Wholesale: Products & Services

IP Solutions – IP Addressing

Enabling Next-Generation Networks

The explosive growth of Internet is about to use up all the available IPv4 addresses! Every Internet device that is sharing, sending, receiving or maintaining data on the World Wide Web requires a unique IP address. Similar to postal service requirements, in order for mail – or, in this case, data – to be delivered, the address must be reachable. Businesses who rely on the Internet must get ahead of the looming IP addressing shortfall by moving to the new IPv6 addressing scheme.

IPV6 Advantages

• Offers virtually endless IP address space by using 128bits (2 to the 128th power) versus IPv4 that used 32 bits or about 4 billion addresses.
• Removes the need for Network Address Translation (NAT) – making configuration of complex networks simpler, more efficient – thus lower latency, and provides better connectivity between peer – to – peer – offering true end to end connectivity.
• Packet processing improvements – means faster delivery of service
• Enhanced security features with built in IPsec protocol that creates end – to – end packet encryption; for secure transmission that is very important with the increasing demand for access from mobile devices.

Why is IPv6 Important to the Success of Your Business?

• Businesses who will require additional IP addresses need to consider moving from IPv4 addressing to IPv6. IPv6 ensures the ability to grow your Internet based business!
• As the remaining IPv4 addresses are assigned to customers whose business requires use of the Internet, planning for IPv6 contributes to the success of your network and applications in the long term.

How Do You Start the Transition?

Understanding your network architecture is a great start:

• Perform an audit of your internal and external IP addresses.
• Create a budget for hardware upgrades to support IPv6.
• Assess the impacts and understand the roadmaps of vendors (ISPs), partners and suppliers.
• Create a test plan for IPv6 addressing. Start small and grow.

There are options when migrating from IPv4 to IPv6:

• Tunneling – a temporary solution – takes an IPv6 address and encapsulates it within IPv4 allowing that packet to be transported through an IPv4 network.
• Dual Stack – recommended approach for a seamless transition – allows you to deploy both IPv4 and IPv6 at the same time. The protocols mirror each other making troubleshooting and addressing support easier to manage.
• Dedicated IPv6 – long term goal – provides only IPv6 addressing schemes.

CenturyLink™'s Addressing Solutions:

• Rest assured that CenturyLink will continue to support customers that are currently on IPv4 as well as new customers while IPv4 addresses are made available. CenturyLink supports all three IPv4 to IPv6 options to ensure a smooth transition to your addressing needs.

How to Get Started

• For more information on CenturyLink IP addressing, please call your CenturyLink Sales Representative.