Hexago has released its IPv6 client stack under a “BSD type” licensing agreement. The free “Gateway6” stack automatically creates authenticated IPv6 tunnels through existing IPv4 infrastructure, when used with Hexago's free “Freenet6” online service or its Gateway6 server (pictured at left) on the local… network.

At current rates, the IPv4 address space will be depleted in 7.5 years, according to an informative IPv6 overview at Ars Technica. IPv6, created in the mid-1990s, increases IPv4's 32-bit address space to an astronomical 128-bit space; however, IPv6 requires router support, leading to slow rollouts.

Hexago says that by tunneling IPv6 through IPv4, its Gateway6 client can help network equipment manufacturers, software developers, and researchers get started with IPv6 in advance of ubiquitous infrastructure support. The Gateway6 client can be deployed commercially without restrictions or cost, according to the company.

CEO Bruce Sinclair stated, “We are starting to see more products being ported to IPv6, [but] many hardware and software companies are waiting because a stack port requires an IPv6 network to operate. Of course, they are waiting to transition networks until there are more IPv6 products. This is one of the roadblocks to massive IPv6 deployment.”

Sinclair added, “The Gateway6 Client [uses] managed tunneling to provide IPv6 connectivity within any network. Products using the Gateway6 Client will be plug and play IPv6 ready. Now powerful features such as true peer-to-peer communications and NAT traversal are easily implemented and can be run over existing IPv4 networks.”

Paul Charron VP of product management, stated, “The availability of the Gateway6 Client source code opens up a world of new business opportunities. Companies are empowered to develop products and services around address-intensive and true peer-to-peer opportunities, such as cameras, sensors, and IP mobile devices. They are also empowered to explore new business opportunities in fields such as sharing, meetings, mobility, building management, home security, child monitoring, energy management, and more.”

Availability

The Gateway6 Client is available now for download, both as binaries for popular OSes, including Linux, Windows, Mac, and several BSD varients, as well as source code. Binaries are also available for the OpenWRT distribution for Linksys's WRT54G router. Use of the free Freenet6 service requires registration.

 
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