News for and about the Internet2 community

["Lauren Rotman" <>]

NYSERNet, New York University, and Internet2 Demonstrate First Native IPv6
Multicast in North America 

Research and Education Community Continues to Pioneer Use of Next-Generation
Internet Protocols 

Ann Arbor, MI and Syracuse, NY - October 31, 2005 - NYSERNet, New York
University, and Internet2 today announced the first successful demonstration
of production native IPv6 multicast networking on a nationwide North
American network.  

Unlike previous IPv6 multicast implementations in North America, this
demonstration used non-tunneled or "native" IPv6 multicast across
Internet2's next-generation Abilene network, which connects over 240
research and education institutions and 34 state education networks in the
United States. IPv6 multicast shares the advantages of IPv4 multicast,
allowing a single source to provide content to an unlimited number of
receivers without duplicating bandwidth. The tunneled connections previously
used for IPv6 multicast development would have been unable to support the
roughly 40 million bits per second (Mbps) of video traffic needed to support
the technology used in this demonstration.  

"The Internet2 community has played an integral role in promoting and
pioneering the adoption of next-generation IP protocols like native IPv6
multicasting," said Bill Cerveny, Internet2 network engineer and
co-organizer of the IPv6 multicast demonstration, "With its advanced
architecture and high-performance engineering, Internet2's Abilene network
is in a unique position to provide researchers, scientists and students from
around the world with the ability to test new applications that rely on the
latest protocols to ensure quality and reliability."  

Five locations participated in the demonstration. NYSERNet hosted two IP
video sources: one in Syracuse, New York that used the WIDE Project's
Digital Video Transport System (DVTS) software and the other in New York
City. New York University, which recently became the first university in
North America to have native IPv6 multicast capability, originated a video
stream from their campus in New York City. Internet2 provided video from its
Ann Arbor, Michigan office. These four video sessions were received and
displayed at the demonstration site. 

Although multicast technology has many applications, video streaming was
chosen for the demonstration both because it demands large bandwidth and
high reliability networking. As IPv6 is deployed around the globe, more
applications will be designed to use it, including the high-quality
streaming and interactive video that has become integral to the work of the
research and education community. Internet2 members will be able to take
advantage of IPv6 multicast connectivity not only within the Abilene network
but also with their peers in Asia and Europe, where IPv6 deployment is
progressing very quickly.

Bill Owens, director of advanced technology and networking for NYSERNet and
co-organizer of the IPv6 multicast demonstration, encourages other
institutions connected to the Abilene network to experiment with IPv6
multicast connectivity. 

According to Owens, "IPv6 multicast capabilities are being rapidly
integrated into today's router technologies. This demonstration proves that
Abilene and its regional connectors can support these capabilities on a
regular basis.  As we continue to deploy and test these technologies, I
expect to see a broader range of commercial and open source applications
such as high definition television generate high-bandwidth IPv6 multicast
traffic flows."

NYSERNet has been experimenting with IPv6 multicast since late 2003 as part
of the m6bone <http://www.m6bone.net>. Internet2's Abilene network has
provided IPv6 unicast connectivity since 2000 and native IPv6 unicast
connectivity since 2002.

Further information about IPv6 within Internet2 can be found at the
Internet2 IPv6 working group web pages at http://ipv6.internet2.edu.

Further information about multicast networking within Internet2 can be found
at the Internet2 multicast working group web pages at
http://multicast.internet2.edu.

About Internet2
Led by more than 200 U.S. universities working with industry and government,
Internet2 develops and deploys advanced network applications and
technologies for research and higher education, accelerating the creation of
tomorrow's Internet.  Internet2 recreates the partnerships among academia,
industry, and government that helped foster today's Internet in its infancy.
For more information, visit: www.internet2.edu. 

About NYSERNet
NYSERNet is a private New York State not-for-profit corporation created to
foster science and education in New York State through advanced network
technologies and applications. An Internet pioneer, NYSERNet has delivered
next-generation network services to New York State's education and research
community for twenty years. More information about NYSERNet can be found at
http://www.nysernet.org.

Media Contact:
Lauren Rotman
202.331.5345