IPv6 is the most recent edition of the Internet Protocol, intended to replace IPv4. The Internet Protocol version 4 scarcity is a significant problem, but the world continues to move forward, so it’s time to let it go. The final IPv4 countdown has begun. Let’s look at what IPv6 has to offer and how to make the most of it!
IPv6 – what does it mean?
IPv6 is the sixth iteration of the Internet Protocol’s IP address. IPs are a set of rules that a device must follow when sending and receiving data from a host to a destination. We’ll need a list of recognizable hosts, their locations, IP addresses, and a communication path.
Returning to IPv6, it has been around since 1995! The strange thing is that there has been a scarcity of IPv4 addresses, as well as other issues. Despite this, the majority of organizations continue to use the earlier IPv4 standard. Since 2017, it has been an Internet Standard (IETF) to anticipate an increase in IPv6 usage in the near future.
Structure of IPv6
The structure of an IPv6 address is simple. It is 128 bits long and is divided into eight 16-bit fields, each separated by colons. Contrary to IPv4 addresses, which use dotted-decimal format, every field must include a hexadecimal number.
Unlike the decimal number system, which utilizes only the numbers 0 to 9, the hexadecimal system uses sixteen characters: the digits 0 to 9 as well as the letters “a,” “b,” “c,” “d,” “e,” and “f.” The following is an example of an Internet Protocol version 6: 1023:1cb:1b8a:0026:2003:1004:2b1e:2f1a.
Why is it beneficial?
- IP addresses are essential for domain name resolution if you own a network or a website. Perhaps you are still using IPv4 and A DNS records for this purpose. However, you will transition to IPv6 and AAAA sooner rather than later.
- For making various Internet services, such as web hosting, application hosting, and so on, available.
- For configuring network routing at home or at work. Just keep in mind that older devices may not be able to support the new IPv6 protocol. This may be the sole disadvantage.
- For quickly connecting many devices and IoT. This necessitates the use of a large number of IP addresses. The use of network address translation (NAT) is one technique to fix this. As a preliminary stage in the data transfer, it converts several local private addresses to a public IP address. You can skip this step if you use it.
- The IPv6 technology is compatible with the 5G Internet of the future. Prepare for a smooth transfer starting now.
IPv6 vs. IPV4
The latest IPv6 can provide more than enough accessible IP addresses thanks to 128-bit addresses. Instead, IPv4 addresses are rapidly running out. In addition, there are no issues with packet fragmentation while using Internet Protocol version 6. The ancient IPv4 address, on the other hand, had some problems with it.
IPSec is a fantastic IPv6 breakthrough. It’s a method of authentication that also encrypts the connection. Furthermore, it validates who is sending the packets. As a result, the receiver will be able to inspect the data’s origin.
If you’re using Internet Protocol version 6 on your network, you can also use the SLAAC protocol (stateless address auto-configuration). It will provide auto-configuration for a new host. As a result, a DHCP server will not be required. However, DHCP might also be used with IPv6 addresses.
Conclusion
IPv6 is the future, and we must quickly adopt it. The present model is dual-stack solutions, but we should also consider the IPv6 functionality. It is superior to IPv4 in terms of performance and ease of use. However, the current issue is that it does not work on all older devices, and replacing each one with IPv6-compatible devices takes time.
