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General Information
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November 3, 2006
• Vol.28 Issue 44
Page(s) 20 in print issue
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Paving The Way For Change
Lumeta’s Migration Service Eases Move From IPv4 To IPv6
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Lumeta IPv4 To IPv6 Migration Planning Service
Uses IPsonar to establish a baseline and uses snapshots to confirm what IP4 infrastructure remains
www.Processor.com/Lumeta
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IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) has been in use on the world’s packet-switching networks for more than a quarter of a century, handling the exchange of data packets. The data-oriented networking layer protocol of the TCP/IP suite, IPv4 implementations can be found on just about every networkable device, from PCs and routers to PDAs, cell phones, Webcams, and a growing number of consumer electronics.
But IPv4 lacks features needed by 21st century networks and their users for VoIP, multimedia, collaborative peer-to-peer applications, and other activities—features that are built into the next iteration of the protocol, IPv6.
The move from IPv4 to IPv6 has been slower than anticipated. However, IPv6’s time is nearing. The OMB (White House Office of Management and Budget) has mandated federal agencies to transition to IPv6 by June 30, 2008. Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) is making IPv6 the native IP stack enabled by default in Windows Vista and in its “Longhorn” server; applications such as Microsoft’s Meeting Space relies on IPv6 features to let users collaborate without using centralized servers.
Lumeta, a provider of network intelligence solutions for enterprises and government agencies, recently announced its IPv4 to IPv6 Migration Planning Service, making use of Lumeta’s IPsonar network assurance product. The service is intended to assist federal agencies and commercial enterprises in making the transition in their network infrastructure.
Lumeta’s service uses IPsonar to establish a baseline and then can be used to take snapshots throughout the migration process, to confirm what IPv4 infrastructure is still remaining.
“Our service is for companies who don’t have the time, or the expertise, to use it,” says David Arbeitel, Lumeta’s CTO. “Given the OMB deadline and the resources that may or may not be available in an organization, the additional help to jump-start the migration that our service offers can be useful.”
“The actual migration can involve upgrading hardware or buying new hardware,” says Jeremy Nazarian, vice president of marketing at Lumeta. “Our survey helps organizations understand what they’ll need.”
Arbeitel is not aware of any direct competition to his company’s service. “We see people trying to use a manual procedure to baseline their IPv4 net or using products not intended for this. Most companies’ existing network management applications are designed to collect data on devices you know about. IPsonar is intended for problems like this, to determine things you don’t know about your network.” 
by Daniel P. Dern
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