The most recent version of the internet protocol, known as IPv6, was developed by the IETF and aids in localizing and identifying endpoint systems on a computer network as well as routing online traffic, all while addressing the issue of IPv4 address exhaustion brought on by widespread, prolonged internet use. This page describes IPv6, its main functions, and the difficulties that may arise when it is implemented.
Key Takeaways
What is IPV6?
Communication via networks is made possible by the network layer protocol known as Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6). An individual IP address is assigned to each internet-connected device that is used to locate and identify it. It was clear that the IP addresses that Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) utilised to link devices wouldn\’t be sufficient to fulfil demand during the 1990s digital revolution. As a result, the IETF started working on creating the next-generation internet protocol.
On July 14, 2017, IPv6 was adopted as an internet standard for widespread deployment. It had previously been a draught standard for the IETF since December 1998.
Why IPV6? Limitations of IPV4
Due to the growing utilisation of devices like mobile phones, laptops, and desktops, inefficient address use, and always-on devices like cable modems, IPv4 addresses were quickly running out. Technologies including classful networks, classless inter-domain routing, and network address translation were created in order to address the IPv4 address depletion issue.
By developing enhancements in the core address allocation and routing mechanisms of the web, these technologies helped find a solution.
The 40 extra octets in the IPv6 packet allow users to grow the protocol without affecting its fundamental design. Additionally, IPv6 contains a 128-bit address and a bigger address space that can be used in the future. There are 8 groups of the 128-bit address, each with 16 bits. Each group is represented by four hexadecimal values, with colons separating each group from the others. A network host connecting through IPv6 receives a unique identification particular to the subnet.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of IPV6?
The technique offers internet users a number of benefits:
IPv6 offers a solution to the widespread problem of shrinking address spaces as a result of rising IP address demand brought on by technical improvements. It provides dependability and quicker speeds. Media streams and other bandwidth-intensive packet flows can simultaneously reach several locations thanks to IPv6\’s functionality for multicast addresses.
Compared to IPv4, it imposes more stringent network security. IPv6 features IPSecurity, which guarantees data integrity and privacy. Furthermore, it improves routing effectiveness. No matter whether a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server is present or not, it supports stateless and stateful address configuration. It can handle packets more effectively and has a bigger address space.
However this comes with some disadvantages too
For instance, IPv6 and IPv4 cannot be used together. Different internet protocols make it challenging for a device to communicate with a network. Even though IPv4 is less reliable, performs worse, and has practically all of its address space used up, it is nevertheless more widely used than IPv6.
The incompatibility between the two protocols and the high costs involved with switching to IPv6 infrastructure will make a full migration to IPv6 very time-consuming.
Also Read: 10 Careers in Cybersecurity to Choose: From Beginner to Beyond
How does IPV6 work?
1. IPV6 Addresses
IPv6 addresses utilise 128 bits, which is four times as much as IPv4 addresses, which only use 32 bits. In contrast to IPv4, which uses dotted decimal, IPv6 addresses are expressed using hexadecimal. Since a hexadecimal integer utilises 4 bits, an IPv6 address is made up of 32 of them. These numerals are written with a colon (:) as a separator and are divided into eight groups of four. Examples are group6, group7, group8, etc.
2. Network and node addresses
Address classes in IPv4 were used to divide an address into two parts: a network part and a node part. Subnet masking later took its place as a substitute. An address is divided into two components in IPv6, too. There are two 64-bit segments that make up the address. The network component is located in the upper 64-bit segment, while the node component is located in the bottom 64-bit section.
The network component of the computer is divided into two blocks, every 48 bits, and 16 bits, respectively. On an internal network, subnets are created using the lowest 16 bits, which are managed by a network administrator. Global network addresses are stored in the top 48 bits, which are utilized for internet routing.
3. Using IPV6 in the URL\’s
A user can utilize HTTP://192.168.121/webpage to access a network resource, such as a web page, via an IPv4 network. The format must be changed in order to view web pages through IPv6. IPv6 addresses must be placed in square brackets with a colon as a separator. Using the URL HTTP://[2001:db8:4531:674::100e] as an example.
4. IPV6 loopback
The computer interface is represented by the loopback address. Both in IPv4 and IPv6, the TCP/IP protocol stack repeats the packets back on the same interface. In IPv4, loopback addresses are only permitted on the 127.0.0.0/8 network. 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001/128 is the IPv6 equivalent of the loopback address. It may be written as: 1/128. Routers will not forward packets with an unknown address in IPv4 or IPv6, respectively. IPv6\’s unspecified address is::/0.
What are the challenges of IPV6?
Due to the rapidly diminishing supply of IPv4 addresses, the IETF had codified the development of IPv6 by 1998. Later, in 2017, the IETF formally endorsed IPv6 as an Internet standard. In 2022, just a portion of the IPv4 to IPv6 transition will have been completed.
The necessity to switch to IPv6 has grown urgent due to the virtually complete exhaustion of worldwide IPv4 addresses. IPv6\’s lack of backward compatibility with IPv4 is the main issue in switching from it. Using an IPv6 address with a network that solely utilizes IPv4 leads to DNS and routing issues.
Common issues concerning IPV6 are clearly stated in this article. Read to know more about the challenges of IPV6.
Conclusion
Overall, despite the fact that IPv6 is the internet of the future, ISPs are not yet prepared to allocate resources, put new technology into use, and maintain the infrastructure in every situation.
In the end, it\’s obvious that we\’ll need to utilise both IPv4 and IPv6 for the foreseeable future given the problems that remain, the most of which we\’ve explored in this essay.
It\’s a good thing that not all businesses need to migrate to IPv6 immediately because the prices are expensive and the migration\’s future is unclear.