Samuel W. Barasa

Doctor of Philosophy in Information Technology

1. Dr. Samuel Mbugua, PhD
2. Prof. Simon Karume, PhD

ABSTRACT

The internet platform has been facilitated by a huge number of interconnected network nodes hence the dire need for extra pool of addresses, optimization, quality of services, routing efficiency, and security. These developments have contributed to the implementation of IPv6 to replace and improve the depleted IPv4. Although IPv6 promises enhancements to IPv4 standards, it’s evident it is maturing albeit slowly despite its implementation on major networks and operating systems. However, IPv6 transition presents optimization challenges to the Internet Protocol at implementation. Several solutions have been proposed, including dual-stacking, tunneling, and translation transition strategies that are not yet mature. The research purpose to optimize transition output from IPv4 to IPv6 networks to solve the optimization problems caused by the premature transition strategies and expedite IPv6 deployment. The research shall achieve this by establishing the transition mechanisms, determining how the transition mechanisms map the various configuration attributes from IPv4 to IPv6 networks, developing a model for smooth transition, and a tool for optimization of IPv6 networks. This will be accomplished by experimental design. The target population will be on Kenyan ISP networks. Purposive sampling will be used to select service providers running on both IPv4 and IPv6 networks and boosted sampling to strengthen the sample. The sampling size will comprise of all the eighteen (18) ISPs in Kenya running both IPv4 and IPv6 networks. Negative case sampling will also be used since there are few Internet Service Providers. Data collection will combine interviews and content analysis. Internal consistency reliability estimation will be administered to a group of people on one occasion to estimate reliability. Feel for data (descriptive) and goodness of data (inferential) analysis will be employed by the study. This research is an enabler for ultra-high performance networks providing for more efficient interconnection between bandwidth intensive Web and information service providers and customers. This will improve government operations for streamlining services for more citizens, improve quality and delivery of services countrywide, increase economic activity and jobs for urban and rural areas and foster high speed universal Internet access.