IPv4 vs IPv6: What are the two different protocols

Internet Protocol, or IP address, a core component of the internet infrastructure, plays a crucial role in routing data across networks. With the advent of the digital age, the need for a more robust protocol that could cater to an ever-growing number of devices was felt. This led to the development of a newer version of Internet Protocol – IPv6, meant to supersede its predecessor, IPv4. This article aims to provide an in-depth understanding of these two protocols, their differences, and their significance in today’s internet.

Delving into Internet Protocol (IP)

Internet Protocol, or IP, sets the ground rules for data transmission over the internet, ensuring that data packets reach their intended destination. When data is transmitted, it is broken down into smaller units, known as packets. Each packet carries IP information, allowing for accurate routing. Furthermore, each device or domain connected to the internet is assigned a unique IP address, facilitating efficient data routing.

What is IPv4

IPv4, the first version of IP that came into use, was unveiled in 1983. Despite the presence of a newer version, IPv4 continues to be widely recognized and used. It employs a 32-bit address, with the familiar format of four sets of numbers (0 to 255) separated by periods. An example of an IPv4 address is 192.168.10.150.

IPv4 offers nearly 4.3 billion unique addresses. However, some IP blocks are reserved for special purposes.

What is IPv6

IPv6, the successor to IPv4, uses a more complex 128-bit address format that incorporates both numbers and letters. An example of an IPv6 address is 3002:0bd6:0000:0000:0000:ee00:0033:6778.

Why IPv6 was created

The creation of IPv6 was primarily driven by the shortage of unique IPv4 addresses. With a rapidly increasing world population and the proliferation of IoT (Internet of Things) devices and sensors, the demand for IP addresses shot up, leading to a scarcity of unique IPv4 addresses.

Apart from this, several other technical factors also contributed to the development of IPv6.

Contrasting IPv4 and IPv6

The key difference between IPv4 and IPv6 lies in their address formats and capacities. IPv4 uses a 32-bit address, while IPv6 employs a 128-bit address, providing over 1,028 times more addresses than IPv4. This essentially addresses the problem of running out of unique IP addresses.

IPv6 is alphanumeric and uses colons for separation, whereas IPv4 is numeric and uses periods for separation. Here are examples of both for comparison:

• IPv4 – 192.168.10.150
• IPv6 – 3002:0bd6:0000:0000:0000:ee00:0033:6778

On a technical front, several differences exist between IPv4 and IPv6:

• IPv6 provides built-in Quality of Service (QoS) and network security layer (IPsec).
• IPv6 eliminates the need for Network Address Translation (NAT), enabling end-to-end connectivity at the IP layer.
• While multicasting is optional in IPv4, it is part of the base specifications in IPv6. Multicasting allows a single operation to transmit a packet to multiple destinations.
• IPv6 packet headers are larger compared to those of IPv4.

The Address Capacities of IPv4 and IPv6

IPv4 supports around 4.29 billion addresses, while IPv6, with its 2^128 different addresses, offers a significantly higher number of unique addresses. This essentially means that the world is far from exhausting its pool of IPv6 addresses.

IPv4 versus IPv6: Speed Comparisons

There is no significant difference in speed between IPv4 and IPv6, although some studies suggest that IPv6 could be slightly faster in certain cases. One reason for this could be that IPv6 does not involve Network Address Translation (NAT), saving time. However, larger packet headers in IPv6 could potentially slow down certain use cases.

Popularity of IPv4 and IPv6

Currently, IPv4 is more widely used than IPv6, although the latter is slowing becoming more popular. As per Google’s public stats, worldwide IPv6 availability stands at around 32%, with varying degrees of use across different countries.

Wrapping Up

Internet Protocol, the base layer of internet data transmission, has evolved over the years to cater to the needs of an growing digital world. While IPv4 continues to be widely used, IPv6, with its vast pool of unique addresses and advances, is slowly gaining ground. As the digital world continues to evolve, so will the IP that power it.

Whether it’s IPv4 or IPv6, the goal remains the same – providing accurate data transmission across the internet.