IPv6 Address Planning

Chapter 8. Working with IPAM and DDI

Introduction

As computer networks grow and become more complex, better tools and methods are needed to manage their resources. This is especially true as we enter the next stage of the evolution of the Internet and networking technology. Mobile devices, the Internet of Things, and cloud and virtualization architectures all require more efficient methods of provisioning and tracking basic network data like host addresses and names. These methods work best when they move beyond the traditional labor and opex-intensive processes that rely on manual changes or scripting (the latter usually only slightly more scalable than the former). Automation and orchestration of host and node provisioning become critical elements in enabling improvements in business agility, SLA enforcement, and reduction in IT costs in traditional networks (and the minimum requirement for many next-generation networks).

At first glance, IPv6 would appear to greatly complicate this picture. The larger address space, as well as the more complex address representation, would seem to necessitate more complex management requirements. And in the immediate term, managing IPv6 addresses does indeed introduce additional complexity.

But as mentioned, in the medium to long term, IPv6 is likely to facilitate improved provisioning and address management practices, helping realize the promise of automation, even in the hyper-scale environments of emerging networks and the applications they ...