IPv6

We offer IPv6 as a standard option for Janet-connected customers – and provide information and guidance to support you as you develop your IPv6 deployment strategy.

Apply for IPv6 deployment

About IPv6

To enable internet growth and innovation, it’s important to have enough globally unique IP address space.

But with the last unused blocks of IPv4 global addresses having been handed out in 2011, many Janet-connected sites are using IPv4 NAT with private addresses, in order to conserve their global address space.

This adds network complexity, and makes it harder to offer end-to-end services for users.

With IPv6 - the successor to IPv4 - you can have enough globally unique address space for the foreseeable future, helping enable innovation.

Enabling IPv6

  • Janet's network backbone is fully enabled for IPv6. If you have a Janet connection, IPv6 is an option available to you free of charge
  • By default, you also receive a /48 IPv6 prefix, which allows over 65,000 subnets with effectively an unlimited number of devices on each subnet
  • That’s significantly more address space than with IPv4, and helps you support the increasing number of devices needing network connectivity

Deploying IPv6

At Jisc, we also offer guidance and training to allow you to find the most appropriate way to deploy IPv6.

Typically, Janet-connected organisations follow a “dual-stack” model for deployment, running IPv6 alongside IPv4. For example, by IPv6-enabling their public-facing web presence or eduroam network, or by deploying IPv6 in support of teaching and research in their computer science departments.

As more access networks around the world deploy IPv6-only – most notably mobile operators – having IPv6-enabled public-facing services is the best way to provide robust connectivity to users on those networks.

With all common network and OS platforms now supporting IPv6 – and IPv6 invariably enabled and on by default – it makes good business sense to start planning now, including articulating IPv6 requirements in procurement tenders.

Find out how to begin an IPv6 deployment.

Get started with IPv6

To enable the IPv6 service option, please complete the IP address application form.

You will also need to request an IPv6 prefix assignment for your network. To do this, contact ipaddress@ja.net. 

Support and guidance

We offer the following resources to support your deployment of IPv6:

Guidance

Training and workshops

To get you up to speed with the basics of IPv6, please refer to our guide on how to begin an IPv6 deployment, or contact us and we will put you in touch with our technical team.

Community

Join our mailing list to share ideas and challenges with peers and others who have deployed IPv6.

Jisc history with IPv6 deployment

At Jisc, we are actively involved in IPv6 deployment in many ways. For example:

  • We contribute to IPv6 standardisation activity through the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
  • We co-chair the UK IPv6 Council, which brings industry, ISPs and academia together to discuss IPv6 deployment in the UK
  • We take part in RIPE meetings where IPv6 address allocation and assignment policies are discussed and agreed

We also have a long history in working on IPv6. For example:

  • We took part in the 6NET project in 2002–05, which drove IPv6 deployment at European national research and education networks
  • We deployed IPv6 on the Janet backbone in 2003
  • We have been involved in IPv6 deployment since 1996