FRII Offers IPv6 Addresses to Customers

FORT COLLINS, CO — IPv6 addresses are now available from FRII. By adding IPv6 to their network in 2009, FRII laid the groundwork needed to support new IPv6 customers as well as current customers who decide to upgrade to IPv6 addressing.

“We’re pleased to give our customers the ability to upgrade their networks through FRII,” says Chris Bissell, FRII’s Senior Network Architect. “In the next year or so IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) will not be able to offer new IPv4 addresses simply because there won't be any left. Before that happens, we want to give businesses the advantages of IPv6.”

A majority of the Internet's IP (Internet protocol) addresses are on the original IPv4, or Internet Protocol version 4. However, IPv4 is slowly being replaced with IPv6, or Internet Protocol version 6.

Just over 4 billion unique version 4 IP addresses are available worldwide. That may seem like a large number, but it's not enough to count on for the future expansion of the Internet. According to the ARIN (American Registry for Internet Numbers) website, less than 10% of these addresses currently remain available. IPv6 was created to combat this depletion of addresses. While IPv4 tops out at a little over 4 billion total addresses (less than the population of the earth), IPv6 will be able to provide over 340 undecillion IP addresses. To put this into perspective, if each grain of sand on the planet were assigned an IPv6 address, there would be more than enough addresses to cover every grain and then some.

“This is going to be a long transition” says Bissell. “It will take many years before everyone can change over to IPv6. Until then, FRII will exist on both networks for the benefit of our customers.”

Do you know what IPv6 will mean for you? FRII can help you through the transition. “As an added benefit, we offer consulting services to help anyone who needs assistance understanding how IPv6 may impact their business”, says Bissell.

Key Facts

FRII is utilizing a Dual Stack method when providing IPv6 to customers. This means that customers will get both an IPv4 address and IPv6 address on their interface. Dual Stack ensures that your addresses are able to communicate with all other addresses; a host that only has an IPv4 address cannot talk to a host that only has an IPv6 address. You must either use Dual Stack, or perform some sort of tunneling or translation to get them to communicate.

Services Supported: QMOE, FRII fiber, and some colocation and ATM DS3 customers are currently supported on IPv6. Other services like T1’s, other colocation and ATM DS3’s, and web hosting will be supported in the future.

About FRII

Proudly one of the largest privately-held Internet Service Providers in Colorado, FRII has been providing quality Internet solutions since 1995. We are known throughout Colorado for our unique combination of technical expertise and unbeatable customer service. To find out how FRII can help you or your company, call us today at 970-212-0700 or visit our website at frii.com.