Are you ready for IPv6?
It is generally believed that the IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) addressing in use today will be exhausted sometime next year. Some predict early, others mid or late 2011; however the consensus is that no new IPv4 addressing will be available after 2011.
This has been expected as IPv4 uses a 32-bit address space, which limits the number of addresses able. IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) was developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to fix this limited addressing space. IPv6 uses a 128-bit address space providing so many addresses that it is nearly inconceivable to see this allocation exhausted.
IPv6 and IPv4 are not compatible. The implementation of IPv6 effectively creates a second Internet. The good news is that both can be configured to work together in a dual-stack configuration. Basically, this means a device will be configured with 2 IP addresses, one IPv4 the other IPv6. Most, if not all, new hardware purchased today is capable of being configured with IPv6. Some older hardware can be made compatible through a firmware upgrade. Most current Operating Systems (and all popular Operating Systems) in use are capable of being configured with IPv6. There are transitioning options available, which could be considered, e.g. Hybrid dual-stack, Tunnelling and Proxying.
NewBase is deploying IPv6 in a dual-stack configuration with IPv4 in its Public Cloud environment, NewBase is continuing to develop its skill set in this area so we can meet customer requirements and assist in the pending move to IPv6.
What does this mean for you?
a) Once no more IPv4 addresses are available you will need to obtain an IPv6 address for your home or office.
b) A part of the internet (IPv6) will be unavailable to you to access if your comms gateways from your home or office are NOT compatible
c) All communication equipment being purchased now should be IPv6 compatible
d) At this stage its unclear if Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will have routing resources to enable IPv4 customers to access the IPv6 internet, and even if this is at all possible.