An Empirical Study into Factors that Create Configuration Inconsistencies between IPv4 and IPv6 Systems: Identifying the Managerial and Scientific Implications

In this study, a analysis was performed to analyze why there are differences in port configuration between IPv4 and IPv6. For this, the current state of adoption and implantation processes of IPv6 were researched. Currently, 4,8% of all dual-stack hosts have a different configuration in open ports on IPv4 and IPv6. To discover the reasoning behind these differences, thirteen interviews were performed with owners of presumed misconfiguration or network security experts. Discovered was that most of the configurations were unintentional and because of unawareness and adequate knowledge of IPv6. Furthermore, an analyzes was performed about the reasons behind the lack of knowledge and awareness and discovered that at the moment, there is no compelling reason to migrate from IPv4 to IPv6 in most western countries. The lack of knowledge and awareness could be a reason why there is a 4,8% difference in IPv4, IPv6 configuration. Furthermore, noticed was that there is no clear solution to the problem and that there is no central actor that can solve this problem