IPv6 Blog

Available public IPv4 address space passes ominous milestone

The Number Resource Organization (NRO) announced that the percentage of available public IPv4 address space has dropped below 10%.

See a summary of the announcement in NetworkWorld here.

See the full announcement here.

IPv6, your time is coming…

Joe Davies
Principal Technical Writer for the Windows Server Networking Documentation Team

New documentation is available for DirectAccess in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Forefront Unified Access Gateway (UAG)

For DirectAccess in Windows Server 2008 R2:

·        Step By Step Guide: Troubleshoot DirectAccess in a Test Lab

Describes DirectAccess troubleshooting tools, the results of the tools in a working DirectAccess test lab, and how to troubleshoot common problems in the DirectAccess test lab.

For DirectAccess in Forefront UAG:

·        Forefront UAG DirectAccess technical overview

Describes the benefits of Forefront UAG DirectAccess, how Forefront UAG DirectAccess works, and what is required to deploy it in your organization.

·        Step-by-step guide for setting up Forefront UAG DirectAccess in a test lab

Provides instructions for setting up a test lab to demonstrate UAG DirectAccess with a simulated Internet, intranet, and home network.

Joe Davies
Principal Technical Writer for the Windows Server Networking Documentation Team

New and updated DirectAccess documentation is now available

The following new documentation resources for DirectAccess in Windows Server 2008 R2 are now available:

·        Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 DirectAccess IT Infrastructure Compatibility

This white paper describes how DirectAccess integrates with existing IT environments.

·        DirectAccess Learning Roadmap

Provides links to resources that build your understanding of DirectAccess, from prerequisites to introductory, intermediate, and advanced information.

The following updated documentation for DirectAccess in Windows Server 2008 R2 is now available:

·         DirectAccess Troubleshooting Guide

Updates include new content with troubleshooting steps for specific DirectAccess problems.

Joe Davies
Principal Technical Writer for the Windows Server Networking Documentation Team

IPv6 considered for the Smart Grid

The Smart Grid, a modernization and automation of the United States power grid, will potentially need millions of devices, each with their own address. Due to the relative scarcity of public IPv4 addresses and the complications of using address translators, IPv6 with its large address space for end-to-end connectivity is being considered.

For more information, see Will Smart Grid power IPv6? in Network World online.

Joe Davies

New DirectAccess documentation is now available

The following new documentation resources for DirectAccess are now available:

·         DirectAccess Deployment Guide

This guide provides checklists and step-by-step procedures for deploying DirectAccess servers and DirectAccess client settings. Use this guide to answer the “How” questions a deployment team might ask before implementing a DirectAccess design.

·         DirectAccess Troubleshooting Guide

This early version describes the troubleshooting tools to use when diagnosing DirectAccess problems and a step-by-step methodology for troubleshooting DirectAccess connections.

·         DirectAccess Infrastructure Planning and Design Guide

This provides actionable guidance for designing a DirectAccess infrastructure with Windows Server 2008 R2 using an easy-to-follow, four-step process.

Joe Davies
Principal Technical Writer for the Windows Server Networking Documentation Team

DirectAccess Design Guide is now available

The DirectAccess Design Guide is now available and published in the following locations:

·         As Web articles on TechNet

·         As a white paper in the Microsoft download center

This guide provides information about advantages, disadvantages, requirements, recommendations, and design considerations for deploying DirectAccess. It answers the “What,” “Why,” and “When” questions that your deployment design team might ask before deploying DirectAccess in a production environment.

Additionally, the Step By Step Guide: Demonstrate DirectAccess in a Test Lab white paper has been updated to include both the Release Candidate (RC) and Release to Manufacturing (RTM) versions of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Use this guide to configure DirectAccess and see it working in a simplified test lab.

Joe Davies
Principal Technical Writer for the Windows Server Networking Documentation Team

Great advice on finding and using an IPv6-capable ISP

DirectAccess Early Adopter's Guide for Windows Server 2008 RC is available

The DirectAccess Early Adopter's Guide, updated for Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate (RC), is published in the following locations:

·          As Web articles on TechNet

·          As a white paper in the Microsoft download center

This guide has the latest conceptual, planning, design, deployment, and troubleshooting information for DirectAccess in Windows Server 2008 R2 RC and Windows 7 RC.

If you are investigating DirectAccess, use the Step By Step Guide: Demonstrate DirectAccess in a Test Lab white paper to configure DirectAccess and see it working in a simplified test lab.

New ARIN CEO stresses the IPv4 address depletion problem and the importance of migrating to IPv6

Network World interviews John Curran, the new president and CEO of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN), in Internet's biggest issue? IPv6 transition, new ARIN CEO says.

Some direct quotes from John Curran:

·         IPv4 address depletion is the most pressing issue facing the Internet community today…

·         Yes, we are going to run out of free IPv4 addresses, and organizations that want to be able to make use of the Internet will need to support IPv6.

·         The carriers obviously need to work aggressively to make their infrastructures support both IPv4 and IPv6, and I know all the major carriers have plans to do that.

·         …the Internet is going to have two protocols on it — IPv4 and IPv6 — and over time the IPv6 one is going to grow a lot faster than the IPv4 one.

Joe Davies
Principal Technical Writer for the Windows Server Networking Documentation Team

Cable Guy article on the IPv6 enhancements in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 now available

The Cable Guy article in the July 2009 issue of TechNet Magazine online, titled “Support for IPv6 in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7,” describes HomeGroup, DirectAccess, and the enhancements for IPv6 transition technologies.

Joe Davies
Principal Technical Writer for the Windows Server Networking Documentation Team

Major carriers ramping up support for IPv6

Check out these recent articles in Network World that describe how major carriers for Internet traffic are now supporting IPv6 or developing support for IPv6:

·         Comcast open for IPv6 business

·         LTE devices must support IPv6, says Verizon

·         U.S. carriers quietly developing IPv6 services

The future is on its way…

Joe Davies
Principal Technical Writer for the Windows Server Networking Documentation Team

More New Technical Resources for DirectAccess

Check out these new technical resources for DirectAccess, the next-generation remote access feature in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 that uses IPv6 for end-to-end connectivity and IPsec for traffic protection:

•  DirectAccess Datasheet

This 2-page datasheet provides a brief overview of DirectAccess, its benefits, system requirements, and features.

• Convergent Computing Case Study and Sporton International Case Study

These case studies describe how Convergent Computing and Sporton International are using DirectAccess and realizing its benefits.

• Next Generation Remote Access with DirectAccess and VPNs

This topic compares DirectAccess with traditional remote access VPNs and describes how most organizations will use the two remote access technologies side-by-side.

For additional technical resources on DirectAccess, see the DirectAccess TechNet Web page.

Joe Davies
Principal Technical Writer for the Windows Server Networking Documentation Team

New Technical Resources for DirectAccess

Check out these new technical resources for DirectAccess, the next-generation remote access feature in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 that uses IPv6 for end-to-end connectivity and IPsec for traffic protection:

•  DirectAccess and the Thin Edge Network

The Cable Guy describes the technologies that make DirectAccess possible and how DirectAccess allows you to reduce the number of remote access-related servers in your edge network.

• Step By Step Guide: Demonstrate DirectAccess in a Test Lab

This white paper includes instructions for setting up a test lab to demonstrate DirectAccess with a simulated Internet, intranet, and home network.

• Using DirectAccess to Provide Secure Access to Corporate Resources from Anywhere

This Technical Case Study describes how Microsoft IT is using DirectAccess to make users more productive and reduce costs for Internet-connected offices.

For additional technical resources on DirectAccess, see the DirectAccess TechNet Web page.

Joe Davies
Principal Technical Writer for the Windows Server Networking Documentation Team

"The Seven Stages of IPv6 Adoption" audiocast from the Internet Society (ISOC) now available

Promoting IPv6 cited as one of the top five Internet emergencies for new U.S. Commerce Secretary

Network World Magazine recently reported on the top five Internet emergencies faced by the new U.S. Commerce Secretary. Of the five, number four was the promotion of IPv6. One of the methods to promote IPv6 is to continue the U.S. government’s deployment of IPv6, integrating IPv6-capability into processes such as procurement, and becoming the largest IPv6 deployment in the world.

See http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/022609-commerce-secretary-internet-emergencies.html?page=6 and http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/022609-commerce-secretary-internet-emergencies.html?page=7 for the details.

Joe Davies

Principal Technical Writer for the Windows Server Networking Documentation Team