In Starting at midnight today, behemoth companies like Google, Yahoo, Microsoft Bing and Facebook will lit up servers, websites, and network infrastructure that communicate using Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)for a one day trial. Celebrated as IPv6 Day, it is a critical testing ground for a shift to the future, from IPv4 to IPv6. The current Web system based on the IPv4 protocol is fast running out of addresses to give to new machines, or devices that connect to the WWW.
In fact the central Net authorities have run out of addresses, the last batch was doled out in February beginning the cascade of scarcity that eventually coerce computing industry must make the painful transition to the newer but incompatible IPv6. It was a problem that was waiting to happen. IPv4 protocol, a mechanism for the way DNS servers recognise websites, appeared in the early 80s, is made up of 32 bits, written as 12 digits, e.g. 112.233.189.123. That gives a maximum of around 4.3bn addresses
But thanks to the rapid expansion of the Machine Web, wherein you have various devices like smart phones at all connecting to the web, the addresses have more or less been used up, with an estimated 80 million still to be allocated. This could be catastrophic, as then no more devices or servers would be able to connect up.
This means that transition to IPv6 is only the long term alternative. IPv6 is a 128bit system, written in hexadecimal (base 16 counting using numbers and letters), e.g. 21DA:00D3:0000:2F3B:02AA:00FF:FE28:9C5A. The system gives a maximum of 340 undecillion possible addresses (1 undecillion = 10 followed by 35 zeros in the British numbering system). Thus, technically, it is an inexhaustible resource, leading to a situation where all devices such as TVs, fridges and home heating systems are connected to the net.
The trouble is, switching to IPv6 is the long term solution however it needs lot of infrastructure upgrades from the network providers. As of early 2011, only 5% of computers were IPv6 capable. Yet, there is little choice for anyone.
World IPv6 day is the trial day for the new protocol when major sites across the globe will start offering their content on both IPv4 & IPv6. The aim of world IPv6 day is to spread awareness about IPv6 and make the hardware manufacturers, ISPs, Operating System Vendors and web companies prepared for the transition. Once we run out of IPv4 web addresses, the long term solution is going to be IPv6 which will offer more than 4 billion times more space.
Thus, check your ISP's compatibility and prepare for the eventual transition. While the Web might not come to a cranking stop, as many like us to believe, but yet, it will get too overcrowded for our liking.
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