IPv6 is the next-generation Internet protocol designed to replace thecurrent version, IPv4, which has been used for nearly 20 years. Due to theexplosive growth of the Internet, it is expected that IPv4 addresses willbe exhausted within just a few short years, resulting in an urgency forIPv6 compliance.

To accelerate IPv6 migration, the U.S. Federal Government put into place amandate for all of its agencies to meet the next-generation Internetprotocol requirements for any computing and networking equipment theyacquire.

The Linux Foundation, with leadership from Venkata Jagana, Senior TechnicalStaff Member and Chief Architect of Networking within IBM's LinuxTechnology Center, formed a Linux IPv6 Workgroup to collaboratively addressthis major undertaking and enable Linux-based machines to benext-generation Internet ready out of the box. Other active workgroupparticipants included HP, Nokia-Siemens, Novell and Red Hat.

"In early 2000, IBM recognized the need for Linux to be both IPv6 compliantand interoperable and started making development contributions by workingwith the Linux community and distros," said Kathy Bennett of IBM's LinuxTechnology Center. "Today, that effort, along with Linux Foundation's IPv6WG efforts, have benefited the Linux industry in achieving the Departmentof Defense IPv6 certification at a level which is leading in the industry."

"The IPv6 mandate and ensuing requirements are such major undertakings thatit makes it difficult for any one company to deal with it all on its own,"said Jim Zemlin, executive director at The Linux Foundation. "This isexactly the kind of work and collaboration that the Linux Foundation canfacilitate, and which results in real technology advancements for the Linuxoperating system."

The Linux Foundation IPv6 Workgroup reviewed the mandate requirements andperformed a detailed IPv6 gap analysis to identify where Linux needed to beadapted. As a result, existing Linux features, such as ICMPv6, DHCPv6, MIBsupport and IPSec for IPv6, are now updated to conform to the Department ofDefense requirements.

For more information on the Linux Foundation's IPv6 Workgroup and itsanalysis, please visit the IPv6 Workgroup website athttp://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/IPv6.

About the Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation (http://www.linux-foundation.org) is a nonprofitconsortium dedicated to fostering the growth of Linux. Founded in 2007, theLinux Foundation sponsors the work of Linux creator Linus Torvalds and issupported by leading Linux and open source companies and developers fromaround the world. The Linux Foundation promotes, protects and standardizesLinux by providing unified resources and services needed for open source tosuccessfully compete with closed platforms.

Trademarks: The Linux Foundation and Linux Standard Base are trademarks ofThe Linux Foundation. Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. Third partymarks and brands are the property of their respective holders.

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