The U.S. government has put in place IPv6-compliance mandates to help with the IPv4-to-IPv6 transition. Such mandates require government agencies to have their websites, email and other services available over IPv6.
Let’s consider that you’ve been appointed as the IPv6 transition manager at a relatively small branch of a government agency (e.g., a branch of the Social Security agency in a medium-size town). Your main responsibility is to produce a plan with a timetable for achieving compliance with the IPv6 mandate. The plan should specify the guidelines, solutions, and technologies for supporting IPv6 throughout the agency branch. The plan should include the following, among other things:
Summary of the applicable government IPv6 mandate
Brief description of the networking facility at the branch (LANs, servers, routers, etc.)
Summary of the main IPv6-related RFCs that pertain to the IPv6 support
Cooperation with ISPs and equipment vendors to implement IPv6 support
Summary of the solutions and technologies to be employed in implementing IPv6 (e.g., dual-stack, tunneling, translation)
Timetable for completion of IPv6 transition
Plan for testing the IPv6 compliance in expectation of an audit by the government
Full Answer Section
As the IPv6 Transition Manager for a branch of the Social Security Administration in a medium-sized town, I am pleased to present the following comprehensive plan for achieving IPv6 compliance. This plan aims to ensure a smooth, efficient, and secure transition, meeting all government mandates and preparing for future audits.
IPv6 Transition Plan for [Agency Branch Name]
Prepared By: [Your Name/Title] Date: June 11, 2025
1. Executive Summary of Applicable Government IPv6 Mandate
The U.S. government has issued clear directives regarding the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, aimed at ensuring the continued operability and future-proofing of federal IT infrastructure. The core of these mandates, as outlined by agencies such as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and NIST, requires federal agencies to:
- Enable IPv6 on all public-facing services: This includes websites, email, DNS, and other services accessible to the public or other federal agencies.
- Enable IPv6 on internal client-facing applications: All internal applications and systems that users interact with must support IPv6.
- Achieve IPv6-only environments for new procurements: New network infrastructure and services should be designed with an IPv6-only future in mind, or at a minimum, be dual-stack capable.
- Develop transition plans: Agencies are required to develop and execute comprehensive plans for their IPv6 transition, including timelines and resource allocation.
- Regular reporting and compliance audits: Agencies must be prepared to demonstrate their IPv6 readiness and compliance through regular reporting and potential audits.
The overarching goal is to prepare the federal government for the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses and to leverage the enhanced capabilities and scalability of IPv6.
2. Brief Description of the Networking Facility at the Branch
Our branch operates a typical local area network (LAN) infrastructure supporting approximately [Number, e.g., 50-100] employees and their daily operations.
- Network Topology: Primarily a star topology with a central distribution switch connecting to various access switches throughout the office.
- Servers:
- A small server room hosts a few local servers, including:
- Domain Controllers (DNS, Active Directory)
- File Servers
- Print Servers
- Local application servers (e.g., for specific agency applications, if any, otherwise most applications are centralized).
- Most critical applications (e.g., Social Security beneficiary databases, processing systems) are hosted centrally at the agency's data centers, accessed via WAN.
- Workstations/Clients: Consist primarily of Windows-based desktop PCs and a few laptops, typically running Windows 10/11. All are connected via Ethernet to the LAN.
- Network Devices:
- Routers: A primary edge router connects the branch's internal network to the agency's Wide Area Network (WAN) and, indirectly, to the internet via the agency's central network infrastructure. Internal routing within the branch is minimal, mostly handled by Layer 3 switches.
- Switches: A mix of managed Layer 2/3 switches (e.g., Cisco Catalyst or similar enterprise-grade switches) deployed for network segmentation (VLANs) and connectivity.
- Firewalls: An enterprise-grade firewall appliance sits at the edge, protecting the branch network from external threats and controlling outbound/inbound traffic.
- Printers: Network-enabled multi-function printers.
- Wi-Fi: A limited Wi-Fi network for guest access or specific agency devices, primarily using enterprise-grade access points.
- ISP Connection: Our branch relies on a dedicated WAN circuit provided by a government-approved ISP, connecting us to the central agency network. We do not have a direct, independent internet connection.
Currently, the entire network primarily uses IPv4 addressing.
3. Summary of Main IPv6-Related RFCs
Understanding key RFCs is crucial for a standard-compliant IPv6 implementation. While a full list is extensive, the following are particularly relevant for this transition:
- RFC 2460: Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification: The foundational document defining the IPv6 protocol itself. (Note: Superseded by RFC 8200, but still historically important).
- RFC 8200: Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification: The current standard defining IPv6, updating and obsoleting RFC 2460.
- RFC 4291: IP Version 6 Addressing Architecture: Defines the IPv6 addressing format, types (Unicast, Multicast, Anycast), and special addresses. Essential for understanding how to allocate and assign IPv6 addresses.
- RFC 4861: Neighbor Discovery for IP Version 6 (NDP): Describes how nodes on the same link discover each other's presence, determine their link-layer addresses, find routers, and maintain reachability information. Crucial for Stateless Address Autoconfiguration (SLAAC).
- RFC 4862: IPv6 Stateless Address Autoconfiguration (SLAAC): Details how IPv6 hosts can automatically configure their own IP addresses without the need for a DHCP server.
- RFC 3315: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6): Defines the DHCP protocol for IPv6, allowing for stateful address allocation and other configuration parameters.
- RFC 6106: IPv6 Router Advertisement Options for DNS Configuration: Specifies how DNS server information can be included in Router Advertisements, supporting stateless DNS configuration for hosts.
- RFC 4033, 4034, 4035: DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) for DNS: While not strictly IPv6-specific, DNSSEC is vital for the secure resolution of DNS records, including AAAA records for IPv6.
- RFC 4941: Privacy Extensions for Stateless Address Autoconfiguration in IPv6: Addresses privacy concerns related to SLAAC by generating temporary, changeable interface identifiers.
These RFCs form the technical backbone for deploying and managing an IPv6 network effectively.
4. Cooperation with ISPs and Equipment Vendors
Successful IPv6 transition requires strong collaboration with external partners.
- Internet Service Provider (ISP):
- Action: Initiate immediate contact with the agency's primary WAN ISP to confirm their IPv6 readiness and capabilities for our specific circuit.
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Sample Answer
As the IPv6 Transition Manager for a branch of the Social Security Administration in a medium-sized town, I am pleased to present the following comprehensive plan for achieving IPv6 compliance. This plan aims to ensure a smooth, efficient, and secure transition, meeting all government mandates and preparing for future audits.
IPv6 Transition Plan for [Agency Branch Name]
Prepared By: [Your Name/Title] Date: June 11, 2025
1. Executive Summary of Applicable Government IPv6 Mandate
The U.S. government has issued clear directives regarding the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, aimed at ensuring the continued operability and future-proofing of federal IT infrastructure. The core of these mandates, as outlined by agencies such as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and NIST, requires federal agencies to:
- Enable IPv6 on all public-facing services: This includes websites, email, DNS, and other services accessible to the public or other federal agencies.
- Enable IPv6 on internal client-facing applications: