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Article
Publication date: 6 November 2020

Brenden Kuerbis and Milton Mueller

The data communications protocol supporting the internet protocol version 4 (IPv4) is almost 40 years old, and its 32-bit address space is too small for the internet. A…

Abstract

Purpose

The data communications protocol supporting the internet protocol version 4 (IPv4) is almost 40 years old, and its 32-bit address space is too small for the internet. A “next-generation” internet protocol version 6 (IPv6), has a much larger, 128-bit address space. However, IPv6 is not backward compatible with the existing internet. For 20 years, the internet technical community has attempted to migrate the entire internet to the new standard. This study aims to address important but overlooked questions about the internet’s technical evolution: will the world converge on IPv6? Will IPv6 die out? or will we live in a mixed world for the foreseeable future?

Design/methodology/approach

The research offers an economically-grounded study of IPv6’s progress and prospects. Many promoters of IPv6 sincerely believe that the new standard must succeed if the internet is to grow, and assume that the transition is inevitable because of the presumed depletion of the IPv4 address resources. However, by examining the associated network effects, developing the economic parameters for transition, and modeling the underlying economic forces, which impact network operator decisions, the study paints a more complex, nuanced picture.

Findings

The report concludes that legacy IPv4 will coexist with IPv6 indefinitely. IPv6 is unlikely to become an orphan. For some network operators that need to grow, particularly mobile networks where the software and hardware ecosystem is mostly converted, IPv6 deployment can make economic sense. However, the lack of backward compatibility with non-deployers eliminates many network effects that would create pressure to convert to IPv6. A variety of conversion technologies, and more efficient use of IPv4 addresses using network address translation, will support a “mixed world” of the two standards for the foreseeable future.

Originality/value

The authors’ conceptualization and observations provide a clearer understanding of the economic factors affecting the transition to IPv6.

Details

Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, vol. 22 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-5038

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 June 2010

Peter Dell

IPv6 is the replacement for the internet's incumbent protocol, IPv4. IPv6 adoption is required to allow the internet to continue to grow; however, there has been almost no uptake

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Abstract

Purpose

IPv6 is the replacement for the internet's incumbent protocol, IPv4. IPv6 adoption is required to allow the internet to continue to grow; however, there has been almost no uptake since its standardization in the late 1990s. This paper seeks to explain how this non‐adoption may be a consequence of current policies paradoxically intended to promote IPv6.

Design/methodology/approach

Economic theories of exhaustible resources and permit markets are used to provide an explanation for the lack of adoption of IPv6.

Findings

The current policy approach will not yield a significant adoption of IPv6 until after the IPv4 address space is exhausted and may also constrain internet growth after IPv4 exhaustion occurs.

Practical implications

Current policies intended to promote IPv6 diffusion through the internet must be reconsidered. The economics of permit markets in particular can inform discussions about IPv4 address transfer markets.

Originality/value

Economic analyses of IPv6 adoption are almost non‐existent and very few prior studies are known. This paper helps to rectify this important gap in the literature.

Details

info, vol. 12 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-6697

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 2003

C. Bouras, A. Karaliotas and P. Ganos

It is stated that the new version of the IP protocol, IPv6, is the answer to the majority of the problems that were raised during the enormous expansion of the Internet and its…

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Abstract

It is stated that the new version of the IP protocol, IPv6, is the answer to the majority of the problems that were raised during the enormous expansion of the Internet and its transformation to a global communication platform with commercial scope. At the same time it is also stated that IPv6 dominance will not be easy and there will be a period when the two versions of the protocol will co‐exist. In this paper we describe some of the main transition mechanisms that can be deployed in order to facilitate the transition process to the new version of the IP protocol. Furthermore, the presented mechanisms are discussed regarding their usability, usefulness and manageability. Describes the way some of these mechanisms were applied to the Greek Research & Technology Network (GRNET).

Details

Internet Research, vol. 13 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1066-2243

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 August 2007

Gregorio Martínez Pérez, Félix J. García Clemente and Antonio F. Gómez Skarmeta

The purpose of the paper is to provide a two‐tier framework for managing semantic‐aware distributed firewall policies to be applied to the devices existing in one administrative…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to provide a two‐tier framework for managing semantic‐aware distributed firewall policies to be applied to the devices existing in one administrative domain.

Design/methodology/approach

Special attention is paid to the CIM‐based information model defined as the ontology to be used in this framework and the AI‐based reasoning mechanisms and components used to perform the conflict discovery tasks over the distributed firewall policies.

Findings

Mechanisms presented allow the solving some of the current issues of the network‐centric security model being used in the Internet. The two‐tier framework designed provides semantic‐aware mechanisms to perform conflict detection and automatic enforcement of policy rules in the distributed firewall scenario. This framework is based on the use of a standard information model and a semantic‐aware policy language to formally define (and then process) firewall policies.

Research limitations/implications

Ongoing work is focused on identifying all kind of conflicts and anomalies that may exist in firewall systems; in parallel to this task a semi‐automatic resolver of conflicting policies is currently under design.

Practical implications

Network and security administrators can specify firewall policies and validate them to find syntactic and semantic errors (i.e. policy conflicts). A framework for automated validation and distribution of policies at different levels is included. This ensures that firewall policies produce the desired effects, facilitating the creation and maintenance of firewall rules in one administrative domain.

Originality/value

A practical and novel two‐tier system that provides detection of conflicts in rules existing in a distributed firewall scenario and the automatic and secure deployment of these rules. A packet‐filtering model, which is simple and powerful enough for the conflict discovery and rule analysis processes, has been proposed. Moreover, ontology and rule reasoning are being proposed as techniques for the conflict detection problem in this particular scenario.

Details

Internet Research, vol. 17 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1066-2243

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 September 2013

Milton Mueller, Brenden Kuerbis and Hadi Asghari

This article aims to quantify the emerging transfer market for internet protocol (IPv4) numbers and provides an initial assessment of factors and policies impacting those

Abstract

Purpose

This article aims to quantify the emerging transfer market for internet protocol (IPv4) numbers and provides an initial assessment of factors and policies impacting those transactions.

Design/methodology/approach

The research draws on Regional Internet Registry records and conducts basic analysis of stocks, flows and proportions to assess the nature of this emerging market for IP number blocks and explore some of its implications for internet governance.

Findings

There is a thriving and growing market for IPv4 number blocks. The market is improving the efficiency of IPv4 address allocation by moving numbers from unused or under-utilized holders to organizations that need them more. Buyers willingly pay for number blocks they could get for free in order to benefit from more liberal needs assessments and stronger property rights.

Research limitations/implications

Information about prices is not available and some transfers may take place through leasing arrangements, which are not covered by this paper. Future research should continue to investigate the transfer market, including activity skirting or occurring outside the current RIR policy environment.

Practical implications

RIRs should liberalize needs assessments and remove other sources of friction to the transfer market.

Originality/value

No known prior assessment of the transfer market has been conducted. The research has value for policymakers and industry decision makers.

Details

info, vol. 15 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-6697

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 March 2014

Robert Bogue

– This article aims to provide an insight into recent deliberations on the possibility of a global sensor market reaching one trillion units per annum within the next decade.

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Abstract

Purpose

This article aims to provide an insight into recent deliberations on the possibility of a global sensor market reaching one trillion units per annum within the next decade.

Design/methodology/approach

Following an introduction, which includes details of the TSensors Summit, this article discusses existing high volume sensor applications with multi-billion unit growth prospects. It then considers certain new and emerging applications, including the Internet of Things. This is followed by technological considerations and a brief discussion.

Findings

The possibility of a global sensor market reaching one trillion units per annum within the next decade is the topic of serious debate. Several applications representing multi-billion levels have been identified and the ongoing TSensors Summit activities seek to identify further high volume, high growth uses and the factors that will stimulate them. While MEMS will play a central role, other, often new sensor technologies will be vital to achieving the trillion unit level.

Originality/value

This article provides a timely review of recent deliberations surrounding the feasibility of achieving a global, trillion sensor market.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 34 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 October 2003

Paul Reynolds

This paper presents a vision of the Internet eight years from now (i.e. in the year 2010). The study underpinning this vision was performed in two steps: the definition of…

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Abstract

This paper presents a vision of the Internet eight years from now (i.e. in the year 2010). The study underpinning this vision was performed in two steps: the definition of requirements and drivers together with an extrapolation of technology developments. The vision is a direct result of the author’s extensive experience with working with the development of the Internet including his technical leadership of the Mobile Wireless Internet Forum and as a contributor to the Internet Engineering Task Force.

Details

Campus-Wide Information Systems, vol. 20 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1065-0741

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2006

Milton L. Mueller

The purpose of this article is to broaden our understanding of internet governance policy options by reviewing and assessing proposals for reforming the institutional mechanisms

710

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to broaden our understanding of internet governance policy options by reviewing and assessing proposals for reforming the institutional mechanisms used to allocate and assign IPv6 addresses.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins by identifying the two main economic and technical constraints on IP addressing: route aggregation and address conservation. It then reviews the reform proposals that have been made and assesses the debates that have occurred around those proposals, bearing in mind the key issues of aggregation and conservation. In particular, it attempts to explore whether competition in IP addressing between authorities with diverse policies would be feasible and beneficial.

Findings

The debate over addressing policy is in its early stages and has a long way to go. A review of the debate so far suggests that the introduction of economic incentives in addressing might improve route aggregation rather than worsen it. With respect to conservation and aggregation incentives, policy diversity might help internet service providers find a more optimal trade‐off between the needs of users and the needs of the suppliers of connectivity.

Originality/value

The policy alternatives discussed here could have a major impact on the future of the internet, as address allocation and assignment directly affect the way the internet functions and the distribution of costs and benefits between users and suppliers.

Details

info, vol. 8 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-6697

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 June 2009

Quan Le‐Trung, Paal E. Engelstad, Vinh Pham, Tor Skeie, Amirhosein Taherkordi and Frank Eliassen

The purpose of this paper is to describe the required functionalities on providing internet connectivity and mobility management for mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), present…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the required functionalities on providing internet connectivity and mobility management for mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), present discovered problems such as inconsistent contexts, and provide the corresponding solutions. It also provides a hybrid metric for the load‐balance of intra/inter‐MANET traffic over multiple internet gateways (IGWs).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses both mathematical analyses and simulations to discover the required functionalities and problems on providing internet connectivity and mobility management for MANETs. The proposed hybrid metric for IGW selection is a replacement of the shortest hop‐count (HC) metric, and consider three factors: HC distance, intra‐MANET traffic, and inter‐MANET traffic.

Findings

Simulation results show that ad hoc routing protocols, using the proposed metric, get better performance in terms of packet delivery ratio and transmission delay, at the cost of slightly increased signalling overhead.

Research limitations/implications

In the assessment, simulation results are taken from two mobility scenarios, and the hybrid metric is integrated into only reactive ad hoc routing. Thus, more case studies need to be carried out to demonstrate the outcomes of the proposed metric compared with others.

Practical implications

This paper provides the needed functionalities for broadening the richness of MANET applications to internet users, and vice verse.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the research on internetworking and mobility management between MANETs and the internet.

Details

International Journal of Web Information Systems, vol. 5 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1744-0084

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 October 2007

Mónica Domingues, Carlos Friaças and Pedro Veiga

The main aim of this paper is to focus on a big step for IPv6: deployment. At the same time, it aims to issue a warning about something that should be in a more evolved stage.

Abstract

Purpose

The main aim of this paper is to focus on a big step for IPv6: deployment. At the same time, it aims to issue a warning about something that should be in a more evolved stage.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple‐angle analysis about IPv6 deployment was used: breaking some myths, looking at deployment data and trying to relate to IPv4's deployment.

Findings

The paper finds that IPv6 deployment is not yet on track. Comparison between IPv6 and IPv4 network performance is negative.

Research limitations/implications

Numbers and policy analysis described in this paper will naturally evolve and thus will need to be revisited in future work. This theme will be progressively more important as IPv4 address space becomes exhausted.

Practical implications

More IPv6 deployment is needed, in order to ensure Internet's continued growth. In order to become a viable solution for the global Internet, IPv6 deployment must be seen as a priority for network administrators today.

Originality/value

This paper's content may alert some players to the needed effort associated with the Internet's evolution. Other audiences will benefit from the data and details discussed, in order to gain confidence about deploying IPv6.

Details

Internet Research, vol. 17 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1066-2243

Keywords

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