Deploying IPv6 in Broadband Access Networks

Chapter 4. IPv6 Deployment in DSL, ETTH, and Wireless Networks

In this chapter we discuss deploying IPv6 in DSL, ETTH, and wireless networks. Various deployment models, along with the relevant network components, are described in detail. We also cover some of the challenges faced by service providers (SPs) when deploying IPv6 in their current environments.

NEW REMOTE ACCESS ARCHITECTURE FOR IPv6

IPv6 was designed to provide incremental benefits over IPv4. Its main features were driven primarily by an anticipated shortage of IPv4 addresses—thus the larger IPv6 address space and incremental improvements aimed at addressing shortcomings of IPv4. Therefore, in many aspects of networking, such as routing, the differences between IPv4 and IPv6 are minimal and IPv6 does not present significant architectural changes over IPv4. The techniques associated with remote access deployment are tightly coupled with the fundamentals of IP. Remote access makes extended use of Layer2-Layer3 mapping protocols, prefix allocation, PPP (point-to-point protocol) interaction, autoconfiguration, and other factors. Therefore, innovations and philosophical changes introduced by IPv6 tend to affect remote access techniques that are more dependent than other areas of networking. In the following sections we highlight some of the main differences in routing, address allocation, subscriber management, and other areas.

DSL NETWORKS

Digital subscriber line (DSL) is the dominant access technology deployed by most large ...