Calling All IPv6′ers
In analyzing response data from past Network Instruments newsletters (analysis which takes place in a reinforced bunker far beneath the Earth’s crust), my colleagues and I recently discovered a curious fact: people are interested in IPv6.
A piece on Vista-related IPv6 issues and another on displaying IPv6 data in our Observer software proved big draws in relation to other newsletter features on items like MPLS or compliance. Then why, we quizzically ask ourselves, are we not hearing more IPv6 buzz from customers?
As a company, we’ve been touting full support for IPv6 since the recent release of Observer 12; we even garnered some press coverage this summer. What we haven’t seen, outside of the government sector, is customers knocking down our doors to inquire about this functionality.
And so, we search for the disconnect. Some take the “blame Vista” approach, which supposes organizations are too busy transitioning or dealing with post-rollout problems to give IPv6 a second thought.
Then there’s the school of thought, one which supports our newsletter findings, that says companies are just beginning to research the technology. Some companies may be sold on IPv6 and attempting to build a business case for acquiring it; some may be closing their eyes and hoping it goes away.
What do you think? Is this the calm before the IPv6 storm or are we still years away from widespread implementation in the private sector?
August 30, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Many computer users are trying to configure ipv6 but are encountering obstacles such as ISPs that don’t support it and routers that are not ipv6 capable. To its credit Microsoft has been publishing videoblogs and documentation on its Technet site which is helpful. I subscribe to Usenet newsgroups on ipv6 but I still have a lot to learn.