IPv6 Resources from ISOC-AU

Activity 2.4 EAD Test Report

1. Introduction

The prototype Easy Access Device was tested in a range of small businesses with different numbers of employees and equipment.

1.1 Scope

This document covers:

Introduction
Test Program
Test Results
Observations

1.2 Definitions

There are many resources for definitions of technical terms in IPv6 and networking, e.g.: Underpinning Infrastructure Glossary, Wikipedia on IPv6, IPv6 Glossary. Terms can also be easily defined by using common search engines like Google Australia.

1.3 Inclusion Criteria

The following text was circulated to selected members of BuildersNet and SME colleagues, and partipants agreed to the following Inclusion Criteria conditions:

The ITOL IPv6 for E-Business project is calling for participants in its testbed program for the next generation of Internet service: IPv6. This next generation protocol changes the way that the current Internet works. Essential new features that embed an improved level of security, autoconfiguration and above all almost boundless Internet addresses mean that many many more devices from mobile phones to embedded sensors to hundreds of household devices can, and will, ultimately be connected natively to the Internet.

In the spirit of 'first things first' the project has created an IPv6 Tunnel Terminator that gives simple access for ordinary small businesses to the IPv6 Internet. We therefore require a small number of participants to assist us in determining whether a simple transition device is effective in today's business context.

The criteria for participation is as follows:
Participants must control their own site, ie be responsible for all activities and operations there, including the existing Internet IPv4 service, and compliance with any service level agreements, acceptable use policies etc.

The site can be a small office or home office, ie not a major site. The site must have an existing Internet IPv4 connection with a fixed IP address, or at least one that is likely to remain the constant for the course of the trial.

This service is a trial and may as such be subject to disruption. The Project recommends that participants not run any business critical applications on the Internet service. XP PCs with IPv6 stack running the latest service packs OR Linux with IPv6 stack enabled OR Apple Macintosh equipment with IPv6 stack enabled are required.

The participants agree to comply with Telstra's terms and conditions of service located at http://vee-six.telstra.net/pageIPv6_FAQ.html

The site must be available for a two week period from next week, ie week of 19/3 - 21/3, for installation by the project staff, then to run the trial 22/3 - 30/3/07. Installation and removal will be conducted by qualified experienced engineers supplied by the project.

All costs for participation must be borne by the participant. The ITOL for e-Business project and its sponsors do not accept any claims for liability for any loss or impairment of service during the course of the trial. The participants agree to indemnify the Project representatives against all claims and liabilities where applicable under law.

2. Test Programme

The prototype EAD was installed in several small businesses, with various number of staff and levels of equipment, according to the following table:

Device	Nature of Business	Employees	No. of hosts	Peripherals
EAD1	Small Computer Consultancy	3	8 computers	2 printers
EAD2	Documentation & Quality Contractor	1	6 computers	2 printers
EAD3	Small R&D Management Consultancy	2	4 computers	1 printer
EAD4	Information and Computer Technology Contractor	1	2 computers	1 printer
EAD5	Combined Administration office, two small businesses - Construction Project Mgmt and Procurement & Quality Services	4	8 computers	5 printers, 1 scanner

Each installation involved a different broadband connection method, with a different local area network topology.

3 Test Results

3.1 Test Case 1 - Small ICT Consultancy

Device	Nature of Business	Employees	No. of hosts	Peripherals
EAD1	Small Computer Consultancy	3	8 computers	2 printers

Resident skill level for IPv6, Internet and data communications: Expert
This business is a small operator providing contract ICT services, operating from a residential address and connects to the Internet using a Telstra cable modem service.
The Telstra service required login credentials to be hand configured into the EAD and a proprietary login client to be installed on the unit. The EAD maintained its connection well, and did not require any additional specific 'keep-alive' activity generated by the EAD to maintain a constant IPv6 connection. The EAD did not require any manual reboots or other intervention to maintain service.
The Telstra cable modem service passed tunnelled IPv6 packets without incident.

3.2 Test Case 2 - Documentation Contractor

Device	Nature of Business	Employees	No. of hosts	Peripherals
EAD2	Documentation & Quality Contractor	1	6 computers	2 printers

Resident skill level for IPv6, Internet and data communications: Medium
This business is a small operator providing contract documentation and quality systems advice, operating from a residential address and connects to the Internet using the Optus cable modem service.
This system was the smoothest to install and operate. The Optus cable modem service provides a native IPv4 service over ethernet and does not require any proprietary software, or special configuration.
Given the simplicity of this installation, the EAD did not require any manual reboots or other intervention to maintain service.
The Optus cable modem service passed tunnelled IPv6 packets without incident.

3.3 Test Case 3 - Small R&D Management Consultancy

Device	Nature of Business	Employees	No. of hosts	Peripherals
EAD3	Small R&D Management Consultancy	2	4 computers	1 printer

Resident skill level for IPv6, Internet and data communications: Medium
This business is a small operator providing consultancy services to public sector R&D agencies, operating from a residential address and connects to the Internet via the Transact DSL service.
This system was difficult to install as it required specific DSL configuration to support PPPoE, and to maintain the connection as active.
The Transact DSL service passed tunnelled IPv6 packets without incident.

3.4 Test Case 4 - ICT Contractor

Device	Nature of Business	Employees	No. of hosts	Peripherals
EAD4	Information and Computer Technology Contractor	1	2 computers	1 printer

Resident skill level for IPv6, Internet and data communications: Expert

3.5 Test Case 5 - Administration Office

Device	Nature of Business	Employees	No. of hosts	Peripherals
EAD5	Combined Administration office, two small businesses	4	8 computers	5 printers, 1 scanner

Resident skill level for IPv6, Internet and data communications: Low
This office houses two co-located businesses, Construction Project Management and Procurement & Quality Services, which share a common administration, connecting to the Internet via the Optus DSL service.
This system was difficult to install as it required specific DSL configuration to support PPPoE, and to maintain the connection as active.
The Optus DSL service passed tunnelled IPv6 packets without incident.

4 Observations

All services required manual installation and testing.
Host installation issues sometimes arose as the computers connected on these LANs were of a wide variety of age and repair.
Islands of IPv6 known to exist on the Internet were tested for connectivity and the majority worked.
All accessible sites (some were down for maintenance or other reasons) worked consistently from all connected test sites.
A variety of Internet Service Providers' high-speed forms of connectivity were tested, including Telstra Cable modem, Optus cable modem, InterACT DSL and Optus DSL. All ISP services tested tunnelled IPv6 packets without problems.
A range of people with variable levels of Internet skills were able to install and use the Easy Access Device prototype with only minor difficulties.

Narelle Clark, Vice-President, Internet Society of Australia
and Dr Kate Lance, Internet Society of Australia.

The IPv6 for e-Business project is supported by the Australian Government through the Information Technology Online (ITOL) Program of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.