David Wells
11/27/13
Intro to Linux Networking
Final Paper
As some may already know every device that connects to the internet has a IP address. Most people don’t know where the IP address came from though. When the internet was created one would assume that IP address soon followed, however that is not the case. IP didn’t exist for a few years after the internet was unleashed on th the world. The original functions of IPv4 addresses were a part of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). As a formal protocol, IP was “born” when an early version of TCP developed in the 1970’s. This happened when predecessors of the internet were split into four layers, IP being the third layer.
The key milestone in the development of the Internet Protocol was the publishing of RFC 791, Internet Protocol, in September 1981. This standard was a revision of RFC 760 in the previous year. The IP defined in RFC 791 was the first widely-used version of the Internet Protocol. However, most people would assume that the versions of IP that was the most widely used would be one, they are mistaken. The most widely used version of IP is version four which is where the name “IPv4” comes from.
When you use IP today, you’re using IPv4. This version number is carried in the appropriate field of all IP datagrams.
It was originally designed for internetwork a tiny fraction of the size of our current Internet, IPv4 has proven itself remarkably capable. Various additions and changes have been made over time to how IP is used, but the core protocol is basically the same as it was in the 80’s.
Even though IPv4 is so amazing and so widely used development of a new IP has been underway since the mid 90’s. This eventually came up with IPv6 or otherwise known as IP Next Generation or IPng.
IPv6 was created to supplement and eventually replace IPv4 in the next coming years. So many devices have been created throughout the years that can access the internet that the world has been running out of IPv4 addresses at a steady right and that is where IPv6 steps in.
With IPv6’s 128-bit source and destination IP addresses more combinations can be created and sent out to the devices requesting an IP address. This would all make since if I took the time to explain how that works. When a device attempts to connect to the internet, it needs a way to say who it is in order to send or receive any information, similar to the Postal Service. So, when a device connects to the internet it automatically sends out a request for an IP address unless it has a static IP assigned to it. With IPv6 there will be even more addresses in the pool to draw from.
To this very day IPv6 infrastructure is being developed and installed throughout the internet backbone and major wide-area networks. Tier-1 internet backbones have already and deployed IPv6 addresses.
Let’s compare IPv4 to IPv6 shall we? IPv4 | IPv6 | Addresses use 32 bits | Addresses use 128 bits | Has a short lifetime | Has two lifetimes; preferred and valid | Uses an Address Mask | Does not use an Address Mask | Address Resolution uses the MAC Address | Address Resolution occurs in its’ self | Variable header length between 20-60 bytes | Fixed 40 header length | Uses a Basic TCP/IP tool to test ping | SAME |

Now that we have covered we can clearly see that, even though IPv4 is amazing and has done its job well, IPv4 no longer meets the requirements this world and internet is demanding of it. It will surely be missed by all of the internet guru’s out there, but the sting of the loss will most likely be short lived. With IPv6 slowly integrated into our systems, time will heal the wounds and the internet will be stronger, faster, and more reliable.
With even more addresses available, sub netting will be a thing of the past, until we start to run low on these new IPv6 addresses. Then what?
Well, I can assure you that mysterious people, in lab coats and bright lit computer labs are hard at work trying to come up with the next version of IP. What do you think it will be? IPv7? IPv9? I am not sure, but I am excited to find out.
Until that day comes I will fondly remember the days of IPv4, Sub Netting, and worrying whether or not the servers will have enough addresses to give out to new users. I will however fully embrace the days of IPv6. More addresses for everyone, no need to worry if we will run out with the next device that comes out. With everyone having a phone, desktop, laptop, tablet, and now watch that can connect to the internet, we are indeed in desperate need for more addresses. Thankfully with the deployment of IPv6 we will have nothing to worry about.