IPv6 Readiness.  IP Detail Records and PacketCable™ Multimedia

IP Detail Records

IP Detail Records capabilities are frequently overlooked in IPv6 readiness plans.  IPv6 migration for IPDR consists of two aspects, using IPv6 for transport between the CMTS (exporter) and the Active Resource Manager (Collector), and the inclusion of IPv6 device addressing information in exported information.  It is unlikely that in the near term there is need to transition IPDR transport from IPv4 to IPv6, however there are implications for exported data.

IPDR was originally included in DOCSIS 2.0 and consisted of a single Service Definition or Schema.  This Service Definition, referred to as SAMIS provides device, service, usage and QoS information.  DOCSIS 3.0 introduced new Service Definitions providing additional device, service, network, physical and diagnostic information.  As a component of DOCSIS 3.0, CMTS vendors staged the introduction of DOCSIS 3.0 components providing features such as channel bonding before DOCSIS 3.0 IPDR capabilities.  Initial DOCSIS 3.0 CMTS capability availability included DOCSIS 2.0 IPDR support.  Today, vendors have begun providing support for DOCSIS 3.0 IPDR

To support an IPv6 addressed device DOCSIS 3.0 IPDR must be used.  The DOCSIS 3.0 IPDR Service Definitions include support for encoding both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.  The DOCSIS 2.0 IPDR Service Definition does not provide encoding support for IPv6 addresses. 

Put simply, when a modem and/or CPE is allocated an IPv6 address with DOCSIS 2.0 the address is not reported.  Depending on the vendor, either a record is no longer generated for a device with IPv6 addressing or the address objects are left blank.  In either case, the IPDR SAMIS data is compromised.

The solution is to upgrade both exporter and collector to support DOCSIS 3.0 IPDR Service Definitions.  The Active Resource Manager provides full support for DOCSIS 3.0 IPDR Service Definitions and we have experience in the requirements necessary to upgrade Cable Modem Termination Systems

PacketCable™ Multimedia

On the surface, an upgrade to PacketCable™ Multimedia appears relatively straight forward.  PCMM control messages are addressed to CMTS and the device (cable modem) controlled is identified by it IPv4 or IPv6 address.  A relatively simple upgrade to messaging to support IPv6 is required for PacketCable™ Multimedia.

However, a Policy Server system has other components necessary for its operation.  In particular, a Policy Server must have network topology information so the CMTS hosting the target device can be identified so messages are sent to the correct CMTS.  Popular Policy Server implementations use SNMP based topology discovery mechanisms based upon network subnet routing information to find the CMTS that hosts the target device.  To migrate to IPv6, PCMM™ Policy Server topology discovery systems require a signficant upgrade to support combined IPv4 and IPv6 topology discovery.   

The PacketCable™ Multimedia Policy Server components available for the Active Resource Manager platform support IPv6 operation.  More importantly, because the Active Resource Manager PCMM Policy Server uses the topology information provided by DOCSIS 3.0 IPDR support for IPv6 does not require additional upgrades.  Further, IPDR provides accurate event based topology information avoiding inaccurate and proprietary polling based mechanisms, and the CMTS processing load of SNMP

Active Broadband Networks has a complete IP Detail Records and PacketCable™ Multimedia solution for IPv6. Contact us to discuss your readiness