Before we start, let us clear the most essential term for this article : IP
IP- stands for Internet Protocol. It is only because of IP, that we are now able to connect with each other on a network. Now, basically why do we need an IP address to connect on the network? Let us consider a small example, suppose you are away from your hometown and your friends and family would like to reach you through any means of communication like cellphone, letters, emails or post cards , then the first and foremost thing you need to have an address. An address then allows you to be recognized over a network or a region. The above picture will make sense, when you try contacting someone with some means of communication ,say a simple traditional letter or postcard. Here, you need to provide an address, so that your letter will be delivered.
Eg:
To,Mr. XYZ,
23/411, East Street, Bronx ,
NewYork, USA
This is a simple traditional address which allows you or a particular person or an organization to be recognized universally.
In the same way, when you connect to any particular network, the data sent can reach the destination only if it has a particular address or unique end point. This is where , IP plays the role of savior. Every node or peer on a network in the world is uniquely identified by an address, this address is called the IP address. The IP address is a 32 bit address, which means it can have 2 to the power 32 different combinations of addresses,which provides a huge pool for IP addresses.
So in simple words, we define IP address as : a numerical label assigned to each device (eg: Computer,Printer) participating in the computer network and uses Internet Protocol for communication.
IPv4 stands for Internet Protocol version 4. It is basically the underlying technology that makes it possible for us to connect our devices to the web. Whenever a device like a computer or a printer try to access the Internet , it is assigned a unique, numerical IP address such as 128.119.213.227.
Without IP addresses, computers would not be able to communicate and send data to each other. It’s essential to the infrastructure of the web.
Here is a short animation which explores deep into the IPV6, Hit the play button
IPv6 is the sixth revision to the Internet Protocol and the successor to IPv4. It functions similarly to IPv4 in that it provides the unique, numerical IP addresses necessary for Internet-enabled devices to communicate. However, it does sport one major difference: it utilizes 128-bit addresses.
The Internet has run out of Internet addresses, sort of.Everyday,more and more number of devices are getting attached to the network and hence more and more addresses have to be allocated to the corresponding new devices. Perhaps you’ve heard the news: the last blocks of IPv4 Internet addresses have been allocated. The fundamental underlying technology that has powered Internet Protocol addresses since the Internet’s inceptionwill soon be exhausted.
A new technology will take its place, though. IPv4′s successor is IPv6, a system that will not only offer far more numerical addresses, but will simplify address assignments and additional network security features.
Q: How does IPv6 solve this problem?
As previously stated, IPv6 utilizes 128-bit Internet addresses. Therefore, it can support 2^128 Internet addresses — 340,282,366,920,938,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 of them to be exact. That’s a lot of addresses, so many that it requires a hexadecimal system to display the addresses. In other words, there are more than enough IPv6 addresses to keep the Internet operational for a very, very long time.
Q: So why don’t we just switch?
The depletion of IPv4 addresses was predicted years ago, so the switch has been in progress for the last decade. However, progress has been slow — only a small fraction of the web has switched over to the new protocol. In addition, IPv4 and IPv6 essentially run as parallel networks — exchanging data between these protocols requires special gateways.
To make the switch, software and routers will have to be changed to support the more advanced network. This will take time and money.
Q: How will this affect me?
Initially, it won’t have a major impact on your life. Most operating systems actually support IPv6, including Mac OS X 10.2 and Windows XP SP 1. However, many routers and servers don’t support it, making a connection between a device with an IPv6 address to a router or server that only supports IPv4 impossible. IPv6 is also still in its infancy; it has a lot of bugs and security issues that still need to be fixed, which could result in one giant mess.
Nobody’s sure how much the transition will cost or how long it will take, but it has to be done in order for the web to function as it does today.
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