Abstract
- The purpose of this research is to address the eminent exhaustion of IPv4 address space by gaining knowledge and practical experience of the replacement protocol, IPv6 by performing a conversion of an IPv4 SMB network to IPv6. IPv4 has been the foundation of the Internet for the past three decades, but it is a victim of its own success, and we are faced with the issue of running out of IPv4 addresses to hand out. This research reviews the IPv4 and IPv6 protocols including a comparison of the two. Following this review, the paper then examines the mechanisms available for transitioning from IPv4 to IPv6. An IPv4 network was designed and built to simulate a mid-sized business. The network then underwent a conversion to IPv6 to understand the potential issues and impact of transitioning to the new protocol. The final results provide a case study for networking professional considering a migration to IPv6. A suggested project plan is included as well as a number of the common issues encountered during the conversion process.