Add IPv6 Support for Application Protocol

[smuu]

We need to ensure that our application protocol supports IPv6 for several critical reasons that will enhance the performance, scalability, and security of our infrastructure and applications. Below are the detailed justifications for this requirement:

Benefits of IPv6 Support:

1. Dual Stack Networking Support:

   • It's crucial for our infrastructure and applications to support dual-stack networking. This will enable seamless communication over both IPv4 and IPv6, ensuring compatibility and future-proofing our network architecture.

2. Removal of Unnecessary Network Overlays:

   • By adopting IPv6, we can eliminate the need for complex network overlays that are currently used to manage IPv4 limitations. IPv6 allows for the direct assignment of globally routable IP addresses to pods and nodes, simplifying network management.

3. Elimination of NAT:

   • Network Address Translation (NAT) is a significant limitation in IPv4 networks. IPv6 removes the need for NAT by providing a vastly larger address space, allowing each device to have a unique global address. This will streamline network operations and reduce latency.

4. Scalability for Network Simulations:

   • IPv4 addresses are limited, which hampers large-scale network simulations. IPv6, with its abundant address space, allows us to simulate networks at a much larger scale without running into address exhaustion issues.

5. Efficiency in Traffic Handling:

   • IPv6 features simplified TCP headers, which can lead to more efficient handling of traffic and a reduction in congestion rates. This improvement will enhance overall network performance.

6. Enhanced Security with Native IPSec:

   • IPv6 natively supports IPSec, which provides end-to-end encryption and ensures secure communication across the network. This built-in security feature is vital for protecting sensitive data and maintaining privacy.

7. Stateless Address Autoconfiguration (SLAAC):

   • IPv6 supports Stateless Address Autoconfiguration, allowing devices to configure their own IP addresses without the need for a DHCP server. This feature simplifies network management and reduces administrative overhead.

Conclusion: Supporting IPv6 in our application protocol is not just a technical upgrade; it's a necessity for keeping our infrastructure scalable, secure, and efficient. The transition to IPv6 will provide us with significant advantages over IPv4, positioning us better for future growth and technological advancements.

Thanks to @aWN4Y25pa2EK for the content of that issue.

[cmwaters]

E2E tests do check with IPv6. Is there some compatibility issue?