Before the advent of the internet, our ability to communicate across physical boundaries was quite limited. This changed when the internet brought about real time communication among people from anywhere in the world. As of today, this unprecedented technology has become an integral part of our lives, as it facilitates the connection of people and devices across the globe.
At the heart of this interconnected web lies a crucial technology called the Internet Protocol (IP). These protocols are a set of rules that enable devices to communicate and exchange data over the internet.
Over time, IP has evolved to accommodate the ever-increasing demand for internet-connected devices and addresses. This blog aims to demystify the concepts of IP, IPv4, and IPv6. It hopes to shed light on their significance and the transition from IPv4 to IPv6. Let’s dive right in.
What is IP?
Put simply, IP is all about rules. It is a fundamental networking protocol that establishes the rules for data packet transmission over a network. With a primary function of providing a unique address for each device connected to the internet, IP enables data to be routed efficiently from source to destination.
All IP addresses are numerical labels assigned to devices (such as computers, smartphones, servers, and IoT devices) that are connected to an IP network. These addresses are vital when it comes to identifying and locating devices within the vast network of the internet.
As you would imagine, IP does not perform its function in isolation. Rather, it works in conjunction with other protocols in the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) suite. It is safe to tag this system as the backbone of internet communication. In other words, without IP, the internet as we know it today would not exist.
IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4)
IPv4 may be the fourth version of the Internet Protocol. Its predecessors were merely experimental. As such, it has been the predominant addressing system since the early days of the internet.
This Protocol uses a 32-bit address format which allows for approximately 4.3 billion unique IP addresses. That’s a whopping amount of sources/destinations! But then, that was merely sufficient in the early stages of the internet. The rapid growth of internet-connected devices in the last couple of decades has led to a shortage of available IPv4 addresses.
Also, the structure of an IPv4 address consists of four sets of decimal numbers (0-255), separated by periods (e.g., 192.168.0.1). Each of these segments represents 8 bits, which forms a 32-bit address in total.
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6)
IPv6 was developed inrecognition of the limitations of IPv4. Unlike its predecessor, IPv6 uses a 128-bit address format which provides an astronomically large address space of approximately 340 undecillion (3.4 x 10^38) unique IP addresses. What this means is that the vast address space ensures that there are more than enough IP addresses for a very long time.
As anyone would expect, the structure of an IPv6 address is significantly different from that of IPv4. For instance, it consists of eight groups of four hexadecimal digits, separated by colons (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).
Invariably, the longer address length increases the number of available addresses. It also helps to simplify network management and routing. You can get this version of IP through a subscription on hostingcloud9.com.
Transition from IPv4 to IPv6
The transition from IPv4 to IPv6 has been a rather slow one. This is because many devices and systems are still IPv4-dependent. As a result, one of the significant issues with the transition is the coexistence of IPv4 and IPv6 networks.
To address the issue, various methods, such as dual-stack deployment, tunneling, and translation techniques have been employed. Each method allows IPv4 and IPv6 networks to communicate with each other during the transition phase. By and large, the transition (which is projected to be complete not until after 2030) will continue to be gradual.
Conclusion
IPs (whether IPv4 and IPv6) are the essential building blocks of the internet. With them, the internet is able to function as a global network.
While IPv4 has served us well for several decades, the exponential growth of internet-connected devices requires a more extensive addressing system. IPv6 not only provides a practically infinite pool of IP addresses but also enhances network efficiency and security.
As the transition continues to linger, you can count on hostingcloud9.com for both versions for your system.
