSSEC.

Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the new Internet addressingscheme that succeeds IPv4. As of 2011, all 4.3 billion IPv4 addresseshave been allocated, necessitating the adoption of IPv6, which has acapacity of 340 undecillion unique IP addresses, a billion-trilliontimes more than IPv4.

The switch to IPv6 requires administrators to make equipment andconfiguration changes to their networks, which can be a daunting taskwith a learning curve. Deploy360 aims to help guide network adminsthrough that process.

"2012 will be a pivotal year in IPv6 service deployment, and theDeploy360 Programme is a key component of our efforts to support theindustry in making that transition," said Leslie Daigle, Chief InternetTechnology Officer for the Internet Society.

Domain Name System (DNS) servers translate domain names into IPaddresses. DNS is vulnerable to spoofing and other malicious attacks.DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) address the security concernsassociated with DNS by verifying that DNS information is correct andhas not been intercepted and tampered with.

Implementation of DNSSEC requires administrators to ensure their domainregistrar fully supports DNSSEC, configure DNSSEC at their domainregistrar, and add DNSSEC records directly to their DNS zone. Deploy360provides case studies, tools, tutorials, and white papers related toimplementation of DNSSEC.

"Deploy360 provides easy access to a growing inventory of detailed,practical documents on IPv6 and DNSSEC deployment," said RichardJimmerson, who leads the Internet Society Deploy360 Program. "Withsupport and guidance from the Internet community, we will continue toaugment the program's educational resources and expand its scope ofinformation. Deploy360 provides the right resources at the right timeto help speed the worldwide adoption of essential new Internetstandards and technologies."

Key components of Deploy360 include:

• A growing Web portal with technical resources, educationalarticles, best practices information, case studies, and in-depthdeployment information;
• Four Internet ON (ION) conferences per year;
• Deployment discussions through social media;
• Speakers at industry conferences and events; and
• An IPv6 tutorial at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Additional information is available on the Deploy360 site.