Implementation of IPv6 on Provider Edge Router

Abstract

Nowadays, The exhaustion of current version of Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) addresses initiated development of next-generation Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). IPv6 is acknowledged to provide more address space, better address design and greater security. Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a packet labeling and forwarding technology that are widely used by ISPs and enterprises as their core networks. In order that the purpose of this research is to pass IPv6 packets over MPLS/IPv4 network by using 6PE technology that allows IPv6 customers to communicate with each other without any tunnel setup, by having the customer IPv6 prefixes using an IPv4-mapped IPv6 address as next-hop inside the Provider's network and using IPv4 LSPs between the 6PE routers. A simulation program of Graphical Network Simulation (GNS3) was used to simulate a network containing several routers are connecting the relevant parties, which allowed reaching the desired goal.