PALO ALTO, CA, 6connect, the first network automation platform to help usher in IPv6, today announced that it secured $2 million in a Series A financing round led by Hummer Winblad Venture Partners. Managing Partner, Mark Gorenberg, will join the 6connect board.

6connect is the first company to help enterprises, content providers and service providers (ISPs) simplify the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 and automate the management of complex IPv6 networks.

Building upon great success with brand name enterprises and some of the world's largest ISPs, 6connect plans to use the funding to increase sales and marketing initiatives and accelerate feature evolution of their proven network automation platform.

The entire Internet is transitioning from IPv4 to IPv6 because the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) has exhausted the number of IPv4 addresses. IPv6 provides undecillions of addresses, enhanced security and ubiquitous mobile network interoperability. 6connect solves short-term IPv4 management challenges and supports long-term IPv6 operational goals.

"A profound change to the Internet is underway, and we are thrilled to have the support of Hummer Winblad as 6connect helps usher in the always-on Evernet," said Richard Donaldson, CEO at 6connect. "The era of IPv6 is finally here; an Internet that is continuously accessible to devices of all sorts. With this investment 6connect is able to help more enterprises and network operators re-evaluate their IP Address Management and truly gain control of their network."

According to a recent survey, more than 70% of IT departments plan to upgrade their websites to support IPv6 within the next 24 months.

Mark Gorenberg, Managing Director at Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, who is also a member of the FCC's Technological Advisory Council, adds, "The increasing ubiquity of Internet-attached devices impacts us all when the existing number of IPv4 Internet addresses run out in 2012. We are bullish that 6connect has the experience and expertise needed to take advantage of the market opportunity that transitioning to an entirely new Internet demands."

Automation is a Must

Because IPv6 is not compatible with earlier protocols, it must be run concurrently with IPv4. And, managing an IPv4 network to 100% utilization while introducing an entirely new network address schema with IPv6 increases the complexity of current and future networks. 80% of Network Managers report that they are adopting automation tools as the market seeks to simplify workloads, streamline transitions and lower overall costs.

About 6connect

6connect was founded in 2009 to solve the complexity of migrating to and managing IPv6 through network automation tools. The 6connect suite of software tools includes IPv4 management, steps to migrate to IPv6, and ultimately IPv6 deployment and on-going automated administration. Clients in production with 6connect IP address management, Domain Name Server (DNS) and peering automation tools include Tier 1 ISPs, global Enterprises, and international organizations.

About Hummer Winblad Ventures

Hummer Winblad Venture Partners is a leading venture capital firm focused on software investing and manages over $1 billion in cumulative capital. Since Hummer Winblad Venture Partners' inception in 1989 the firm has launched over 100 new software companies. For more information, visit www.humwin.com.