Is the TIC Affecting Your IPv6 (Move)?

Do IPv6 and TIC have something in common?

Well, if you work in the federal IT world, you might have noticed that OMB's mandates call for agencies to be ready to implement the initial parts of both IPv6 and TIC around the same time.

Coincidence?

Michael Markulec, Chief Operating Officer at Lumeta Inc., joined Daily Debrief host Amy Morris last week on her show to talk about the TIC -- and touched on how that deadline could affect your move to IPv6.

Morris: The IPv6 deadline being at the same time as the TIC deadline -- not a coincidence. . . . Is IPv6 going to make it easier or is it going to make it harder for agencies to not only figure out where these connections are, but to widdle them down into the few that they really need?

Markulec: Well, I think it's apples and oranges to some extent. You're really talking about the core backbone of a particular agency moving towards IPv6 -- but, in design you need to make sure that you're taking into account all aspects of the network -- your backbone design, as well as your connectivity, whether that connectivity may be to another agency, to a service provider (like an HP or a CSC) or to the Internet -- and making sure that you understand where all that connectivity is and that you're monitoring that activity appropriately.

Morris: You talk with agencies on a fairly regular basis. Where are they standing now with this [TIC] initiative?

Markulec: This has been difficult for them. There really hasn't been a lot of guidance on how to comply. They're struggling to put their plans of action in place and we've been out there talking to them, at least from our perspective of what we think we can help with -- but I know the Networx contractors are also proposing solutions around helping agencies get there. I think today they're a little lost on how they're going to get their arms around 5,000 connections and widdle it down to a manageable number, whether it be 50 or more.

Morris: Are they going to make it?

Markulec: You know I think the plans of action are in place -- a lot of agencies have taken positive steps. Do I think we're going to be at 50 connections by June? Probably not -- but I think we'll be on the roadmap to it.

So . . . TIC and IPv6!

Two sides of the same coin, as far as deadlines are concerned.

(Note: Next week is Memorial Day week and I take a break. I'll be back in June with the latest IPv6 news!)