An Internet IPv6 Transition Plan

Thu Jul 26 17:42:47 UTC 2007

At 01:22 PM 7/26/2007, you wrote:
Let us not forget that network vendors are now capitalising on the 
requirement to purchase expensive licensing for such features as 
native IPv6 routing and 6PE, on their mid to high end kit.

>I dont feel this sort of behaviour is helpful, I can understand 
>asking for licensing fees for L2VPN/L3VPN technologies since these 
>are products that service providers can levvy a reasonable charge 
>for, but to charge for IPv6 routing capability alone, at the time 
>where the discussion of which has never been so serious, leaves a 
>bit of a bad taste in one's mouth.

This is one reason we moved to the Foundry XMR. Their purchase price 
includes all features such as ISIS, BGP, MPLS, IPv6, etc. Since other 
vendors charge too much (imho) for licensing, some projects like MPLS 
enabling a network or moving to IPv6 will not happen right away. New 
services will not be added which will not lead to new gear being 
purchased to help keep up with the growth of new services. If a few 
engineers want to play with some features or add a new service for a 
single client or two as a trial, but it is a multi-million dollar 
exercise in licensing, it won't happen until there is a business case 
and by then you are following the herd and not leading it. By that 
time your people are 2-3 years behind their peers in learning how to 
implement and support the new technology and you've lost potential 
clients and services too. Just my $.02.

-R

Tellurian Networks - Global Hosting Solutions Since 1995
http://www.tellurian.com | 888-TELLURIAN | 973-300-9211
"Well done is better than well said." - Benjamin Franklin