Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the next version of the protocol that is used for communication among devices of all types on the Internet. IPv6 has been in existence for many years, but recently the deployment of IPv6 has accelerated greatly in the enterprise. IPv6 has been under continuous development and is maturing as real-world deployments expose gaps in either the protocol or the deployment methodology of the protocol.

Enterprises around the world are being exposed to IPv6 by either deploying operating systems and applications that automatically use IPv6 (at times without their knowledge), or they are proactively deploying IPv6 to fill requirements for the following: additional addressing, expansion into emerging markets, dealing with merger-and-acquisition challenges, and leveraging the new capabilities of the protocol for cutting-edge endpoints and applications. Whatever the reason, it is critical for the enterprise to fully understand the deployment options available with IPv6 and to take an aggressive but well-thought-out planning and design approach to their deployment.

IP is pervasive; it is everywhere. So, to properly plan and deploy IPv6 in an enterprise network, the IT staff must break the deployment down into places in their network such as the campus, data center, WAN, and so on and then focus on all the places where IPv4 is used today. Then, based on the business and technical drivers, the staff must implement IPv6 alongside of IPv4. There will be times when IPv6 is deployed in new areas where IPv4 is no longer needed and also times when IPv6 might not be needed everywhere that IPv4 is. This book breaks down the enterprise into various places in the network and gives design and deployment guidance on how to implement IPv6 in these areas.