more on Query on 'net neutrality' and IPv6

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: bensons () neohaven net
Date: May 31, 2006 2:59:04 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net, dylan () tweney com
Subject: Re: [IP] Query on 'net neutrality' and IPv6

Dave & Dylan-

The QoS mechanism in IPv6 is essentially the same as the QoS  
mechanism in
IPv4.

Although the format of v4 and v6 headers are different, the IPv4 Type of
Service and IPv6 Traffic Class are both fields that contain a
Differentiated Services Codepoint. That Codepoint can be used by a  
network
to decide what Per Hop Behavior each router should apply to the packet.
I.e. a packet can be marked with the highest priority Codepoint, and an
accommodating Behavior might be to forward that packet even at the  
expense
of queueing (and thus delaying) other packets. This method is  
referred to
as Differentiated Services, of DiffServ.

It should be noted that there are additionally other ways that a network
service provider can enhance the treatment of a particular class of
traffic. In addition to DiffServ there is a method referred to as  
IntServ
which actively reserves network resources (capacity) for a specific  
flow.
There are other lower-layer mechanisms enabled by MPLS, ATM, and other
link-layer and shim protocols. Service Providers can use a  
combination of
any or all of these mechanisms to engineer network traffic so that  
certain
services, users, and applications are provided better service than  
others.
Ultimately it is this Traffic Engineering that allows a service provider
to make Service Level guarantees to their customers.

It seems to me that the Net Neutrality argument is often confused by a
lack of technical understanding. But if it were properly focused it
shouldn't be a question about network protocols, but rather about who is
allowed to control those protocols: the individual and enterprise users,
versus the service providers.

Cheers,
-Benson




> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: d f tweney <dylan () tweney com>
> Date: May 31, 2006 4:26:34 PM EDT
> To: David Farber <dave () farber net>
> Subject: Query on 'net neutrality' and IPv6
>
> Dave--
>
> A question for the IP community:
>
> I'm no expert on Internet Protocol, but I do know that IPv6 includes
> Quality of Service provisions that let routers prioritize some
> packets relative to others, in order to ensure speedier delivery of,
> say VoIP or video packets. Presumably, you could also use QoS to
> prioritize packets from ISP A so they get through sooner than those
> from ISP B.
>
> Isn't that exactly what all the "net neutrality" folks are getting so
> upset about? And if so, why aren't they protesting IPv6?
>
>
> --
> Dylan Tweney           writer/editor
> www.tweney.com         dylan () tweney com
>
>
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