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2 min read

Next Generation of Windows Networking at the IPv6 Summit

Ian Hameroff here; a first-time blogger, long-time reader.  I’m a product manager within the Windows Server Division and am focused on the advanced networking technologies.

I wanted to talk about a brand new networking stack coming in Windows Server “Longhorn” (and Windows Vista). Dubbed the “Next Generation TCP/IP stack,” this is a complete redesign of the TCP/IP functionality in Windows and represents the most significant update since the early 1990s.

A key feature of this new networking stack is a dual IP layer architecture in which IPv4 and IPv6 share common Transport and Framing layers. This means a better, unified IPv4 and IPv6 experience without the need to install or enable a separate IPv6 stack. Out of the box, Windows Server “Longhorn” will install and enable IPv6 by default, have native support for IPv6 across platform services, and include a number of IPv4 to IPv6

transition technologies. To learn more about the Next Generation TCP/IP stack, take a look at this August 2005 “The Cable Guy” article.

Customers will get a preview of this new IPv6 functionality at the upcoming United States IPv6 Summit 2005

in Reston, Virginia. This is a premier event for the IPv6 community and offers attendees an opportunity to learn the latest on the next generation of networking and how organizations, like the U.S. Department of Defense, are preparing to adopt IPv6.

At the IPv6 Summit, members of the Windows Networking and Device Technologies team will be showcasing the native IPv6 support coming in Longhorn Server.  One of the demos will be of a complete, enterprise ready IPv6-only infrastructure with all client and server networked services running over IPv6 (without IPv4 installed).  This includes Active Directory logon and Windows Firewall security, as well as the ability to reach Internet resources through transitioning technologies. Another one the demos will show off the end-to-end connectivity enabled by IPv6.  The team will stream video content from Longhorn Server to a Windows Vista client over IPv6, across a wireless network. Video streaming is just one example of many new entertainment and collaboration scenarios made possible with IPv6.

Even better network security is another key benefit of IPv6 and IPv6 Summit attendees will learn more about this in a session delivered by Chris Mitchell, group program manager in the Microsoft Networking and Device Technologies team. In his session titled “Enabling Seamless Networking”

attendees will learn about how Microsoft is innovating and investing in advanced network technologies — like IPv6 and IPsec – to help its customers adopt the next generation of networking in a secure and flexible way through.

I hope to see you at the show.

Ian