On February 3, 2011, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) allocated the last available IPv4 addresses, marking the end of one era and the beginning of a new IPv6 era. For the foreseeable future, communications devices with IPv4 and IPv6 addresses will co-exist, requiring networks to recognize and interoperate with both address types. Sonus has long had a contingency plan for this future, and today offers IPv6-ready products across its entire portfolio as well as software upgrades that quickly activate IPv6 interoperability in legacy Sonus products.
Sonus delivers a unique, three-layer approach to IPv4-IPv6 interworking that ensures flexibility, scalability and high performance in our IP solutions:
End-to-End, Dual Stack IPv4/IPv6 Support
With the release of the Sonus 8.2 software system, all new Sonus products support dual stack IPv4/IPv6 communications at both the network and signaling layer. As a result, network operators can implement new Sonus solutions confidently in IPv4-based networks, IPv6-based networks and those networks that share a mix of IPv4 and IPv6 devices.
Signaling and Media Interworking at the SBC Level
Sonus Session Border Controllers (SBCs) deliver IPv4/IPv6 interoperability at the session layer. Both the NBS5200 and NBS9000 SBCs feature native IPv6 support, and can function as back-to-back user agents (B2BUAs) supporting IPv4/IPv6 signaling and media interworking on a per call or per call leg basis.
Seamless, Simple Upgrade to IPv6 Support
Legacy Sonus products can be quickly updated to include IPv6 device support through a live software upgrade. This allows Sonus customers to take advantage of new IPv6-based communications without replacing or adding capacity to their currently deployed Sonus network elements.