I thought I would take a moment to reflect on the impending problem of address exhaustion posed by IPv4.
The humble 32-bit address structure for the internet has been stretched to its limits. Developed by the Internet Engineering Task Foce (IETF), IPv4 internet layer protocol has been the mainstay of the global internet since 1981. IPv4 provides end-to-end tranmission of data packets across the internet. The 32-bit architecture provides for up to 4,294,967,296 addresses. Not much when you consider the amount of data that gets shifted about on the world wide web. The rapid increase in the number of internet users will place ever increasing pressure on the internet as the number of datagrams (or packets) exponentially increases. This problem has been compounded by the surge in the number of internet ready mobile devices around the world.
The solution lies in a new internet layer protocol to replace the existing IPv4. The 128 bit IPv6 developed by the IETF is poised to replace IPv4. It allows for significantly more addresses by increasing the address size. This means the number of possible addresses increases to 3.4 undecillion. In other words there’s no chance that we will reach complete address exhaustion any time soon. Increased address size is just one of several new features of IPv6. IPv6 specifies that IPSec must be present as an interoperability requirement to improve security. IPv6 also simplifies datagram headers and address auto-configuration.
The question is do we need our home broadband connections IPv6 ready now? According to PCAuthority the answer is a resounding no, although as new users are added by ISP’s the transition should start to take place. Internet users who transition over to an IPv6 should not notice a difference in the quality of their broadband service. The only key difference is they may have to pay a small fee to upgrade their routers/broadband modems to IPv6 compatible devices. Should you run out and purchase an IPv6 modem or router now? For Australian consumers the answer is no. At present none of the major ISP’s offer a dedicated IPv6 service. Adelaide based ISP, Internode is currently running a trial of IPv6 to a select group of customers after implementing dual stack across its core network. Iinet is also considering trialling IPv6.
As the internet grows and expands address demands are stretched to the limit, the need for rapid and successful implentation of dual stack IPv4/IPv6 has become essential. New ISPs would benefit from launching with IPv6 to avoid having to perform upgrades to their systems in the medium term. Although we couldn’t find any proof that the NBN Co’s systems will support IPv6, we have a feeling that they certainly will as this will be the ‘network of the future’.
