The first steps of the global IPv6 deployment began over a dozen years ago in 1999. In February 2011, the world's pool of IPv4 addresses was officially exhausted. Last June, World IPv6 Day was held to allow web hosting providers to test out their IPv6 configurations -- the test proved to be a wide success for this planned new core protocol of all Internet traffic.
Though IPv6 continues the path to full adoption in an industry that wants to avoid limited Internet functionality, the actual turnover to full IPv6 deployment has barely reached 10% world-wide. In fact, initial estimates in 1999 had been that IPv6 would be dominant by 2007. Web hosting organizations appear to be waiting for a critical mass of IPv6 deployments to be reached before committing their own resources. But, the longer a web hosting provider waits, the more costly the switchover will be. Once IPv6 starts growing, the progress will become geometrical and will rapidly leave behind those who are not prepared. Specific steps for IPv6 adoption can be done right now that will ease the transition from IPv4 to IPv6.
The first step for a web hosting provider is to acquire an IPv6 PA (Provider Assigned) prefix that can be handed out to customers who request such an item for their own IPv6 plans. Any provider who cannot give this new configuration setting to their own customers will be left behind when customers began switching to IPv6-ready providers. Set up a parallel IPv6 connectivity infrastructure that customers can use to test out their own hosted applications based on that prefix.
Second, find the non-IPv6 equipment and applications in your own colocation center that must be upgraded -- this survey will find both hardware and software that needs to be replaced.
Third, plan the security setup for IPv6 using IPSec. IPSec, designed to ensure data integrity, data confidentiality and authentication of packet origins, is a requirement of any IPv6 deployment.
The last step is to let your customers know how ready you are as a web hosting provider for a full deployment of IPv6. Keep them informed via press releases and newsletter announcements. Be ready to answer their questions.
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