IP System Boundaries
The IP numbers is a basic part of the system TCP / IP, which is used by the network of computers known as the Internet. The IP number is a 32-bit binary number that identifies precisely and only the location of each computer on the Internet. For example, 207.46.197.102 is an IP number that identifies a server microsoft.com
This system, in use for over 20 years (the current IP v4 data, 1981), is exhausted. Depleted by a growing problem, as it is expected to continue the current pace of growth in the near future there would be enough combinations of different IP numbers for each device connected to the network.
Along with this problem are others, like a poor (or developing) data routing, forecasting the next connection to the Internet of a large number of devices (not necessarily computer) and desire to incorporate new features. These factors are those that have moved to designing a change of IP protocol, called the current IP v4 to IP v6 future.
The need for IP numbers is increasing. It is not just that more and more people have access to the network. It is also the way you access. When we are connected to the Internet from the basic telephone network, the call is usually of short duration, and use dynamic ips (reusable by different computers on.) With permanent connections such cable or ADSL, we need a fixed IP. It portends the imminent internet connection most varied devices, including mobile phones and PDAs.
The truth is that the Internet doubling in size every year since 1988. The latest estimates speak of about 200 million users worldwide.
With the current IPv4 system would be theoretically possible for about 4 billion IP addresses, a number that is not so impressive when you consider that the world population forecast for 2050 is 9 billion people.
By changing the numbering system from 32 to 128 bits, allows for a number of IP addresses much higher. Some estimates speak of about 34 trillion possible IP numbers (calculating that a certain number of combinations will be unavailable for technical reasons).
One of the anticipated effects is the disappearance of the NAT (Network Address Translator) or network address translators. Many organizations do not have enough IP numbers must use private addresses which point to a single public IP number or address, a NAT must be discriminating and direct the data flow from the interior to the exterior network. The main benefit of IPv6 is the full availability of IP numbers, allowing internet again become a net “between extremes” (”end to end model”). The NAT, have been useful in prolonging the useful life of IPv4, break this model making it the computer that performs the translation who communicates with the other end. In IPv6 NATs are not needed as there are enough addresses, allowing you to restore the original.
Compatibility
ipv4 and ipv6 are very different protocols. Even so, it has always been obvious to the developers for lack of a mass migration from IPv4 to IPv6, so the design of this new standard is necessary requirements to secure the co-existence and backwards compatibility between systems.
Routing
The IPv6 protocol determines a change in IP packets or datagrams, to make them “smarter.” In the current system data traveling over the network are fractionated or broken down into “packets” different, which may travel different routes to their destination. To enable not only the arrival at that destination, but the final reconstruction of these packages, each has a header identifying with different data (source, destination, size etc). The new IPv6 standard reorganizes these data to identify more effective, adding some new data (such as content tags) that allows that the treatment path that datagrams discriminate according to content (e.g., giving priority to multimedia communications.)
Also now every router has a table that has to be consulted to find out where to send packets. For each packet passing through a router, this must review your table. If this table is very large, the delay in reviewing the table notes the speed limit can have this equipment. By IPv6 is intended to limit the number of entries in these tables and make their management more efficient.
Quality
The information that travels in the header of each datagram is simplified while new information is included. IPv6 will be possible under the datagram identifies the type of data transported and prioritizing traffic according to the content. Where possible, be possible to improve the quality of IP telephony and videoconferencing, for example, avoiding breaks or interruptions.
Other advantages
IPv6 will have other benefits, including the possibility of automatic configuration of networks, which will greatly reduce the cost of maintenance.
Be possible to establish levels of IP level security (allowing authentication of transmissions between computers, ensuring the integrity and privacy of all connections).