With the explosive development of related gadgets and solely so many IP addresses to go round, the web as we all know it might have floor to a halt just a few years in the past. Fortunately, IPv6 arrived simply in time to rescue the World Wide Web.
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Before I discuss why IP addresses are so vital for the way forward for your online business (and the web), let’s again up slightly…
In 1798, English cleric and scholar Thomas Robert Malthus argued that exponential inhabitants development and arithmetic meals provide would result in catastrophic outcomes for the worldwide human inhabitants.
In different phrases, individuals would quickly outgrow their meals provide and begin wars.
Less than 200 years later, we narrowly escaped a worldwide disaster of Malthusian proportions because the World Wide Web ran out of IP addresses.
This was partly attributable to the exponential development of gadgets demanding their very own IP tackle and solely a restricted provide of addresses being accessible.
Thankfully, this story has a cheerful ending, as a bunch of expertise Jedi managed to intervene simply in time and save us from impending doom.
This, then, is the story of IPv6 and the rescue of our on-line world.
In this publish we cowl:
IPv6: What is it and Why Do You Need it?
An web protocol (IP) is the algorithm governing how packets are transmitted over a community.
IP addressing requires that each node of an Internet Protocol community (e.g. a pc, router, or community printer) be assigned an IP tackle for every community interface.
This IP tackle is then used to find and determine the node in communications with different nodes on the community.
Translated from Aurebesh, this principally implies that each gadget on the web wants an IP tackle to speak to a different gadget.
A Not So Long Time Ago, In A Galaxy Not So Far, Far, Away…
When the web was first conceived, nobody might foresee simply what number of gadgets would find yourself having to speak to one another.
Until just lately, IPv4 was the core protocol used to group and transmit knowledge over the Internet and it nonetheless routes most Internet visitors at present.
IPv4 makes use of a 32-bit tackle house, nonetheless, which limits the variety of distinctive hosts to simply beneath 4.3 billion addresses.
The Problem: No Fixed (IP) Address
Now, 4.3 billion IP addresses might have appeared like lots when a billion nonetheless meant one million thousands and thousands (not one thousand million!), however think about this:
Out of these 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses, giant blocks had been reserved for special uses and had been unavailable for public allocation.
So, proper off the block, the block of publicly accessible IP addresses was already diminished to about 3.7 billion IP addresses.
Aggravating this drawback is IPv4 address exhaustion, a situation the place the depletion of obtainable IP addresses had been anticipated because the Eighties, when the commercialization of the web started in earnest.
Several components have aggravated this depletion, similar to:
- The inefficient allocation of way more addresses to organizations than really required.
- The worldwide development of web connections which can be all the time energetic and by no means switched off (e.g. broadband web entry).
- And most importantly, after all – the expansion of cell gadgets.
Mobile telephones are like every other gadget on the web, and likewise require an IP tackle to be able to speak to different internet-enabled gadgets.
You can instantly see what the issue with IPv4 is when you think about the truth that 4.78 billion people have a mobile phone.
So, already individuals have extra cellphones at present than there are distinctive IPv4 addresses accessible for his or her gadgets.
Take that with a pinch of salt and a grain of Malthus and also you’ve acquired a whiskey dangerous recipe for catastrophe.
Now, add all of the ‘smart’ gadgets within the IoT (Internet of Things) world that want their very own IP tackle too, and you’ll see now why the World Wide Web might have simply been worn out by IPv4 tackle exhaustion (I’m fatigued simply writing about it).
And to suppose that Malthus was solely nervous about people working out of meals.
Had he lived one other 150 years or so, he could be critically tossing and delivering his sleep as thousands and thousands of future wannabe social influencers had been selfielessly denied entry to the final accessible IP addresses.
Then, every part modified…
The Solution: IPv6
The anticipated scarcity of IPv4 addresses led to the creation and adoption of a number of new applied sciences, together with network address translation (NAT), Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR), and IPv6.
Note: In case you’re questioning “whatever happened to IPv5?” (and IP variations 0 to three…).
Although IPv5 was developed as a way of streaming video and voice knowledge, and serving as a basis for the event of applied sciences similar to voice-over-IP (VoIP).
It by no means grew to become an official protocol as a result of it used the identical 32-bit addressing as IPv4 – which suggests it will have suffered with the identical 32-bit limitations.
Effectively, IPv5 ran out of steam as IPv4 grew to become exhausted.
As far as the opposite IP variations go, according to Wikipedia, IP variations 0 to three had been experimental variations (in line with Wookieepedia, nonetheless, the IPv1 is an Imperial patrol vessel designed to be very quick and maneuverable, nice for preventing pirates, however it lacked a hyperdrive).
But I’ve digressed, so let’s get again on route…
The IPv6 protocol makes use of a 128-bit tackle and has eight segments separated by colons of 4 hexadecimal digits that may be any hexadecimal worth between 0 and FFFF.
Even if you happen to suppose the above sentence appears like Astromech Binary, you may inform simply by taking a look at an IPv6 tackle that it’s a lot greater and extra highly effective than IPv4…
How a lot greater is IPv6 than IPv4 you ask?
If you had been to distribute $4.3 billion to every man, woman, and child in Canada, they’d get lower than $120 every. That’s pish-posh dosh. So…4.3 billion? Pffft.
IPv6, nonetheless, with its 128-bit tackle house permits for, await it…(stupidly enormous quantity alert:) 340 undecillion distinctive IP addresses. We’re speaking about 340 trillion trillion trillion IP addresses.
“If you had a job that paid you 390 trillion dollars per hour (US) you would have to work 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year for just a little less than 100 quadrillion years to earn 340 undecillion dollars.”
Source: ITDojo.com
If the thought of incomes that a lot cash makes you uncomfortable, let me put this into perspective:
Imagine dwelling in a Star Wars universe stuffed with a gazillion inhabitable planets the place octillion beings can all message one another’s gadgets (“drink and chill? I know this jazz bar in Tatooine”).
Suspend for a second the truth that you may land on any Star Wars planet, step out of your craft and not using a helmet, and simply breathe usually.
Think about all of the squillions of droids, clones, and good gadgets that should exist all through the Galactic Empire. How are all of them speaking with one another?
Only a choose chosen few can transmit packets of knowledge throughout huge reaches of house utilizing “The Force.” Everything else should be utilizing another type of transmission protocol.
Heck, we’ve already ran out of IPv4 addresses right here on Earth even earlier than the launch of Apple Watch. And we haven’t even tried to colonize Mars but.
With IPv6 offering trillions and trillions and trillions of IP addresses to all corners of the Galactic Empire, nonetheless, nicely… that’s an entire different story.
IPv4 vs IPv6 – Challenges
Although IPv4 and IPv6 coexist on the Internet (in contrast to stormtroopers and the Rebel Alliance), they don’t seem to be interoperable (it’s not a made-up phrase – it means they’re incompatible).
IPv4 and IPv6 can not talk with one another however they will coexist on the identical community. This is called Dual Stack.
The non-interoperability (one other non-made-up phrase to imply incompatible) between IPv4 and IPv6 creates challenges when utilizing sure functions and protocols.
For instance, IPv6 will not be suitable with FTP and requires certain extensions and workarounds for recordsdata to switch efficiently.
The Benefits Of Using IPv6
Before we have a look at the way to arrange your internet hosting to benefit from IPv6, let’s take a quick have a look at among the advantages of utilizing IPv6, and the primary variations between IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.
The foremost good thing about utilizing IPv6 as we’ve got simply seen is having a considerably bigger pool of IP addresses accessible.
340 billion billion billion billion IP addresses is nothing to sneeze at (there aren’t even sufficient human or Tauntaun noses in all of the universes to do this).
Image by: foshjedi2004
Another good thing about IPv6 vs IPv4 in line with Lee Howard, is faster speed (not fairly the sunshine pace of the Millennium Falcon, although.)
Here’s a few enjoyable details about IPv6:
- IPv4 addresses are separated by durations whereas IPv6 addresses are separated by colons.
- IPv6 addresses might be compressed to remove main zeros.
Here are some examples of legitimate IPv6 (Normal) addresses:
2001 : db8: 3333 : 4444 : 5555 : 6666 : 7777 : 8888
2001 : db8 : 3333 : 4444 : CCCC : DDDD : EEEE : FFFF
: : (implies all 8 segments are zero)
2001: db8: : (implies that the final six segments are zero)
: : 1234 : 5678 (implies that the primary six segments are zero)
2001 : db8: : 1234 : 5678 (implies that the center 4 segments are zero)
2001:0db8:0001:0000:0000:0ab9:C0A8:0102 (This might be compressed to remove main zeros, as follows: 2001:db8:1::ab9:C0A8:102 )
Source: ibm.com
Future-Proofing Your Web Presence With IPv6
As every part on this lonely planet of ours turns into network-connected, IPv6 is one thing it is best to positively care about – particularly if you happen to present any type of net providers or develop software program or {hardware}.
To use IPv6, you want an IPv6-compatible working system, a router with IPv6 assist, and an ISP with IPv6 enabled.
You don’t want to take a seat in a swamp with Yoda educating you Jedi thoughts methods to check your IPv6 connectivity.
We have the web. Just go to a website like TestMyIPv6.com.
Most trendy desktop working methods at the moment are suitable with IPv6. When shopping for a brand new router, be sure that to test your router’s specs particulars to see if it helps IPv6.
Also, be sure that your ISP has IPv6 arrange and enabled on their finish.
IPv6-Enabled Web Hosting
Like Obi-Wan Kenobi educating younger Master Luke the way to take his first step into a bigger world, I’ve tried to indicate you the significance of IPv6 in protecting you related to the world at giant.
Now, focus your thoughts, shut your eyes, and browse this subsequent sentence very rigorously:
When it involves internet hosting your web site, select a internet hosting supplier that helps IPv6.
With WPMU DEV’s WordPress hosting, for instance, each website you host with us receives its personal distinctive IPv6 tackle (not clones).
To acquire your distinctive IPv6 tackle, log into your member’s space, go to The Hub, and click on on Hosting.
Select your area, and click on on the ‘Manage’ icon.
Next, click on on Domains.
This brings up the Domains display containing the settings you should add to your DNS data.
All you should do now could be copy and paste the IP tackle supplied as an AAAA report in your DNS data and save to replace your settings.
Congrats! Your website is now IPv6 prepared!
Note: The AAAA report (additionally known as a Quad-A report) converts your area title into its corresponding IPv6 tackle.
This report ought to be used along with the A report wherever doable, because it represents the very best follow and may result in efficiency enhancements.
Visit our documentation part for an entire step-by-step tutorial on adding an AAAA record to your DNS records.
340 Undecillion Reasons To Use IPv6
We’ve already suffered sufficient from IPv4 exhaustion, so there’s no want to increase this saga any additional. Darth Malthus has been defeated.
The Galaxy has been saved. There is a brand new hope for the web.
Thanks to IPv6, we now have sufficient IP addresses to prop up the Internet spine and to proceed to develop, unfold, and awaken this drive to all network-connected gadgets on this and plenty of different worlds.
Remember this and you’ll grasp all you should know:
IPv6-enabled internet hosting select, you should.
If you haven’t skilled WordPress internet hosting at mild pace but (give or take just a few parsecs), be a part of the WPMU DEV insurgent alliance by turning into a member at present.
With WMPU DEV hosting there’s no shared internet hosting, no shared IPs, and IPv6 is routinely enabled and supported.
This retains your website fully remoted and separate from different websites whereas protecting your online business digitally related with the remainder of the galaxy.
May the drive be with you and our internet hosting set you free.
