IPv6 and the transition from IPv4 explained

The Internet Assigned Name Authority IANA) handed out the LAST IPv4 address space in Feb of 2011. The Internet’s ability to function is predicated upon each device having a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address and thus, a new address schema called IP version 6, or IPv6, was implemented so that the ever-growing number of “things” on the Internet can function properly. In the time since the IANA handed out the last IPv4 address space, the price of IPv4 addresses has skyrocketed. This increasingly unnecessary expense can be a burden for companies that have not made the switch to IPv6.

Background: IPv4 – IPv6, What does this mean?

TCP/IP is the technology that devices use to interact online. What allows each device to get online and communicate is that each one has an unique IP address. IP addresses enable each device to interact with each other over the Global Internet. From desktops to laptops, to PS4s, to cell phones, to airplanes, to IP enabled washers and dryers, most things will be connected online – this means we need a lot more addresses than are available today.

At the inception of the Internet, IP version 4 (IPv4) was and is currently the most widespread protocol used to communicate. By their binary nature, IP addresses are a finite resource and Vint & Bob established, at the time, 2^32 unique IP Addresses or ~ 4.3 Billion addresses. While 4.3 Billion might seem like a vast number, the growing amount of Internet participation has exhausted this supply – in fact, it has been predicted that by 2030, there will be more than 15 Internet-enabled devices for every man, woman, and child on planet earth. In February 2011, the keeper of the free address pool, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, (IANA), fully exhausted and allocated all of the IPv4 Addresses.[1]

To continue the operation of the Internet, Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) was created. The address space created in IPv6 is mind-bogglingly vast – 2^128 or more than 170 undecillion addresses. Such an astronomical number of addresses is unlikely to be depleted in the next 50 years. Everything online must transition to include both IPv6 and IPv4 (a state called “dual stack”) and eventually transition entirely to the new IPv6 protocol. There are already IPv6-only networks being deployed as the cost/overhead of getting IPv4 resources is not worth the hassle. For the curious, we create the following video to give you a feel for the size of the IPv6 address space:

IPv6 was created in the mid-’90s as a result of engineering efforts to keep the Internet growing. It is an entirely new protocol that is not “backward compatible” with IPv4. However, both protocols can run simultaneously over the same “wires”. This means that there will be a progressive transition (picking up pace from this point forward) from IPv4 to IPv6 commencing with devices that support both protocols (also known as dual stacking). Eventually, IPv4 will cease to be supported and in the end, all IPv4 only devices will no longer be able to communicate with the IPv6 enabled Internet. Why cease support of IPv4? Take a guess – who wants to manage two network protocols for every IP addressable object? As IPv6 deployments increase over time, the natural next step will be reducing the role of IPv4 both in front end applications as well as back end management networks.

Thankfully, the transition to IPv6 has been underway for a while now. As of May of 2019, the overall adoption of IPv6 worldwide was 27%, while IPv6 adoption in the US was at 34%. Germany was ahead of the pack with 41%. This page has up-to-date statistics for IPv6 adoption.

How the Internet is “Inter” connected.

To understand how we will be affected, it is helpful to understand how the Internet is actually “inter-connected”. The Internet is literally a “web” of networks all connected to each other. From our home network that has 2 or 3 computers to Internet Service Providers to online companies like Amazon & eBay.

In the middle of this diagram, the “Internet” is a collection of all the world’s networks interconnected together so that we, an end-user, can get from point A to point B across (or “routed” across) all of these networks. In the end, this means that everyone online and everyone who wants to be online will be undergoing the upgrade to IPv6 starting with getting a new IPv6 address.

At the end of the day, the biggest and most noticeable difference between IPv4 and IPv6 are the actual IP Addresses being used. IPv4 had a 32-bit string of numbers that often looked like the following:

202.127.212.134.

This “address” was a part of a pool of addresses managed by IANA as described earlier. As this address pool has been depleted, all new requests for addresses will only be able to get a v6 address. IPv6 addresses are quite a bit more complex – they are 128-bit addresses:

3ffe:1900:4545:3:200:f8ff:fe21:67cf.

There are many advantages to this more complex address schema in addition to the fact that now every device will have its own unique identifier. Ironically, the longer address will actually help to improve end-user experience online as the Internet architecture will see improvements with respect to traffic congestion, application specificity[3], security and much more.

Of course, it’s uncommon to use IP addresses directly. Instead, we use a Domain Name System (DNS) to translate domain names into the correct IP address. IPv4 uses something called A records to map IPv4 addresses to domain names, and, similarly, IPv6 uses something called AAAA records. This allows you to enter a simple URL and then be automatically routed to the correct IP address – all behind the scenes.

We have established that every Internet-enabled device must have a unique IP address. Now, what does this mean for the various constituencies accessing the Internet?

For most end-users at home (or mobile users),[4] this transition will happen automatically and will be mostly unnoticeable. They will get their current and updated addresses from their ISP; businesses will have their IT departments configure their own networks so that their customers (the business) will automatically get their addresses, etc. Therefore, those most concerned about this transformation are those that actually manage portions of the Internet: Internet Service Providers, I/PaaS providers, online Content & Application Service providers, and small to Enterprise businesses that run their own networks.

As we see from the above chart, most end-users and small businesses will really only be responsible for ensuring that they have purchased IPv6 enabled devices, including computers, wireless access points, smartphones, printers, and game consoles. Most devices purchased after 2007 are in fact IPv6 enabled. For example, Microsoft has been IPv6 enabled since version Windows XP-SP1 as well as commensurate Apple OSs.

The heavy lifting will be shouldered by the ISPs, I/PaaS, Content/ASPs and businesses that manage their own networks.

There are approximately 66,000 registered Autonomous Systems (AS)[5]. These “networks” are run by ISPs, I/PaaS, ASP/Content as well as government & education organizations. All of these “networks” imply a level of self-administration, hence Autonomous, and will require their Network Administrators to follow this simple review:

a. Assess the network for IPv4 only devices, dual stacked devices (IPv4 & IPv6), as well as IPv6 only devices (not many of these yet)
b. Layout an IPv6 network architecture starting with an Address Schema (which entails sub-netting)
c. Determine your “stop-gap” measures for IPv4 only devices – there are many “translation” scenarios that can be employed temporarily to ease burden of next step – however, one should note that like 8 track tapes used for playing music, using IPv4 only will impact your Internet experience and over time cease to operate[6]
d. Provide a rip/replace plan for those things not capable of supporting IPv6
e. Commence upgrade

These are certainly not trivial steps in transitioning to v6, however again, these are exclusive to service providers, those directly involved in managing networks. It does not preclude end users or SMB however, from being aware of this change and ensuring their own devices are compatible.

So hopefully this section has given a snap-shot of the “Internet Infrastructure Ecosystem” and how each “vertical” will be affected by this transition. Furthermore, while not intended to cry wolf nor claim the Internet will die, for those who are involved in the upgrade of your own Network this has catalyzed you to commence the transition. Now the next logical question – when do you really need to do this?

IPv6 Transition: When do we really need to start?

The transition to IPv6 is well underway and has been fueled by the announcements from the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) around the world that they ran out of IPv4 addresses reaching total exhaustion. So how does this translate into when you have to get yourself, your business or your organization ready?

While everyone should be AWARE that this transition is underway, the “services providers” are really the ones behind the 8ball right now as it is their jobs to provide Internet access or access to Internet infrastructure, which has to be IPv6 moving forward. Given the lack of backward compatibility, this will require some education, hardware and software upgrades and re-thinking about how to layout a network. This is due to the fact that the IPv4 mindset was one of “scarce resources” (we will run out of addresses). In an IPv6 world, you have nearly unlimited resources and can plan your network IP Address plan very differently.

ISPs, I/PaaS, ASP/Content services providers should be in the midst of transition and if they are not, now is the time to get it moving. Enterprises will have to assess their own network needs but it is not of immediate urgency – their challenge is that their employees are most likely already using IPv6 in their home environments. And, finally, SMBs and End-Users will really only have to track their own ISPs steps to upgrade to IPv6 as well as be aware of existing and future tech purchases being IPv6 ready.

The entire Internet should run more smoothly and securely thanks to IPv6

The steps those undertaking this transition will need to make are also a GREAT OPPORTUNITY to automate many rote network processes. The general steps, and where automation can play a significant role are as follows:

In subsequent articles we will be diving into Software Tools to help Service providers in this transition, what some of the emerging best practices will be in the areas of IPv6 Automation, IPv6 Security, and IPv6 as it relates to Asset Tracking.

For more information please read our IPv6 FAQ.