Framework for IP Version Transition Scenarios
draft-ietf-v6ops-v4v6tran-framework-00

Abstract

This document sets out a framework for the presentation of scenarios and recommendations for a variety of approaches to the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, given the necessity for a long period of co-existence of the two protocols.

Status of this Memo

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Copyright Notice

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Table of Contents

1.  Introduction
2.  Document Topics
3.  Security Considerations
4.  IANA Considerations
5.  Acknowledgements
6.  Change log
7.  Informative References
§  Authors' Addresses

1.  Introduction

This document sets out a framework for the presentation of scenarios and recommendations for a variety of approaches to the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, given the necessity for a long period of co-existence of the two protocols. A general "call to arms" for transition is found in [RFC5211] (Curran, J., “An Internet Transition Plan,” July 2008.), and a recommendation for four principal scenarios is given in [I‑D.arkko‑ipv6‑transition‑guidelines] (Arkko, J. and F. Baker, “Guidelines for Using IPv6 Transition Mechanisms during IPv6 Deployment,” November 2010.). A report on experience and plans of various Internet Service Providers (ISPs) is given in [RFC6036] (Carpenter, B. and S. Jiang, “Emerging Service Provider Scenarios for IPv6 Deployment,” October 2010.). However, it is clear that operators require more detailed technical recommendations than are available so far. A companion document [reference TBD] provides a technical problem statement. Unfortunately, the number of different combinations of existing IPv4 deployment models, customer profiles and requirements, and possible coexistence and transition models, is enormous, so it is quite impracticable to produce either a set of recommendations for each case, or a recommended "one size fits all" model. That is why this document proposes a set of topics or dimensions, as a framework for a reasonable number of recommendation documents.

The reader is assumed to be familiar with IPv6. The IETF's view of core IPv6 requirements is to be found in [RFC4294] (Loughney, J., “IPv6 Node Requirements,” April 2006.) (currently being updated as [I‑D.ietf‑6man‑node‑req‑bis] (Jankiewicz, E., Loughney, J., and T. Narten, “IPv6 Node Requirements RFC 4294-bis,” October 2010.)). However, this does not give a complete view of mechanisms an ISP may need to deploy, since it considers the requirements for an individual node, not for a network or service infrastructure as a whole.

[RFC4029] (Lind, M., Ksinant, V., Park, S., Baudot, A., and P. Savola, “Scenarios and Analysis for Introducing IPv6 into ISP Networks,” March 2005.) discussed scenarios for introducing IPv6 into ISP networks, as the problem was viewed some years ago. Its end goal was simply a dual-stack ISP backbone. Today's view is that this is insufficient, as it does not allow for prolonged interworking between IPv6-only and legacy (IPv4-only) hosts. Indeed, the end goal today might be an IPv6-only ISP backbone, with some form of legacy IPv4 support [I‑D.arkko‑ipv6‑transition‑guidelines] (Arkko, J. and F. Baker, “Guidelines for Using IPv6 Transition Mechanisms during IPv6 Deployment,” November 2010.).

Although the basic IPv6 standards are stable, considerable work continues in several IETF working groups, on issues such as multihoming, tunneling, and IP layer interworking between IPv6-only and IPv4-only hosts. However, operators faced with IPv4 address exhaustion in the coming few years need immediate guidance. These operators cannot avoid the need for general skills acquisition, or the need to write their own detailed deployment plan, but they also need guidance for generic scenarios similar to their actual situation. They cannot obtain such guidance from individual protocol specifications developed by the IETF, so there is a need for additional documents.

2.  Document Topics

On the assumption that a series of documents are produced describing and recommending transition scenarios, there are two basic conditions:

1. The documents will not be primary protocol specifications, because those are the outcome of IETF working groups chartered to work on specific protocol mechanisms.
2. The documents are addressed to service providers who have taken the decision to support IPv6, have acquired basic knowledge and skills, have determined how they will obtain upstream IPv6 connectivity, and are ready to write their operational plan for transition.

The documents should each cover some or all of the following aspects or dimensions:

• For the convenience of readers, each document should briefly describe its network model in the Abstract (or Introduction) for quick reference.
• The documents should explain how certain technology components fit together in a given transition and co-existence scenario.
• They will present major generic network models, and their subsets, which exist (or are firmly planned) today, including network topologies and/or architectures.
• They should specify their scope: the range of technologies that they do or do not apply to (e.g. specific access network technologies, core network technologies and topologies, mobile vs fixed hosts, business vs private customers, etc.).
• They should develop analysis criteria on how to recognize appropriate transition technologies for existing provider networks within their scope. This should include information related to deployed protocols and functions which may assist or hinder various transition technologies from being deployed.
• If multiple transition technologies are needed for provider environments where access networks differ and have various capabilities, the documents should show how these technologies can be deployed simultaneously.
• They should describe how multiple technologies can co-exist, if necessary, during all stages of migration (e.g., moving from IPv4 Only to Dual-Stack to DS-Lite to NAT64).
• They should cover considerations for legacy operation while moving to IPv6 and its transition technologies. Many operators will have large quantities of IPv4-only equipment which cannot feasibly be upgraded until the end of its economic life, or which is under customer control.
• They should cover considerations which apply when retro-fitting various technologies to existing networks. Included in this would be impacts on ancillary protocols, routing platforms/systems, security policies, provisioning systems, network services (i.e. DHCP, DNS etc), law enforcement procedures and more.
• They should quantify scaling characteristics of deployment modes for each technology model and intersections during co-existence (e.g. if some of the Network is DS-Lite and some is classical Dual Stack; peak load on NAT64; etc.).
• The documents should include security considerations for their specific transition scenario(s).

A desirable outcome would be a set of Best Current Practice (BCP) or advisory (Informational) documents for a range of generic deployment models and how they fit into a network, including key services such as subscriber authentication, DHCP, and DNS. However, it must not be forgotten that every service provider is different and such documents can never replace specific deployment plans drawn up by each individual service provider.

3.  Security Considerations

Service providers will insist on having security for IPv6 services, and for all transition technologies, that is at least as good as for IPv4 services in all respects. Particular attention must be paid to security exposures that are specific to transition and coexistence mechanisms. Thus, all recommendations for transition scenarios must include any security aspects that are specific to that scenario.

4.  IANA Considerations

This document makes no request of the IANA.

5.  Acknowledgements

Useful comments and contributions were made by ... and others.

This document was produced using the xml2rfc tool [RFC2629] (Rose, M., “Writing I-Ds and RFCs using XML,” June 1999.).

6.  Change log

draft-ietf-v6ops-v4v6tran-framework-00: adopted by WG at IETF 79, 2010-12-01

draft-carpenter-v4v6tran-framework-00: original version, 2010-08-18

7. Informative References

Authors' Addresses