IPv6 in MPLS Networks

[Pekka Savola <pekkas@netcore.fi>]

Hi,

As ISP scenarios and analysis document is currently at last call, the 
biggest issue (excluding the tunnel service considerations, which need 
resolving in other documents as well) seems to be the 
recommendations/text about IPv6 deployment in MPLS networks.

The possibilities (or a combination of these) include at least:

 1) Requiring that MPLS networks deploy native IPv6 support or use
    configured tunneling to achieve IPv6,

 2) Requiring that MPLS network support setting up IPv6 LSPs,
    and IPv6 connectivity is set up using these or configured 
    tunneling,

 3) Using only configured tunneling over IPv4 LSPs, or

 4) Using something like [BGPTUNNEL] to automatically encapsulate IPv6 
    over IPv4 over MPLS to obtain IPv6 connectivity.

Based on a quick operator poll, software upgrades in MPLS networks are
acceptable.  Due to that, the main reason to use a mechanism like
BGPTUNNEL appears to be to get around the vendor's shortcomings in
IPv6 forwarding performance in the core network, so marketing solution
such as this might have disadvantages in the medium and long term, at
least.

We're soliciting input on how to best handle this situation.  Please
send feedback to the chairs or on the list.  Tentatively, we're
scheduling 20-30 minutes for discussion in Seoul, but how productive
such discussion would be would depend on the framing and the contents
of presentations and/or discussion.
                                                                                          
Please send your ideas (if any).
                                                                                          
 Thanks,
  Pekka & Jonne