IPv4 vs IPv6: Difference Between IPv4 and IPv6
IP stands for Internet Protocol, and it's the backbone of the internet. The first version of IP was released in 1981. The most common version of IP is IPv4, which uses 32-bit addresses and has a theoretical limit of 4.3 billion addresses. But we're running out! We need something better—IPv6 will fix this problem by providing 128-bit addresses to every device on the internet. If you're still using IPv4, then read on to learn more about why IPv6 is so great and why we should implement it worldwide.
What is an IP Address?
An IP address is a unique identifier that allows computers to communicate with each other on the internet.
It's short for Internet Protocol, and it's a set of rules that governs how computers communicate with each other on the internet. An IP address is not a standard like you would find in the IKEA catalog, but rather it's an abstract concept that exists only in software: It's not something that you can hold in your hand.
Who assigns them?
IP addresses are assigned by a central authority. Currently, this is the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which is run by ICANN. IANA assigns each country's government a block of IP addresses that it can use for its own needs. This means that every country on Earth has its own set of IP addresses, and they're not interchangeable with other countries.
Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4)
IP version 4 (IPv4) is a 32-bit address (123.234.12.34 for example). It was created in 1981 and has been used as the standard protocol for sending packets across the Internet ever since. The most common use of IPv4 is to identify a host or device on an IP network, which is commonly referred to as internetwork or simply internet. In other words, it's your unique digital address that allows devices connected to the Internet to send requests for information from one another.
Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the successor to IPv4. It is the next generation of Internet protocol, and it has been widely implemented since 2012. Example of an IPv6 is 2001:db8:3333:4444:5555:6666:7777:8888.
IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses with a hexadecimal format that can generate 340 undecillion unique addresses. This is because an IPv6 address has eight groups of four hexadecimal digits (32 bits), while an IPv4 address has only four decimal digits (8 bits).
This change increases the number of possible IPs exponentially. In order for computers to be able to connect over IPv6 TCP/IP networks without running into conflicts with other devices on the same network segment at different times, each device must have its own unique segmented IP address - unlike with older versions like Ethernets which rely on broadcast messages sent from one machine throughout all connected devices so everyone knows who else exists nearby.
Are we running out of IPv4 addresses?
Yes! We are running out of IPv4 addresses. But that doesn't mean that you need to worry about it just yet. The depletion of IPv4 is a serious problem and the IETF has been working on a solution for years now. That solution is IPv6 which will bring us into the future of the internet and help us avoid any more problems like this one in the future.
The reason why we're running out of IPv4 addresses is that there are only 4 billion possible combinations for each IPv4 address. And with so many people connected to the internet these days (7 billion), there simply aren't enough combinations left for all devices on earth!
To combat a problem "temporarily" the researchers have created NAT. NAT stands for Network Address Translation, and it allows us to use the same IP address on more than one device at the same time. NAT uses something called a port mapping table to keep track of all of these devices and their corresponding IP addresses.
To sum up; IPv6 offers 128-bit addresses instead of 32-bit ones like in IPv4 so there will be plenty available even when everyone's using them at once. IPv6 has the ability to support 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456 addresses, which is enough to give every atom on Earth an IP address. And have enough for around 100 more Earth.
Why is IPv6 better (Summary)?
IPv6 is a better solution than IPv4 for several reasons.
First, IPv6 has more addresses than IPv4, which means networks can add more devices without running out of IPs. This is a big reason why so many companies and organizations are switching over to it.
Second, it allows for the creation of simplified networks.
Third; IPv6 is faster. IPv6 uses a new technology called “flow labeling” that allows the network to forward packets faster, which reduces latency. Finally, IPv6 can support future technologies like 5G and IoT natively a lot better than IPv4.
Lastly, (but that's not all), IPv6 offers stronger security than its predecessor, making it harder for hackers to break into networks and steal information or spread viruses. By default, it has built-in IPSec, end-to-end encryption, and various other data integrity features. This also makes it harder for governments to monitor users' activities online—something that's become increasingly important as people use the internet more often for personal communication rather than just using email or social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter.
Why should we switch from IPv4 to IPv6?
The main reason why people should make the switch from IPv4 to IPv6 is that it's not just an upgrade of the internet protocol system, but a major redesign. In other words, IPv6 is a long-term solution to the shortage of IPv4 addresses on the internet. This new version of IP has been designed with specific features that will allow it to support the growth of today's internet while also future-proofing itself against possible problems.
The long-term goal of internet protocol systems
The long-term goal of internet protocol systems is to develop a more accessible and modern technology that will be compatible with IPv6. The shift to this new internet protocol system is vital to ensure that the internet remains functional in the future. IPv6, the latest version of IP, was developed when it became clear that IPv4 did not have enough addresses for all possible users on Earth.
Conclusion
In the long run, IPv6 is the key to ensuring that the internet remains open and accessible for everyone. The switch from IPv4 will also allow us to free up a lot of space on our networks and make our internet infrastructure more efficient, but there’s still work to be done before we can say goodbye completely to IPV4.