Network

The network is the foundation of all ict facilities at your institution. No education, research and innovation with ict without a stable network. That is why we at SURF continuously work on a reliable, flexible and powerful network.

IPv6

IPv4 addresses are running out, so switching to IPv6 is necessary. A good strategy for this migration is very important. SURF helps you develop that strategy.

Fewer and fewer IPv4 addresses

It is often said that the main reason for switching to IPv6 is that more IP addresses will become available this way. Of course this is true, but most of SURF's member institutions still have IPv4 addresses themselves, so they will be around for a while yet. So why is the switch to IPv6 so important?

Keeping online services accessible

The IPv4 addresses have run out. So new ones can no longer be issued. That is why more and more places on the Internet only use IPv6 addresses. If you also use IPv6, this guarantees that all your services on the Internet will be accessible in the future, also for mobile devices. After all, this still growing number of devices will increasingly be developed for IPv6 only.

SURF supports IPv6

The SURF network has supported both IPv4 and IPv6 since 2001. Together with the National IPv6 Task Force, SURF works on disseminating knowledge about IPv6. In order for institutions to gain sufficient knowledge and experience with IPv6, SURF supports institutions as follows:

SURF publishes practical documents on IPv6, such as:
- a business case IPv6 for IPv6 (2013, pdf)
- a manual for drawing up a numbering plan (2013, pdf)
- a manual for preparing an IPv6 numbering plan (2012, pdf).
- (These documents were written when there were still IPv4 addresses. As of December 2019, the addresses have run out and no new IPv4 addresses will be issued)
SURF offers on-site technical support if you are going to implement IPv6 in your organisation.

Do the IPv6 check

Are you already using IPv6? Check it with the IPv6 check from internet.nl, an initiative of the Internet Standards Platform in which SURF participates.

IPv4 addresses

SURF has unused IPv4 addresses. These are more addresses than we need as a cooperative. SURF members have therefore decided in consultation to dispose of these addresses. A specialised party has been selected to carry this out carefully. The proceeds will fund a project for further adoption of IPv6 addresses within the cooperative. Any additional proceeds will benefit education and research in the Netherlands.