Networking and Access Technologies

IPv6

Support for Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), a new suite of standard protocols for the Network layer of the Internet, is built into the latest versions of Microsoft Windows, which include Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP with Service Pack 2, Windows XP with Service Pack 1, Windows XP Embedded SP1, and Windows CE .NET.

IPv6 is designed to solve many of the problems of the current version of IP (known as IPv4) such as address depletion, security, autoconfiguration, and extensibility. Its use will also expand the capabilities of the Internet and enable a variety of valuable and exciting scenarios, including peer-to-peer and mobile applications.

Introductory Overviews

Microsoft's Objectives for IP Version 6
This Web page provides an overview of the key capabilities and strategies for deployment that forms the foundation of Microsoft's past, current, and future work.
Development and Deployment of IPv6: Good for Internet, Technology
This Microsoft technology position paper describes how working IPv6 networks and devices will be steadily increasing as the IT industry, consumers, and businesses migrate from IPv4 to IPv6.
Enabling the Next Generation of Networking with End-to-End IPv6
This joint Microsoft and Juniper Networks white paper looks at the changing expectations of IPv6 with the growth of IPv6-enabled applications like Microsoft Windows Meeting Space in Windows Vista.
Manageable Transition to IPv6 using ISATAP
This joint Microsoft and Cisco whitepaper introduces how Intra-Site Automatic Tunnel Addressing Protocol (ISATAP) enables a simple and manageable deployment of IPv6 over an existing IPv4 infrastructure.

Technical Overviews

Introduction to IP Version 6
This paper provides a technical foundation of Internet standards-based IPv6 concepts and protocols. For a webcast version of this white paper, click here.
IPv6 Transition Technologies
This paper describes the ISATAP, 6to4, and Teredo IPv6 transition technologies and how they are supported in the current versions of Windows. For a webcast version of this white paper, click here.
Teredo Overview
Teredo is an IPv6 transition technology that allows IPv6 connectivity across the IPv4 Internet between hosts that are located behind network address translators (NATs). This article provides an overview of Teredo and a detailed discussion of how it works.
Using IPv6 and Teredo
This article describes how the combination of IPv6, Teredo, and Windows Firewall provides enhanced connectivity and protection from malicious IPv6 traffic.
IPv6 Security Considerations and Recommendations
This article describes security considerations for IPv6 and Microsoft’s recommendations and best practices.
Domain Name System Client Behavior in Windows Vista
This article describes the Domain Name System (DNS) query and registration behavior for computers running Windows Vista.
Understanding Mobile IPv6
Mobile IPv6 allows an IPv6 node to arbitrarily change its location on the IPv6 Internet and still maintain existing connections. This paper provides an overview of Mobile IPv6 and a detailed discussion of how it works.

Articles by The Cable Guy

Deployment Resources

Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit: Designing a TCP/IP Network
This chapter of the Deploying Network Services book in the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit contains guidelines and recommended processes for designing and deploying a TCP/IP network, including IPv6.
Step-by-Step Guide for Setting up IPv6 in a Test Lab
This paper describes how to configure IPv6 in a test lab using five computers and includes connectivity exercises with native IPv6 routing and an IPv6 transition technology.
Intra-site Automatic Tunnel Addressing Protocol Deployment Guide
This paper describes how to deploy the Intra-site Automatic Tunnel Addressing Protocol (ISATAP) IPv6 transition technology on an intranet.

Developer Resources

Can Applications Benefit From IPv6?
This TechNet article describes how Windows Meeting Space in Windows Vista gains many advantages from its use of IPv6.
IPv6 Guide for Windows Sockets Applications
This Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) guide helps you update a Windows Sockets-based application to use either IPv4 or IPv6.
What's New for Windows Sockets
Windows Sockets (Winsock) programming elements have been updated to extend the capability of Winsock, to simplify certain tasks associated with Winsock programming, and to provide IPv6 compatibility.
Network Programming for Microsoft Windows, Second Edition
This Microsoft Press book describes how to do network programming for the Windows platform, including how to use the new Windows Socket functions so that applications can use either IPv4 or IPv6.
Network Programming for the Microsoft .NET Framework
This Microsoft Press book describes how to do network programming, including IPv6, using the .NET Framework.

Webcasts

Introduction to IPv6
This webcast provides an overview of IPv6 including detailed discussions of IPv6 addressing and IPv6 support protocols such as Neighbor Discovery.
IPv6 Transition Technologies
This webcast provides an overview of the ISATAP, 6to4, and Teredo IPv6 transition technologies.
Michael Surkan: Introduction to IPv6
In this Channel 9 Forums webcast, Microsoft Program Manager Michael Surkan describes why IPv6 matters and how it represents the future of the Internet.
Mike Barrett: Testing and Deploying IPv6
In this Channel 9 Forums webcast, Microsoft Software Design Engineer in Test Mike Barrett describes how to test and deploy IPv6.
Mike Flasko and Anthony Jones: Winsock and .NET Protocol Agnostic Development
In this Channel 9 Forums webcast, Microsoft Program Manager Mike Flasko and Software Development Engineer Anthony Jones describe how to develop Windows Sockets and .NET applications that work for both IPv4 and IPv6.

Additional Resources

Understanding IPv6, Second Edition
This Microsoft Press book describes IPv6 concepts, protocols, and processes in detail and explains how IPv6 is supported in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
Understanding IPv6
This Microsoft Press book describes IPv6 concepts, protocols, and processes in detail and explains how IPv6 is supported in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. Download Updates to Understanding IPv6 to learn of IPv6 developments that have occurred since publication of the book.
IPv6 Product Documentation
IPv6 product documentation included with Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference: IPv6 Technical Reference
This section of the Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference contains in-depth technical information about IPv6 in Windows Server 2003.
Using Windows Tools to Obtain IPv6 Configuration Information
This article describes how you can use Windows command-line tools to obtain IPv6 configuration details.
IPv6 Support in Home Routers
This article provides recommendations for an IPv6 feature set for home routers that are compatible with scenarios supported by the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems.
Migrating IPv6.exe Commands to Netsh Commands
Because the Ipv6.exe tool is not included with Windows Server 2003, scripts containing Ipv6.exe commands should be updated with the appropriate Netsh commands. This article lists all the Ipv6.exe commands and their equivalent Netsh commands.

Downloads

Advanced Networking Pack for Windows XP
The Advanced Networking Pack for Windows XP runs on Windows XP with Service Pack 1 and provides support for Teredo and an IPv6 firewall to protect a computer from unsolicited IPv6 traffic. Windows XP Service Pack 2 includes the features of the Advanced Networking Pack for Windows XP.