| SANTA CLARA, Calif., Apr. 27, 2009 – Packet Design
has added support for IPv6 – the next-generation
version of the Internet Protocol – to Route Explorer,
its network management system that gives enterprises
and service providers visibility into routing operations
on their IP networks. The Internet Engineering Task
Force developed IPv6 to replace the existing version,
IPv4, which faces address-space limitations as Internet
usage continues to grow. |
|
|
| With the new IPv6 capability, Route Explorer, which
works by passively "listening" to routing
protocol exchanges and computing a real-time, network-wide
layer-3 topology, will now be able to monitor and analyze
IPv6 networks, as well as those running IPv4. This information
will enable network engineers to quickly identify and
resolve problems, perform effective network maintenance,
and do accurate change planning on increasingly complex
networks that incorporate both versions of the protocol.
Route Explorer's IPv6 support is initially available
for BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) and IS-IS (Intermediate
System to Intermediate System), two routing protocols
used widely by service providers. Support for IPv6 on
the OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) routing protocol
will be added later this year, followed by Cisco's enterprise-oriented
EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) in
2010.
"With the Internet expanding to encompass everything
from phones to appliances, the use of IPv6 and its greatly
expanded address space will become a necessity,"
said Jeff Raice, Packet Design's executive vice president
of marketing and business development. "While few
organizations today have moved exclusively to IPv6,
many are beginning to deploy it in parallel with IPv4
as they prepare their networks to support next-generation
standards and heavier traffic volumes. Companies in
the Far East and a growing number of service providers
worldwide are taking the lead in this area, and migration
to IPv6 is mandated for the U.S. federal government.
Since many of these organizations use Route Explorer
to troubleshoot and plan their networks, it was critical
for us to begin supporting IPv6 before it moves fully
into the mainstream.
"Based on the market demand we've seen, IS-IS
and BGP are most important for early adopters of IPv6,
who are chiefly service providers. We will later add
support for OSPF and EIGRP, as well as providing specialized
variations such as 6PE, VPNv6 and 6VPE for providers
of VPN [virtual private network] services." |
