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What is IPv6? |
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Firstly some background. The Internet operates by transferring data in small packets that are independently routed across networks as specified by an international communications protocol known as the Internet Protocol (IP). Each data packet contains two numeric addresses to help it get from the packet's origin and destination devices. Internet Protocol has been publically used since 1981 and its 4th revision (IPv4) was the first to be widely deployed around the world. IPv6 or Internet Protocol version 6 is the next version standard of Internet Protocol to be used generally across the virtual world. Designed to succeed the first IPv4 once all addresses have been exhausted. Which on 3rd February, 2011, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority's (IANA) primary address pool was exhausted when the last 5 blocks were allocated to the 5 regional Internet registries (RIRs). This doesn't mean the end of IPv4 straight away. Alot of the remaining free IP ranges are being bought up and held by ISP's and Teleco companies for when they start to run low of free address. The most obvious benefit to IPv6 over IPv4 is its amount of unique addresses. IPv6 uses a 128-bit address in the format xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx, Where 'x' can be represented as any alpha-numeric digit. This allows up to 3.4x1038 addresses. Other advantages to IPv6 are that it has a much higher level of built-in security in the form of IPsec which was initially engineered for IPv6 with mobile devices in mind. and the ability of Mobile IP, which allows roaming between different networks without losing an established IP address. Both of these functionalities are requirements of IPv6 and so are designed to be built into every IPv6 stack, address, and network. The transition to IPv6 when it needs to occur may not be a fast or easy process. This is largely due to the fact that IPv6 is not backwards compatible to IPv4 because of its addressing structure, they're more parallel with each other. Specific gateway hardware would need to be used for data to be sent across from one protocol to the other. Most software with network capabilities can be easily upgraded with the support of a software developer. Most recent Operating Systems like Win7 already have the support for IPv6 built in. Hardware however will be a different story. Most network adapters and switches may not be effected by the change as there handling of the addressing won't need to change. Most other equipment should be fully upgradable to be compliant with IPv6 with a simple firmware or software update. This is providing that the other onboard hardware such as memory and storage space is sufficient. Also we may find that typically a Hardware manufacture is unlikely to spend software development costs on products that they have already sold or no longer support. This will lead to consumers and organisations having to purchase new equipment to be compliant with IPv6 and keep their network running. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPv6 |