IPv4 TO IPv6 TRANSITION AND INTEROPERABILITYFOR TELECOMSERVICE PROVIDER

Business Problem

In today’s environment of growing connectivity where almost everything is connected to the internet, the enterprise systems running on the IPv4 are running out of IP addresses. But the newer IPv6 has helped in overcoming the problem of limited IP addresses. To stay ahead on the technology front, businesses strive for the latest technology to be implemented. Client was also facing the IPv4 address shortage problem and the need of the hour was to have more IP addresses.

Below are the problems which client was facing and wanted to get it resolved:

Absence of seamless and transparent connectivity between incompatible and disjoint IPv4 aware applications across external IPv6 networkLegacy applications unable to communicate on newer IPv6 NetworkDoS (Denial of Service) attacks on IPv6 routers, and even legitimate traffic generates excessive load on endpoint routers thereby creating authentication issuesIncompatibility with level 2 tunneling protocol implementations with various independent software vendorsIncompatibility with point to point (PPP) with some telecom equipment

It was required to migrate all the systems to the IPv6 only networks. Besides there were interoperability and communication difficulties between IPv4 & IPv6 and a smooth solution was needed to be implemented.

Client ProfileClient is the largest Telecom Company in the US, providing Internet Services and Television Programming & Broadcasting Services, along with the required hardware to their subscribers.

IndustryTelecommunications

Case OverviewBusiness Problem –Client wanted to increase data address space by transferring data from IPv4 to IPv6.Solution –Xavient proposed and developed a solution that helped client in migrating data from legacy application using IPv6.Benefits –

More Efficient Packet ProcessingDirected Data FlowsMore Efficient Routing

Xavient’s Solution

The aim was to achieve a seamless end-to-end connectivity between customer premise equipment to ISP routers. Xavient’s technology consulting-led approach to this project concentrated on the assessment of current systems and feasibility of IPv6 adoption and the impact of migration. A team of engineering solutions experts was deployed to carry out the analysis and design of the solution. The team implemented a native IPv6 stack and developed a software package based on the native IPv6 stack to enable the IPv4 and IPv6 networks.A tunneling mechanism was built to enable this transition. The tunneling mechanism enabled the seamless communication between the client's and customer's networks through an intermediate network. This was being done by IPv4 over IPv6 tunneling and vice versa, as the client's and their customers' network and the intermediate network both were using different versions of IP.Apart from these, a Command Line Interface for the users was developed as the front end to give the client a plug and play feature and for manual configurations and troubleshooting. A toggle switch was provided to toggle between initiating and removing of the tunnel in the solution.

Solution Benefits

A much more transparent and seamless transition and communication between newer IPv6 and Legacy applications need not be rewritten

The transition of service provider network to next generation IPv6 networks was enabled

Enabled IPv4 to IPv6 connectivity and interoperability between customer premise equipment to client's routers

Assignment of 1 public IPv4 address to multiple clients, saving valuable IPv4 addressing

Plug and Play features mean no configuration for the end user at all

The solution is embedded in the home gateway routers, no extra devices needed on customer end

Measurable improvement in reduction of Average Ping Latency Time, realized through better implementation of transport algorithms

Reduction in round-trip packet transport latency within tunnel by optimizing code

The web interface based management of device resulted in easy implementation of configuration changes

The increased satisfaction from end users led to client’s rating on the American Consumer Satisfaction Index to increase

About Xavient

• Headquartered in Simi Valley, CA, Xavient Information Systems (XIS) is a leading provider of global IT and engineering services and solutions. Since its inception in 2002, Xavient has grown to be a tier-one IT Professional Services and Solutions provider for telecommunication, broadcasting, manufacturing, retail, and healthcare companies.

• It is the preferred transformation partner across product and vendor evaluation; business process re-engineering; outsourcing and off-shoring; product implementation; custom solution development and IT professional services for several Fortune 1000 companies.

• Xavient leverages its proven expertise in Global Delivery Models with centers of excellence in Application Development, QA & Testing, Managed IT Infrastructure services and IT Application & Production environment.