This document provides IPv6 address planning guidance for public administrations. It is intended to provide a framework that public administrations can use to learn the key differences between IPv6 and IPv4 addressing, design an IPv6 address structure, obtain IPv6 address space, deploy IPv6 addresses and manage IPv6 addresses. In addition, this guide also provides useful background information on the reasons public administrations should adopt IPv6 and how to plan for an IPv6 deployment project. The guide is split into the following main sections:

• Drivers for adopting IPv6
• An introduction to IPv6 addressing basics
• An overview of IPv6 deployment planning
• Guidance on design, obtaining, implementing and managing IPv6 addressing

This guide is focused on those aspects of IPv6 addressing and IPv6 deployment that relate to public administrations in Europe. The IPv6 addressing planning sections of this guide begin by looking at some important principles that all organisation should consider when designing an IPv6 addressing plan. This is followed by a detailed consideration of the options available to public administrations in Europe for obtaining IPv6 address space and the different types of address space that can be obtained. In this section, we provide clear guidance on how public administrations should chose and obtain IPv6 address space.

In Europe, IPv6 address space can be obtained from an upstream provider or from the regional internet registrar for Europe: RIPE. Two types of space are available: Provider Independent (PI) space and Provider Aggregatable (PA) space. We discuss which type a public administration might use and how to calculate the size of space that they require. Next, we show how a public administration can structure the IPv6 address that they have obtained into an IPv6 addressing plan. We consider the various options and provide best practice design principles for constructing an address structure. This is followed by several examples and a brief case study to illustrate different types of address structures that can be used in public administrations.

Finally, we look at how IPv6 addresses can be managed and recommend the use of automated tools such as IP Address Management (IPAM) to facilitate address management processes.