This paper describes Cisco's position and details current and future IPv6 support across Cisco® strategic product families.
The Cisco IPv6 Solutions white paper introduces the need for IPv6, describing market drivers such as the explosion of Internet‑enabled devices and the limitations of IPv4 address space. It explains how IPv6 provides a larger address space, simplified routing, and built‑in security features.
The document details Cisco's integration and coexistence approaches, including dual‑stack, tunneling, and translation techniques, and lists the IPv6 capabilities of Cisco IOS Software releases and hardware platforms such as routers, switches, wireless LAN devices, and data‑center equipment. Security considerations, network‑management integration, and references to further resources are also provided.
| Cisco CRS‑1 IPv6 hardware forwarding performance | up to 40 Gbps (OC‑768 line card) |
|---|---|
| Cisco 12000 Series IPv6 hardware forwarding performance | up to 10 Gbps (Engine 5) |
| Cisco 860 Series IPv6 support | No IPv6 support |
Cisco implements dual‑stack, tunneling, and translation as the main integration techniques for IPv6 deployments.