Question about the future

[Jim Bound]

John,

Several folks sent mail they would like to see my answer in public so
here it is.

>1. What types of devices will be ipv6 only?  

Most likely only Internet Appliances for the short to medium term.

>2. If ipv4 tunnels will exist for some time, then how limiting do you think 
>they will grow?

The only two limitations I can see (other than the use of tunnels like
any technology or VPN):

1.  IPv4 Tunnel Enpoints accross the IPv4 Internet require global IPv4
    addresses and I don't see that as a problem if one uses 6to4
    correctly, as one example.

2.  We have not seen yet to my knowledge an extended use of recursive 
    tunnels and what the real limitation is when packets move over IPv4
    IPv6 and then IPv4 etc etc etc.  Its the ICMP issues really.
    But I don't think this will be that necessary as the norm.

>3. What things are you hearing from your users? 

All I can say is they say "do IPv6 so we are ready for worst case
scenario and so we can started now understanding IPv6 and how to 
deploy it".

>4. Is the issue of ipv6 still just in development labs, or are there real 
>world customers asking about this support?

We have real world customers and most of us vendors are shipping
products now, I predict all will be by 2001.  Note IBM shipped the first
product for IPv6.

>5. When we add support for ipv6 to VSE, how soon will it be a real 
>requirement? 1 year, 2 years, more?

Sorry been about 19 years since I hacked on SNA, VTAM, MVS, VM370, et
al I can't answer your question.  I can point you to an industry you can
check out and may have contacts at where IP with this environment is
very prominent Auto Industry in Detroit and also those Research
Scientists (GM, Ford, Chrysler, et al).

>6. Those of you that have implemented the new layer, how stable are you 
>finding things?

High degree of confidence and performance maintained which was a lot of
the effort from a "product" perspective.

>7. I see that Microsoft has provided support for ipv6 in Windows 2000, but 
>why haven't they simply included it into the operating system? Are there that 
>many issues that are causing changes, or is it that its difficult for end 
>users to administer?

I will let our Microsoft colleagues answer that on this list if they so
desire.

>These are the types of questions I'm looking for answers about.

There is a very key point to IPv6 development and the business and
marketing strategy.  Do not think IPv6 Migration and Transition, think
IPv6/IPv4 "product" Integration and Coexistence. Or from a business
perspective IPv6 does not replace IPv4 but extends its capabilities and
evolves IP in general.

>.Please forgive me for being late in the game.  But that does not mean we are 
>.not a serious development house, with serious concerns.

Nothing to forgive.  But you are behind if you are just starting many of
the vendors on this list have been at this for 6 years as early
implementors.

regards,
/jim