NZNOG 07

REANNZ was represented for the first time at the NZ Network Operators Group (NZNOG) 07. NZNOG provided an excellent opportunity for some of us to get together and discuss KAREN, the status of connections and some of the future possibilities for the network and those who use it.

Joerg Micheel from Telstra Clear presented a paper on the design and implementation of KAREN, which provided an interesting introduction to a discussion concerning the use of IPv6. NZNOG 2008 may be a useful forum for REANNZ to present information on KAREN in action, as we move forward from the design and implementation phase to the network in use.

Even without a KAREN specific session, NZNOG included information about tracking ASNs and route leakage, the future direction of APNIC and a perspective on the investment in fibre optic cable as a public utility, in addition to many other sessions relevant to KAREN users.

IPv6

It was noted at NZNOG that the debate on IPv6 implementation has been going on since the early 1990’s with little agreement. In that time, and despite the rapid change in technologies, there has been no real agreement on when (or if) administrators and designers should take the plunge and build IPv6 capable networks. One of the often stated barriers to development was that there was no infrastructure to connect to or an application using it, but this has now changed.

KAREN was built as both an IPv4 and IPv6 network and it is possible to peer directly via IPv6 and hence use it for end to end data transport. Microsoft’s latest release, Vista defaults to IPv6 and will try to find “6” services before IPv4 even though they may not be local to your network. The consensus was that although there may be no overriding reason to move to IPv6 right at this moment a new ‘killer app” could change the status quo very quickly. KAREN allows you to dip your toes into the IPv6 the sandpit (so to speak). I urge you to give it a go.

APNIC

APNIC held a seminar on Wednesday; the main issues touched on were IPv4 address conservation and the APNIC fee structure which is coming up for a vote at the forthcoming APNIC 23 conference. If you are a member you should get involved in the process as the current fee structure disadvantages small to medium sized members of which New Zealand has many.

Connection Update

New connections during January

• Crop & Food

Anticipated connections during current month

• University of Otago
• University of Waikato