About IPv6

IPv6 is the most recent version of the Internet Protocol and it is set to eventually replace IPv4 which has been the most widely used internet protocol for many years. The Internet Protocol (IP) is an essential part of data communications that allows devices all over the world to send and receive information over networks. It is how computers identify and locate other computers and routes traffic across the internet. With the rapidly growing number of internet users, IPv6 will eliminate the long-anticipated problem of IPv4 address exhaustion. Let’s take a deeper look into IPv6 and how it is changing the internet landscape.

What is IPv6?

IPv6 or Internet Protocol Version 6 was designed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). It is the next generation Internet Protocol that currently works alongside IPv4 but will eventually replace it.

History of IPv6 Development

Devices on the internet have a unique IP address that is used to identify it and its location. During the digital revolution in the 1990s, it became apparent that the available pool of IPv4 addresses would eventually run out. Thus, the development of IPv6 began in the mid-90s and became a draft standard for the IETF in December 1998. On July 14, 2017, it was approved as an internet standard for global rollout.

Why IPv6 is Necessary

The internet has grown at a rapid pace with in increasing number of devices that require connectivity. IPv4 addresses consist of four numbers that are separated by a single dot. It uses a 32-bit address scheme which allows for more than 4 billion addresses. It was initially assumed that it would never run out of addresses but our situation calls for a new system. The IPv6 fulfils the need for more internet addresses. Using 128-bit addresses, IPv6 allows 340 undecillion unique address space. This is more than enough and it’s safe to say we won’t be running out of IPv6 addresses any time soon. IPv6 provides the necessary address space to accommodate for the expansion and innovation of the internet.

Importance of IPv6 Today

In order to continue to bring new devices and services to the internet, it is essential to implement IPv6. In an effort to future proof their networks, many internet service providers, technology companies, and organizations worldwide have been trying to deploy IPv6. The adoption of IPv6 will play a vital role in enabling new technologies such as the Internet of Things, 5g networks, and home automation components.

Deployment and Adoption

IPv6 is not extensively used on every device out there. However, it is slowly but surely working its way into the internet and replacing IPv4. The primary issue with transitioning to IPv6 is that it is not backward compatible with IPv4. When using an IPv6 address with a network that only uses IPv4, routing and domain name system problems occur. Another roadblock in the adoption of IPv6 is that many internet service providers do not yet offer IPv6 services or monitoring support. This can be a significant issue for organizations that use IPv6 and must seek alternative ISPs. There are plenty of challenges to overcome before IPv6 is fully implemented and those will be further discussed in the final page of the website.