What is IPv6, and why does it matter?

What is IPv6 and why is it necessary?

In really simple terms, it means that the Internet is expanding its address directory. WOW...WOW....

Something about the IPv6

IPv6 is a standard developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force, an organization that develops Internet technologies. The IETF, anticipating the need for more IP addresses, created IPv6 to accommodate the growing number of users and devices accessing the Internet.

IPv6 allows more users and devices to communicate on the Internet by using bigger numbers to create IP addresses. Under IPv4, every IP address is 32 bits long, which allows 4.3 billion unique addresses.

An example IPv4 address is: 172.16.254.1

In comparison, IPv6 addresses are 128 bits, which allow for approximately three hundred and forty trillion, trillion unique IP addresses.

An example IPv6 address is: 2001:db8:ffff:1:201:02ff:fe03:0405

IPv6 offers other networking advantages. In most cases, computers and applications will detect and take advantage of IPv6-enabled networks and services without requiring any action from the user. IPv6 also relieves other networking issues that can arise due to the limited number of addresses available on IPv4. For example, IPv6 reduces the need for Network Address Translation, a service that allows multiple clients to share a single IP address, but is not always reliable.

Real Story: An Internet Protocol or IP address is a number that identifies each sender or receiver of information sent over the internet. The computer industry has been using IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) for these addresses since that protocol was developed. That technology is now reaching its technical limits for supporting unique Internet addresses, due in part to a large amount of growth with mobile devices including: mobile phones, notebook computers and wireless handheld devices. With IPv4 addresses running out this year, the entire Internet industry must adopt a new protocol called, IPv6. With this new protocol, there will be increased address space, which will allow many more devices and users on the Internet.

Many companies, including Yahoo!, are coming together to help motivate organizations across the industry- Internet service providers, hardware manufacturers, operating system vendors and other web companies- to prepare their services for their transition. We are committed to helping prepare our users for the day when IPv4 will no longer be supported, by giving them a chance to verify whether their systems are compatible with IPv6.

Click here to Test Your IPv6

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