A brief discussion on the application and suggestions of IPv6 in enterprise transformation

As the digital transformation of enterprises continues to accelerate, enterprises have built and implemented a large number of infrastructures. The construction of cloud computing, the Internet of Things, the Industrial Internet and other infrastructures has a huge demand for network addresses. The use of IPv6 can not only solve the problem of the limited number of Internet network address resources, but also solve the obstacles for various access devices to connect to the Internet, effectively meeting the needs of interconnection and integration of all networks, and is an important technical prerequisite for building digital enterprises and smart enterprises.

1. IPv6 Demand Background

At present, my country has a large number of Internet users and a huge Internet economic system. By the end of 2017, the number of Internet users in my country had reached 770 million, accounting for more than one-fifth of the total number of Internet users in the world. The scale of my country's Internet-related economy accounts for 6.9% of the overall GDP, ranking second in the world. Compared with other countries in the world, my country's Internet users are younger and more mobile, and have very large network application needs. At present, IPv4 addresses are facing the risk of exhaustion due to limited address resources, which has become an important factor restricting the rapid development of the international Internet.

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The TCP/IP protocol suite is the cornerstone of the development of Internet protocols and is a key protocol for regulating Internet packet information exchange and routing. IPv6 is the abbreviation of the sixth-generation Internet Protocol. It is the next-generation IP protocol designed by IETF to replace IPv4. Compared with IPv4, it has a larger address space, a smaller routing table, increased multicast and convection support, automatic configuration, higher security, expansion, and better header format. It can not only solve the problem of the number of network address resources, but also solve the obstacles of connecting multiple access devices to the Internet. It is an insurmountable stage in the development of cyberspace and the foundation of the next-generation Internet. It has opened up space for further development of the Internet and created opportunities for Internet security management.

2. Application of IPv6 Conversion Technology

The level of informatization development of Chinese enterprises is extremely unbalanced. Some enterprises have entered the ranks of smart enterprises and digital enterprises, and some enterprises have built networks and information systems and basically realized informatization. However, there are still some enterprises that are in the initial stage of informatization, with fewer information systems and extremely weak technical strength. In the long-term informatization construction and practice process, Chinese enterprises have deeply applied IPv4. Various network equipment, software and hardware systems provide external services based on IPv4 addresses. Therefore, IPv6 cannot replace IPv4 immediately. IPv4 and IPv6 will coexist in the same environment for quite some time. To provide a smooth conversion process and minimize the impact on existing users, a good conversion mechanism is needed.

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1. IPv4/IPv6 dual-line technology

The dual stack mechanism is to enable IPv6 network nodes to have an IPv4 stack and an IPv6 stack, so as to support both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols. IPv6 and IPv4 are network layer protocols with similar functions. Both are applied to the same physical platform and carry the same TCP or UDP protocol. If a host supports both IPv6 and IPv4 protocols, then the host can communicate with hosts that only support IPv4 or IPv6 protocols.

2. Tunnel technology

This technology is a mechanism that encapsulates IPv6 packets as data in IPv4 packets, allowing IPv6 packets to be transmitted on existing IPv4 routers. The tunnel is transparent to the source site and the destination site. At the entrance of the tunnel, the router encapsulates the IPv6 data packet in IPv4. The source address and destination address of the IPv4 packet are the IPv4 addresses of the tunnel entrance and exit respectively. At the tunnel exit, the IPv6 packet is taken out and forwarded to the destination site. The existence of the tunnel can be ignored in the communication between IPv6 hosts. The tunnel only serves as a physical channel.

3. Address Translation Technology

Network address translation technology is to treat IPv4 addresses and IPv6 addresses as internal addresses and global addresses respectively, or vice versa. When an internal IPv4 host wants to communicate with an external IPv6 host, the IPv4 address is converted into an IPv6 address in the NAT server, and the server maintains a mapping table between IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. Conversely, when an internal IPv6 host communicates with an external IPv4 host, the IPv6 host is mapped to the internal address and the IPv4 host is mapped to the global address.

III. Recommendations for Chinese Enterprises to Use IPv6

With the rapid development of my country's enterprise digital economy, IPv6 deployment and application will provide opportunities for enterprise digital transformation. The promotion of IPv6 is carried out simultaneously with my country's promotion of industrial upgrading and construction of digital economy. This is a rare opportunity for enterprises to deeply integrate their business operations and production with the Internet, big data, and artificial intelligence. As large data centers, CDN, cloud computing, and 5G all turn to IPv6, if enterprises still use IPv4, it will affect their access to and use of these resources. At this stage, especially when most enterprises in my country still use IPv4, the following suggestions are put forward.

1. Actively carry out IPv6 technology research and application

Accelerate the deployment and application of IPv6 in corporate websites, e-mail boxes, production management systems, and internal corporate networks, upgrade existing network equipment, software and hardware, and business application systems to support IPv6, and gradually make the informatization of corporate operations, development, production management, and other processes all meet IPv6 requirements.

2. Implement the strategy in stages and steps

In the early stage, we can use websites, public service platforms, etc. as pilot projects, compare and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of technologies such as protocol conversion, tunnel technology, and dual stack, explore deployment and implementation experience, and gradually find an IPv6 implementation and application solution that suits the characteristics of the enterprise without affecting the existing network.

3. Accelerate technology accumulation and talent reserve

As a new network protocol, IPv6 involves new address types, protocols, technologies and security features. It requires enterprises to strengthen the accumulation of related technologies, enhance the cultivation and training of technical talents, and pay attention to IPv6 applications while deeply integrating digital technologies with corporate business, so as to lay the foundation for enterprise innovation and transformation and upgrading.

IV. Conclusion

As the Internet enters the IPv6 era, global network information technology will accelerate innovation and change, and information infrastructure will rapidly evolve and upgrade. IPv6 will accelerate the integration of informatization and industrialization, support the development of the industrial Internet, and promote the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries. Chinese companies should seize this historical opportunity, respond to challenges with innovation, accelerate the deployment and application of IPv6, and build a high-speed, intelligent, and convenient next-generation Internet.