I’d like to expand on the different IP models, IP version 4 (IPv4) vs. IP version 6 (IPv6). Many people are aware that each computer or internet connected device must have a unique IP address that provides connectivity to the internet. Normally this happens by way of a DHCP server, which is a server that handles the delivery of IP addresses to end devices. For example, when you connect to the internet, your internet provider has a DHCP server that automatically issues an IP address based on a pool of IP’s it has. Once your computer has been assigned the IP, you can then connect to and browse the internet.
I took a screenshot of my computer’s IP address; you can see it under the section IPv4 address.
Right now, IPv4 addresses are made up of four sections and each section is called an octet. This is because each section represents a group of 8 bits which when combined together create an IP address. The IPv4 protocol can have as many as 4.3 billion possible address combinations. This sounds like a lot of addresses, but now that the world is increasingly relying on the internet for business, entertainment, and day to day activities, the number of IP addresses will eventually run out. This is one of the reasons IPv6 will be implemented. IPv6 will be able to support 2128 billion IP addresses. This is a huge jump in the number of available IP addresses between the two protocols.
Here is a great video that goes over some IP basics and talks about IPv4 vs. IP v6
Luckily, most of the IP information needed by your computer is automatically negotiated (via DHCP server discussed before) between your computer and your ISP (Internet service provider), so you really don’t need to know the specifics between the two protocols for your computer to work, but it’s really interesting to see how something so complex functions.
Another really great feature that we will get when IPv6 is implemented as the mainstream IP delivery technology will be what is called IPsec (Internet security protocol). IPsec can be used in IPv4, but is mandatory in the IPv6 protocol. This means that traffic will be encrypted by default where with IPv4 traffic; you actually had to configure encryption to work. This will greatly increase the security of internet communications.
I’ve included some links below to read more about IPv6 if anyone is interested:
Microsoft Site on IPv6I hope you have enjoyed learning more about a techonolgy that we will be moving to in the future. Although, if implemented correctly, you will never even notice a change when you are moved to the new system.
