IPv6 is inevitable Ever wonder how a computer reaches out to another computer? Ever wonder why it’s called an email address? The quick answer is that computers, much like our homes, have an address; better yet, an IP address. This is how a computer’s “mail” (data packets) is delivered. These addresses are right now known as IPv4 addresses. And much like real world addresses, they can be broken down the same way we do with addresses of apartment complexes and high rise buildings. But much like the limits of real world addressing, IPv4 is near reaching its limit. This will eventually lead us into the realm of IPv6. IPv4 is the current form of addressing being used for the Internet and TCP/IP data traffic. It consists of five classes (A, B, C, D, E), and uses a 32-bit structure broken down into four 8-bit octets. IPv4 gives up to 4.3 billion addresses. However, as we will find out later, that is quickly reaching its limit due to rapid growth of the internet. IPv6 a new form of addressing that uses a 128-bit address structure. This will greatly expand the possible number of users. The IPv6 address format uses hexadecimal addressing separated by colons instead of dotted decimal. It can give up to 340 undecillion addresses (340 with 36 zeros). But, it is not backwards compatible with IPv4. Currently, the number of vacant IPv4 addresses is down to 5%. Europe’s RIPE NCC (Reseaux IP Eutopeens Network Coordination Centre) expects to allocate the last of its addresses by midyear. The North American supply of IPv4 addresses is expected to run out in about 18 months according to the CEO of ARIN (American Registry for Internet Numbers). NAT (network address translation) is being used to bridge the gap between IPv4 and IPv6 systems, but that is only a temporary fix. Eventually, it too can cause communication problems between the two systems. There have been uses of IPv6 already. In 2008, China Next Generation Internet used IPv6 for the Beijing Olympics. In June of this year, more than 1,000 Web sites participated in “World IPv6 Day”; a 24 hour trial of IPv6 in a global scale. Among the participants were major websites such as Google, Yahoo, and Facebook. It seems 2012 will be the year of IPv6, or at least that is the perception. It’s been said that all 10,000 of the government’s federal Web sites have been mandated to support IPv6 by September. Domain registrar GoDaddy has enabled IPv6 for its customers. Comcast has plans to offer IPv6 service nationwide this year also. All these signs point to the inevitability of IPv6. Not to say that IPv6 will fully replace IPv4 in 2012, but it seems that train will be well on its way. As with many things, change is often brought on by necessity. The necessity to provide addresses for the exponentially growing number of users will build more of a case for the IPv6 conversion. Also, those in the know are usually the first once to change. The fact that companies such as PC World, Google, and Verizon are preparing for IPv6 shows even more evidence of its destined move. An apartment building can only have so many apartment numbers. An office tower can only have so many suites. Even an office can only have so many cubicles. Everything at one time or another will reach its capacity. IPv4 is getting closer to reaching its capacity. Much like anything in life, there is a time one (or something) can handle no more. IPv4 has put in its time, and has served many well during its years, and to this day. IPv4 is that veteran ready to enjoy the benefits of pension and government healthcare. IPv6 is that intern ready to take a promotion. There’s no use in fighting fate, and the switch from IPv4 to IPv6 is exactly that.