IPv6 the topic for special edition of the LINX Internet magazine, HotLINX

HotLINX18 - Addressing the IPv6 issue

The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has announced the publication of a special IPv6 edition of the Internet magazine, HotLINX, available for download now from the LINX website.

Current estimates are that there is as little as 11% remaining of the total number of IPv4 addresses, which could be exhausted in as little as two years. In contrast, IPv6 is an addressing scheme that uses 128 bits that allows for a total of 340 billion billion billion billion unique addresses. However, while the advantages in making the transition from the current IPv4 infrastructure seem clear, it does require careful management to ensure that all elements of the move to IPv6 are transparent to end users. Key industry professional have beeen interviewed to offer their views on a range of IPv6 addressing issues and on what should be done to encourage a more rapid deployment of IPv6 in the future.

In addition, a further four pages of this expanded 16-page issue have been dedicated to the recent LINX IPv6 workshop staged at the Goodenough College in London. The event was designed to promote the features and benefits of using IPv6 especially in light of the decline of available IPv4 address space. Such was the interest in the event that well over 100 industry professionals attended the London workshop looking to learn more about the techniques and tools needed to offer IPv6 on their networks.

Elsewhere in this issue there is a feature on how peering with LINX has never been easier with new research showing that 85% of all LINX members are offering either an open or selective peering policy. This couples nicely with an expanded new LINX member section complete with detailed peering information. Meanwhile, data retention law is the main topic for public affairs discussion in a new governance section while there is a round up of Internet industry events, both in the UK and abroad. There is also an article on how people can learn about what’s happening at LINX by following instant updates on social media websites.

You can download a PDF copy of HotLINX18 today at https://www.linx.net/files/hotlinx/hotlinx-18.pdf

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Notes to editors

1. LINX (www.linx.net) is a mutual, not-for-profit organisation whose 330-plus members include 58 of the top 100 global network operators,* almost all UK Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and content providers plus many from the Americas, mainland Europe, the Far East and Africa.  * Total Telecom Global 100, 2008.
2. LINX was formed in 1994 when five ISPs – PIPEX, BT Internet Services, Demon Internet, EUnet GB and JANET – recognised that there were considerable operational benefits to exchanging traffic between their networks in the UK. From the beginning every LINX member has had an equal vote in the management of the organisation.
3. The connection of networks at an Internet exchange point such as LINX is known as ‘peering’. Network operators use public peering across the  dual LINX Ethernet networks to exchange traffic with any other member by mutual agreement. LINX also offers a managed private network interconnect facility which is used for large traffic flows between two members.
4. LINX has a presence at ten London sites connected by secure fibre and DWDM links. The core of the network currently operates across a 12x10G Ethernet link. The extent and geographic resilience of the network was enhanced in 2008 with the addition of three new points of presence, each outside the main Docklands data centre area in east London.
5. The Internet traffic at LINX consists of a wide variety of data including streaming media, website downloads, business information and emails. Peak LINX traffic is the equivalent of 1,300,000 simultaneous Internet video streams.

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