RTI integrates IPv6 support in middleware

Real-Time Innovations Inc. (RTI) has incorporated Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) support into its RTI Data Distribution Service middleware, which now enables distributed applications to simultaneously support both IPv6 and the current-generation IPv4. This provides easy migration to the newer standard, which will be implemented in several networks and applications in 2008.

Multiple transport support
RTI Data Distribution Service was designed to allow distributed applications to easily support multiple underlying transports. This allows system designers to create highly complex distributed applications that can operate between different networks if required. Each application within a distributed system has access to the same shared data, regardless of the network transport being employed. Supporting both IPv6 and IPv4 in the same application—without any modification to the source code—can save software development time and effort while reducing the risk involved in transitioning to IPv6.

"One goal of RTI Data Distribution Service is to provide an abstraction layer for system and software engineers so that they can quickly and reliably build complex distributed applications," said Supreet Oberoi, VP of engineering, RTI. "This allows engineers to take advantage of different networking technologies without having to understand the network transport and associated code."

Internetwork operation
Overall adoption of IPv6 will be gradual, requiring it to coexist alongside the existing IPv4 for several years, according to the company. Using a middleware solution such as RTI Data Distribution Service enables distributed applications to operate between different networks and to transition from IPv4 to IPv6.

RTI Data Distribution Service with IPv6 is available today. A complete development package for $84,600 includes a comprehensive Architecture Study from an RTI expert who will provide written design recommendations based on an evaluation of application requirements, plus two days of customer-specific training, one week of follow-up consulting, and one year of maintenance and support.