IPv6 support on MPLS networks: experiences with 6PE approach

Abstract

The MPLS is widely noticed as a technology for the next generation Internet that provides speed and functionality in packet forwarding. However, as a result of the rapid deployment of the MPLS technology, a rack of IPv6 support in MPLS standards is rapidly emerging as a practical issue in the IPv4 to IPv6 transition process.This paper presents the result of research we have performed regarding the IPv6 support on MPLS networks. We have examined characteristics of proposed models for the IPv6 support on MPLS networks, and selected the "6PE technology" as an initial support of IPv6 in MPLS networks.The paper will describe the design, implementation and operation of the 6PE extension for the MPLS research platform AYAME in detail, followed by discussions on possible operational and interoperability issues we have found during the course of our investigation.

Advances in Internet technology IPv6

“…There are three main problems existing in thetransition network technologies.IPv4-based IPv6 network interconnection solves the interconnection problem by connecting the IPv6 networks and islands through IPv4. The main theory is tunneling mechanism, including configured tunneling, automatic tunneling and tunneling based on MPLS [26,27] and so on;IPv4/IPv6 transparent interconnection allows network nodes to communicate either via IPv4 or IPv6.The major technologies include 4over6 transition mechanism, the network protocol conversion, transport protocol conversion, application interface protocol conversion and application layer protocol conversion;IPv6-based IPv4 network interconnection makes the IPv4 networks and islands connect through IPv6 network. The major technologies are 4over6 transition mechanism, General Packet IPv6 tunnel standards, GRE and DSTM and so on.…”

“…The program is being proposed by CISCO and being paid great attention by IETF. Detailed mechanism can refer to [11,26,27,35].…”

Performance Analysis of Traffic Engineering (TE) in IPv6 with IPv4 over Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)

“…MPLS is independent from both network layer protocols and data link layer media and its infrastructure has minimal core impact to provide IPv6 services [25][26]. There are several models for the IPv6 implementation over MPLS networks; 6PE model: Extend edge LSRs only, keep using IPv4 routing and signaling on core LSRs, Extend routing and signaling protocols to support IPv6, Native IPv6 network and IPv4 CE-to-CE Tunnels [27].…”