It is not news that the Internet, which currently operates on Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), has a limited number of IP addresses available and has no longer been sufficient to meet demand needs. modern. With the constantly increasing Internet penetration and the majority of the population owning one or more smart devices, the new version 6 of the protocol (IPv6) is considered the best solution to meet these needs, especially since the number of IPv6 addresses available. are enough to be assigned to every atom on Earth. Although the current industry standard is IPv4, it is slowly being replaced by the latest version of the Internet Protocol. However, before fully switching to IPv6, it is important to review the main differences between IPv4 and IPv6. Although both are used to identify machines attached to a network, there is evidence of a key structural disparity, as the two protocols are different in their operation. That said, it's important to note that while IPv4 only has a 32-bit address length, which means the total number of available IP addresses is 4,3 billion, the last one is 128-bit. , which is equivalent to 340 million unique IP addresses worldwide, enough for every user for decades to come and to meet the growing infrastructure needs of the Internet.
New protocol
The new protocol also surpasses IPv4 in terms of complexity and efficiency. For example, while the older protocol requires a freshly installed system to be configured before it can communicate with other systems, version 6 configuration is much faster. Furthermore, IPv4 is a relatively restricted network: when operating over IPv4, network administrators must find a way to efficiently allocate available addresses so that the system does not run out of IP addresses. On the contrary, because IPv6 has so many IP addresses, the new protocol eliminates such stress, although it should be noted that IPv6 is by no means simpler than the old protocol. This automatic process allows devices to configure themselves independently, resulting in smoother network connectivity, especially as the number of mobile devices has increased by 121 million in the last 12 months and continues to grow. increase.
Less hassle and more security
Basically, unlimited IPv6 resources mean that the IP allocation management process is less of a problem. Anyone who gets their hands on a smart device can connect to the network without risking significantly overloading the infrastructure, especially since the majority of the population has not just one, but several devices in use, such as smartphones, laptops and computers. Also, it's important to understand that IPv4 was not designed with increased security in mind. Unlike IPv6, version 4 of the protocol does not have a built-in Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) option that provides confidentiality, authentication, and data integrity. With built-in IPSec functionality, the new protocol is considered much more secure and can perform end-to-end encryption that prevents third parties from collecting data as it is transferred.
Internet of Things
In addition to the structural differences and meeting the needs of users, version 6 of the protocol also plays a role in the faster development of the IoT (Internet of Things), especially due to its complex nature and immense amount of space. . addressing are more suitable to support the future development of the industry. . According to McKinsey, the total number of IoT-connected devices worldwide is expected to triple by 2023 to 43 billion. This means that every device, connected to the Internet, must have an IP address to function, but here's the rub: Due to the scarcity of IPv4, every single connected machine compounds the problem by adding additional pressure on the Internet and hindering growth. IoT industry overview. The Internet of Things is quickly becoming one of the main influences on the adoption of IPv6. With the increasing demand for constant connectivity and the doubling of the number of devices connected to the network, billions of IP addresses available in IPv6 could help facilitate the development of the IoT industry and allow its products to work for a long time. However, we must not forget that IPv4 is not going anywhere, even with a full IPv6 deployment, due to a large number of devices, which will continue to function only on IPv4.
Internet revolution
With increasing market pressure and the need to meet the growing demand for network access, the implementation of IPv6 is the obvious next step in the evolution of the Internet. However, as its full implementation still seems to take a long time and we continue to connect more and more devices to the Internet, there are alternative ways to alleviate the depletion of IPv4, IP leasing, which enables monetization. IP resources among market players, be a good example. This could ease the transition to the new protocol and prevent the network from crashing and burning out until a widespread implementation of IPV6 is implemented.