"Migrating Applications to IPv6" by Dan York (O'Reilly review)

Migrating Applications to IPv6
Dan York
O'Reilly Media, 2011
50 pages

It is a fact that Internet growth is on an ascendent slope and IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) limits will soon be reached. Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) developed IPv6 a new Internet Layer protocol for packet-switched inter-networking that will allow much more addresses. Scope of this book is to explore the changes that needs to be adapted in order to migrate existing applications to IPv6 and the implications that will occur when the Internet protocol will change.

The author's purpose is not to present all solutions but rather the questions that should be asked. This is actually an initial overview on possible issues that can be encountered in applications migration process and the author's desire is to make updates of the book in time, while receiving feedback with new identified issues.

From Chapter 1 to Chapter 4, possible issues are presented and additional changes that should be applied on the existing applications(desktop and server based). IPv6 migration will have multiple consequences and the book is suggesting some possible situations that the reader has to consider for the adaptation process. Front-end and back-end critical possible changes are analyzed with focus on GUI, DNS, API and IP addresses storage. Transport layer (Chapter 5) was specifically addressed "for those of you who do need to work at the network layer". This contains information about messages transport from and to the applications, dual stack support and security issues. The migration process will also involve changes on applications documentation, training or testing operations and Chapter 6 suggests what should be reviewed in these areas. Other resources and next steps to be followed related to IPv6 migration are described in the last chapter.

The book doesn't have many illustrations and sources, as it is a short one, but still, an index would have been useful.

This is just the first edition of the book and it is actually a collection of suggestions organized in categories, of what to consider when you will be involved in applications migration process, though many of the suggestions should be already known by a professional. It is also a fairly good introduction on IPv6 for the people who never studied about it yet, but real examples are lacking in this version and you should probably wait for an updated edition if you are interested in real issues and fixes.

You can purchase the book from O’Reilly here.