Charter Business^® IPv6 - FAQs

Every device that communicates over a network must have an address. Much like letters and packages transported by the postal service, data packets transported over networks must have the address of the packet’s destination and the address of the device that originated the packet (a "return address").

All of the addresses of IPv4, the current Internet Protocol, have been assigned and are nearing 100% usage. The importance of implementing IPv6 is that this newer version of IP has a vastly larger number of addresses – far more than enough to serve all IP networking needs for the foreseeable future. IPv6 is, therefore, vital to the continued growth of existing IP networks and the creation of new IP networks.

IPv4 and IPv6 are not directly interoperable. An IPv4-only device cannot communicate with an IPv6-only device without the help of a Network Address Translator that translates between IPv4 and IPv6 (NAT64).

The easiest way to allow a device to communicate over either IPv4 or IPv6 is to assign to it both an IPv4 address and an IPv6 address: called dual stacking. The device can then "speak" either protocol, depending upon either the type of address DNS gives it for a destination or the type of protocol used by another device sending it packets to which it must respond.

If an IPv6-only device needs to speak to another IPv6-only device but some or all of the network between the devices is IPv4-only (or vice-versa, two IPv4-only devices that must traverse an IPv6-only network segment), there are a variety of tunneling mechanisms that can be used. The difference between a tunnel and a translator is that while a translator changes a packet’s header from one protocol type to another, a tunnel encapsulates the packet – including its header – behind a header of another type.

Tunnels can be either manually configured or automatically configured. Examples of manual tunnels are MPLS, GRE, and IP-in-IP. Examples of automatic tunnels are 6rd, 6to4, Teredo, ISATAP, and tunnel brokers. The decision to use a tunneling technology, and which technology to use, depends on your specific network and the specific problem you are trying to solve.

It does seem that the transition to IPv6 would have been easier if the protocol could support IPv4. However, it can be assumed that IPv6 will eventually replace IPv4 completely (no one can yet predict when this will happen). If backwards compatibility had been included in IPv6, the protocol would be permanently saddled with a meaningless bit of complexity after IPv4 is decommissioned. The better solution is to use separate, interim interoperability technologies that can be more easily discontinued when they are no longer needed.

There is no IPv6 "compelling application" that will drive the adoption of IPv6. The only compelling driver for the protocol is the larger address space, allowing the Internet use to continue growing, new private networks to be built, and new network services to be created.

While the enormous address space is the primary reason most network operators are motivated to adopt IPv6, there are other advantages that are likely to show benefits in the future. These include:

Better multicast capabilities
A more flexible, extensible header architecture
The potential for more granular Class of Service (CoS)
The potential for better network mobility
Better peer-to-peer capabilities

Network systems will continue working if the public IPv4 address pool is completely depleted. In fact, some networks can continue to grow using private IPv4 addresses and private IPv4 to public IPv4 network address translation (NAT44), if they already have sufficient public IPv4 addresses. Use of IPv6 will begin in order to continue growth in several l arenas, such as:

Internet service providers
Broadband service providers
New commercial, government, or academic networks
Networks in developing countries

IPv6 will be deployed slowly and incrementally, with an eye to minimizing any risk to existing network services. The transition to IPv6 is expected to span many years.

IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, unlike IPv4 which uses 32-bit addresses. Because IP addresses are binary numbers, the way to calculate the total number of available addresses is to raise 2 to the power of the number of address bits.

Thus IPv4 has:

232 = 4.29 billion addresses

IPv6 has:

2128 = 3.4 x 1038 addresses

That’s 340 undecillion (36 zeros) addresses. There are many analogies available to describe the size of this number – for example, there are 6.67 x 1027 IPv6 addresses for every square meter of the planet Earth – but the point is that the number of IPv6 addresses is astronomically greater than the number of IPv4 addresses.

No one can yet predict when, or even if, IPv4 will no longer be used globally. Most transition plans include steps to insure IPv4/IPv6 coexistence for the foreseeable future. It can only be assumed that IPv4 will eventually disappear from most networks as IPv6 becomes the predominant version of IP.

There are no plans for another version of IP. Planning for IPv6 began almost two decades ago, and only after the revelation of concrete data showing that IPv4 could not sustain the rate of growth forecast for the Internet. Given the capacities built into IPv6, it is doubtful that a new version of IP will be required in our lifetimes.

IPv6 has the same inherent security as IPv4.

Version number 5 was assigned to an experimental protocol family called Internet Stream Protocol (ST). ST was proposed in 1979, after IPv4 and before IPv6, hence the version number separating them.

ST was intended primarily to support packetized voice networks. Although never publicly deployed, it included several concepts that were later adopted by Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), and Voice over IP (VoIP).

Charter recognizes that IPv6 is an essential technology for ensuring the growth of the Internet. We also view it as a promising avenue for future innovation in networking and networked technologies. Finally, we understand that many of our customers will require IPv6 connectivity – either private or to the public Internet – and we are dedicated to supporting those needs.

We are currently testing IPv6 and deploying it in our network. Availability to our customers will be incremental, with our first priority being an assurance that no disruption or risks are posed to our customers’ services. Beginning with field trial later this year, IPv6 connectivity will be announced as it becomes available in your service area. We will support IPv6 in parallel with IPv4, and our network will transport either protocol version.

We are ensuring that all Internet connections through the Charter network are capable of reaching both IPv4 and IPv6 content, and that our end users have access to both.

Charter provides a free self-test that allows you to see if your computer or network device is IPv6 –enabled. Using the device you would like to test is fast, secure and automatic. The Quick Links at the top of this page will take you to the test sites.

You will need to check with your computer manufacture to determine if your computer will support IPv6.

IPv6 support in mobile handsets and USB "dongle" is still in its early stages, but is progressing. As a few examples, Android 2.1 and iPhone iOS 4.0 both support IPv6, as do Windows Mobile, Windows Phone 7 and Symbian, LTE-based USB dongles may support IPv6, but you should check with your individual provider.

You will need to check with your operating system manufacturer to determine if they support IPv6.

Most modern desktop, server, and laptop operating systems support IPv6, although a few have limitations and some systems require you to enable IPv6 rather than supporting IPv6 “out of the box.” The table below describes the most common desktop, server, and laptop operating systems and some of the features supported by each. The feature list is not comprehensive, and you are encouraged to research your operating system in more depth.

*Disclaimer: This is not meant to be a comprehensive list. The information shown is based on information currently available from the manufacturers, and we recommend contacting your manufacturer for the latest information on your products.

In addition to your end systems, many of your router and security operating systems will require IPv6 support. Major vendors such as Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, and Alcatel/Lucent have long supported IPv6, but it is important that you verify with each of your router and security vendors not just IPv6 support but also specific IPv6 functionality for specific devices used in your network.

Inventory your devices and contact your equipment manufacturers to determine compatibility for IPv6. Visit the IPv6 test site(s)

6RD Configuration Settings
As part of Charter’s IPv6 Trials we have made available a Public 6rd Border Relay. If you are interested in participating in our early trials and own a device that supports 6RD use this configuration information to begin experiencing the Next Generation Internet:

• 6rd Prefix = 2602:100::/32
• Border Relay Address = 68.114.165.1
• 6rd prefix length= 32
• IPv4 mask length= 0

Primary DNS Address = 2607:f428:1::5353:1

Secondary DNS Address = 2607:f428:2::5353:1