Comments on: Feds slacking in shift to next-generation IPv6

Only the Pentagon has submitted a plan for shift to next-generation Net. The rest of the U.S. government seems to be straggling.

[kieranmullen]

Why not use Internet 2?

Why doesnt the goverment use internet 2? Then they wouldnt have to worry about security issues "as much"

Kieran Mullen
Portland OR

[202578300049013666264380294439]

ipv6 security

The issue is more subtle. It is in the best interest for most government computers to have a presence on both the ipv4 and ipv6 networks, at least initially. Unless you have access to the ipv6 network, you can't access the ipv6 part of Internet2/Abilene.

When you're on 2 networks at the same time, you have twice as many virtual network interfaces. This can make firewall/nat rules considerably more tricky. If your department only has one or two computers and they aren't behind a nat, adding ipv6 connectivity takes 5 minutes. Anything more complicated will require considerable preparation.

[padrino121]

Not many following DoD plan

The Pentagon may have submitted a plan, an 03 DoD memo may state new systems procured must be IPv6 capable but that doesn't mean many are following it or even care about it.

I've worked on a number of government projects pushing the technology envelope and I have visibility into a number of others, in all IPv6 isn't even a consideration and most of the procurements don't include IPv6 capable components.