Extreme Gets IPv6 OK

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Extreme Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXTR - News) today announced that it has successfully demonstrated key IP version 6 (IPv6) functionality with its ExtremeXOS(TM)-enabled BlackDiamond® and Summit® switches, following tests conducted by the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL). The tests were performed using the Moonv6 network, the world's largest multi-vendor IPv6 network.

After a week of comprehensive performance and interoperability testing, Extreme Networks demonstrated Layer 3 routing of IPv6 and IP version 4 (IPv4) traffic, transitioning between the technologies while concurrently handling security. IPv6 is the next-generation Internet protocol that will replace the current version, IPv4, in use today throughout the Internet. One of the main benefits of IPv6 is that it will support more IP addresses, which will be needed by the millions of emerging devices that will require their own Internet addresses.

The testing methodology was created to focus on converged network traffic like voice, video and data across firewall systems and transition mechanisms. The test was the first to focus on transitioning technologies like configured tunnels and "6to4," key technologies that allow for the connection of IPv6 over non-IPv6 capable networks.

The IPv6 domain-name-system (DNS) service was tunneled over an IPv4 network by encapsulating the traffic on Extreme Networks Summit X450a switch. The switches also performed wire-speed traffic filtering via IPv6 access control lists while simultaneously filtering specific IPv6 addresses and traffic to specific UDP/TCP application ports.

"This latest test confirms that our switches support IPv6 and will seamlessly transition between new and old standards while enabling secure, reliable connections," said Suresh Gopalakrishnan, vice president of marketing and product management for Extreme Networks. "Our award-winning BlackDiamond and Summit switches are optimized to take advantage of the new capabilities that IPv6 delivers, thus enabling our customers to better prepare their networks for rapid growth in the number of connected devices."

Extreme Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: EXTR)