Pooling Our Applications Expertise to Tackle SI Business
Building Japan's First 5,000-machine Company-wide Network Using IPv6
Information Services International - Dentsu, Ltd. (ISID; Head Office in Nakano, Tokyo; Jutaro Takinami, CEO; ¥8180.5 million in capital) has begun construction of a large-scale corporate in-house network that supports broadband communication using IP version 6 (IPv6). The new network is expected to begin operating at the end of July 2001.
ISID has already built a number of trial networks that use IPv6 in a range of locations, but this will be Japan's first working network using IPv6 that is large enough to accommodate 5,000 terminals. Gigabit Ethernet will be used in the network backbone, with Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet used for access so that broadband content such as voice and video can be distributed to all 5,000 terminals.
The new network has been designed to use dual-stack technology so that, in addition to the IPv6 equipment, network devices that have been using IP version 4 can still be used with no need for modifications. This makes it possible for the client to make a smooth transition to IPv6 while continuing to use the existing applications and network environment.
The network also features a function that automatically sets the LAN segments that users can access based on privileges granted under a user authorization system. This makes it possible to build a network in which strict security can be maintained while limiting the number of operator man-hours required.
At ISID, we anticipate that the implementation of faster in-house communication with sufficient capacity to carry video and voice will not only improve productivity but also generate high value-added output. Also, by using the expertise gained by actually running the technology used in this system, we plan to expand our systems integration business into the arena of data distribution via large-scale client networks as IPv6 is implemented in the coming years. This arena will encompass the following:
-Support for corporate broadband network construction
-Video and audio data delivery
-Distribution of broadcast-quality content
-Mobile phones, Internet TV, etc.
<< Additional Information >>
[What is IPv6?]
IP version 6 is a new update to the IP (Internet Protocol) communications protocol used on the Internet. Under the current version of IP (version 4), the number of available IP addresses assigned to Internet locations is set to run out in a few years' time. While technologies such as address conversion are being developed that will delay this deadline, these do not really resolve the problem of address saturation, since they bring with them problems that hinder direct communication between terminals, one of the best features of the Internet.
Accordingly, IPv6 has been developed not merely to address the problem of address saturation, but also with the aim of making networks faster while at the same time reducing the operator workload and ensuring that data security and communications quality are maintained. Work on IPv6 first began in 1995 and a large number of Japanese technical experts have contributed to its development.
The Japanese government's "e-Japan Initiative" launched on
January 22 of this year directly addresses the promotion of IPv6. A schedule
was released for implementing IPv6 compatibility in network devices such
as routers covering the end of 2000 through into 2001, and a range of activities
are already in motion towards implementing the new protocol, including announcements
by several service providers of the commencement of commercial services.
[What is broadband?]
This refers to a network with a large bandwidth. In general, the term "broadband" is used to refer to a network that allows data communication rates to household users of around 1.5 megabits per second using an ADSL or CATV connection. This level of bandwidth allow the transmission of high-quality video and audio.
Inside companies, broadband is thought of as providing more advanced communications through the extensive use of high-quality video and audio transmissions. In the corporate settings, still faster communication speeds are needed and broadband networks must allow consistent data transmission at rates in the order of 10 megabits per second, a considerably higher bandwidth than that used in most homes.
[What is dual stack?]
"Stack" is actually short for "protocol stack" and refers to the programs used for data communication. The term "stack" comes from the way that communications protocols are used in stacked layers.
Protocols such as IP versions 4 and 6 are stacks that are used in what is called the Network layer. If you have both these stacks, you can use either protocol to communicate, and devices or operating systems that have both these stacks are described as "dual stack".
Sun Microsystems' Solaris 8 is a dual-stack operating system that supports IP versions 4 and 6, and the Windows XP operating system (codenamed "Whistler") to be released by Microsoft is also said to be a dual-stack system.
Dual-stack support is extremely important for the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, and considerable attention will be focused on dual-stack-compatible networks in the near future.
