Schools get help with big internet protocol change


IPv6 is still not prevalent in education.

A trove of advice, tips, and hints for switching to the internet’s newest protocol, known as IPv6, is available for schools and colleges that haven’t completed the network alterations and hardware upgrades necessary to convert to IPv6 before the internet runs out of web addresses.

The Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), along with the Internet Society, introduced a website last week for schools, colleges, universities, businesses, and government agencies in the process of switching from IPv4 to IPV6. The site, called Deploy360, has case studies, best practices, and a host of technical papers designed to help IT officials convert to IPv6.

Every IPv4 address has been distributed with the proliferation of web-enabled mobile devices like smart phones and computer tablets. There is no official date for the conversion to IPv6 for web users, but technologists have said time may be running short.

Read more about IPv6 adoption in higher education…

Colleges could profit as internet runs out of addresses

Mobile device boom sparks U.S. web address shortage

“2012 will be a pivotal year in IPv6 service deployment, and theDeploy360 [program] is a key component of our efforts to support the industry in making that transition,” said Leslie Daigle, chief internet technology officer for the Internet Society, a group that promotes development of open web technologies.

Deploy360 has a list of tutorials that include step-by-step directions on how a college, for instance, can make the change to IPv6. And one of the many case studies is from Oxford University, making the document more applicable for campus IT pros than case studies from businesses or governmental organizations.

Campus IT officials can use Deploy360 to connect with peer schools facing similar challenges in bringing an entire campus up to date with the new protocol. The site connects technologists via Twitter and online discussion groups linked from the front page.

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