(DRAFT 2) -- NIST SP 500-267 A Profile for IPv6 in the U.S. Government - Version 1.0 --(DRAFT 2)

The second draft of NIST Special Publication 500-267, “A Profile for IPv6 in the U.S. Government - Version 1.0”, is now available for public comment (http://www.antd.nist.gov/usgv6/usgv6-v1-draft2.pdf). The goal of the profile, and associated proposed testing program, is to provide the technical basis upon which long term USG IPv6 adoption plans and policies can be based. It should be noted that the profile is not intended to be applicable to near term uses (e.g., June 2008 requirements described in M-05-22). Instead, as a forward looking strategic plan, the profile’s recommendations are targeted for 2010 and beyond.

NIST SP-500-267 is a draft profile to assist federal agencies in developing plans to acquire and deploy products that implement Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). The profile recommends IPv6 capabilities for common network devices, including hosts, routers, intrusion detection systems, and firewalls, and includes a selection of IPv6 standards and specifications needed to meet the minimum operational requirements of most federal agencies. The profile was developed to help ensure that IPv6-enabled federal information systems are capable, interoperable and secure. The profile also addresses how such systems can interoperate and co-exist with the current IPv4 systems. Agencies with unique information technology requirements are expected to use the NIST profile as a basis for further refined specifications and policies.

This second draft of SP-500-267 reflects changes and evolution based upon: the 500+ comments we received on the first draft; a series of meetings within the USG and with industry groups, and the testing industry; and the further evolution of USG policies and plans for IPv6 adoption. In particular, this second draft articulates the initial plans for the test program that will insure the compliance and interoperability of products built to this profile.  Readers should pay particular attention to the new Compliance section in this draft of the profile.

Comments on this draft should be submitted to: sp500-267-comments@antd.nist.gov. We request that detailed comments on the specification be submitted using the following spread sheet (http://www.antd.nist.gov/usgv6/usgv6-v1-comments.xls). The comment period closes at 5:00 PM EST on Feb 29th, 2008.

Dates: Comments due on or before Feb 29th, 2008.

NIST SP 500-267 is available electronically at: http://www.antd.nist.gov/usgv6/usgv6-v1-draft2.pdf
Comments are requested in the spreadsheet format to be found at: http://www.antd.nist.gov/usgv6/usgv6-v1-comments.xls
Electronic Comments may be sent to: sp500-267-comments@antd.nist.gov