WIDE Project proudly announces that an experimental IPv6-based internet exchange point, referred to as NSPIXP-6, started its operation on August 11, 1999 in Tokyo. It consists of a single FastEthernet switch to exchange native IPv6 traffic as well as IPv6 routing information. It is intended to provide production level quality interconnection in IPv6, however, it is not intended to provide commercial service level quality such as hot stand-by nor 24x7 maintenance covered.
Most of the IPv6 base protocol specifications have been established and several implementations are available. KAME Project is working to produce IPv6 reference implementations on BSD-variants of Unix operating system. Some vendors ship IPv6-ready hosts and routers as their products while others offer beta versions. IANA has delegated first IPv6 address blocks to three Regional Internet Registries on July 14, 1999. One of the RIRs serving Asia Pacific region, APNIC, has started IPv6 address assignment service since the end of July, 1999. The first sTLA has been allocated for ESNET on Aug 6, 1999.
The purpose of NSPIXP-6 is to accurate native-IPv6 operational experiences for the coming transition to IPv6 protocols. It will also serve as the working infrastructure for some IPv6 experiments including IX-based IPv6 address allocation, IPv6 route servers, and IPv6 multihoming. With cooperation of CRL, NSPIXP-6 JGN (Japan Gigabit Network) with an ATM-FastEthernet bridge. It will be even accessible from outside Japan through APAN networks, including TransPAC to the StarTAP which provides connectivities to the global advanced Internet research networks such as Inetnet2 networks. Layer-2 extension of NSPIXP-6 to other location is also planned.
Participants of NSPIXP-6 should be sTLA registrants, pTLA registrants, or NLA1 registrants under other pTLA registries. Connectivity beyond the participants of NSPIXP-6 can be obtained in case-by-case basis.
As for the initial state, WIDE Project, Internet Initiative Japan, Dream Train Internet, and NTT Communications have been connected.
Contact of NSPIXP-6 is press@wide.ad.jp.