IPv6 - Internet Protocol version 6

Key Characteristics

• • 128-bit Address Space: Utilizes 128-bit addresses, providing an astronomically larger number of unique addresses (2^128) compared to IPv4's 32-bit addresses, effectively eliminating address exhaustion concerns for z/OS-hosted services.
  • Dual-Stack Support: z/OS Communications Server fully supports running both IPv4 and IPv6 concurrently on the same system, allowing for a smooth, phased transition and interoperability with existing IPv4 infrastructure.
  • Stateless Address Autoconfiguration (SLAAC): Enables z/OS systems and attached devices to automatically configure their IPv6 addresses without manual intervention or a DHCP server, simplifying network management.
  • Mandatory IPSec: The IPSec security protocol is an integral part of IPv6, providing built-in end-to-end security features like authentication and encryption for network traffic originating from or terminating on z/OS.
  • Simplified Header Format: Features a more streamlined header structure compared to IPv4, which can lead to more efficient packet processing by network devices, benefiting high-volume z/OS network traffic.
  • Improved Routing and Multicasting: Designed with more efficient routing mechanisms and enhanced support for multicasting, which can optimize the delivery of data to multiple recipients from z/OS applications.

Use Cases

• • Modernizing Network Infrastructure: Enabling z/OS applications (e.g., CICS, DB2, IMS, WebSphere Liberty) to communicate with external systems, cloud services, and mobile devices over IPv6-only or dual-stack networks.
  • Expanding Connectivity: Supporting a vast number of connected devices (e.g., IoT sensors, mobile clients) that interact with mainframe backend services, leveraging the extensive IPv6 address space.
  • Enhanced Security Compliance: Fulfilling organizational or regulatory mandates for IPv6 adoption and leveraging its mandatory IPSec for secure, authenticated, and encrypted communication channels for sensitive enterprise data.
  • Hybrid Cloud Integration: Facilitating seamless and secure communication between z/OS workloads and hybrid cloud environments that are increasingly adopting IPv6 for their internal and external networking.
  • Future-Proofing and Scalability: Ensuring the mainframe's continued relevance and ability to scale its network presence in a world where IPv6 is becoming the predominant internet protocol.

Related Concepts