Knowledge managemenent in the IPv6 migration process

Abstract

There are many reasons to deploy IPv6 protocol with IPv4 address space depletion being the most obvious. Unfortunately, migration to IPv6 protocol seems slower than anticipated. To improve pace of the IPv6 deployment, authors of the article developed an application that supports the migration process. Its main purpose is to help less experienced network administrators to facilitate the migration process with a particular target usage being SOHO networks. Migration to IPv6 is a complex process. For the sake of simplicity, it has been split into several phases. First one is dedicated to automated network discovery that helps to gain initial knowledge about migrated networks and its services. Second step is devoted to building knowledge database about used hardware, operating systems, services and applications. It is being represented as a collection of interdependent questions with possible answers. This knowledge database is then used to provide relevant assistance for the IPv6 migration steps. To reduce the tree structure management costs and choose only applicable elements that actually exist in migrated network, there are two proposed algorithms to create a list of questions and advices. Developed methods enable quick and easy expansion options available without any knowledge about all existing questions in base and their dependencies. This paper presents a prototype application that is still under development. It will allow to add elements to IPv6 Migration Guide in an easy way. Used together with already developed IPv6 Migration Guide solution, it will provide significant assistance to network administrators during IPv6 enabling phase. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.