Our networks in Romania and Finland are now fully IPv6-ready, with Iceland soon to follow. As the internet continues to evolve, so do the technologies that support it. IPv6 is the next-generation Internet Protocol designed to solve the limitations of IPv4, offering a host of benefits that will transform the way we connect online. But what exactly is IPv6, and how will it impact you and your online experience? Let’s dive into the details.
What is IPv6?
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the newest version of the Internet Protocol that will eventually replace IPv4. Every device that connects to the internet requires a unique numerical IP address, which allows it to communicate with other devices. While IPv4 has served the internet well for decades, it is running out of available addresses due to the ever-increasing number of devices online. This shortage is resolved by IPv6, which provides a significantly larger address space, ensuring that the internet can continue to grow and support the rising demand for new devices.
What are the key benefits?
More Efficient Routing
IPv6 reduces the size of routing tables and makes routing more efficient and hierarchical. IPv6 allows ISPs to aggregate the prefixes of their customers’ networks into a single prefix and announce this one prefix to the IPv6 Internet. In addition, in IPv6 networks, fragmentation is handled by the source device, rather than the router, using a protocol for discovery of the path’s maximum transmission unit (MTU).
More Efficient Packet Processing
IPv6’s simplified packet header makes packet processing more efficient. Compared with IPv4, IPv6 contains no IP-level checksum, so the checksum does not need to be recalculated at every router hop. Getting rid of the IP-level checksum was possible because most link-layer technologies already contain checksum and error-control capabilities. In addition, most transport layers, which handle end-to-end connectivity, have a checksum that enables error detection.
Directed Data Flows
IPv6 supports multicast rather than broadcast. Multicast allows bandwidth-intensive packet flows (like multimedia streams) to be sent to multiple destinations simultaneously, saving network bandwidth. Disinterested hosts no longer must process broadcast packets. In addition, the header has a new field, named Flow Label, that can identify packets belonging to the same flow.
Simplified Network Configuration
Address auto-configuration (address assignment) is built in to IPv6. A router will send the prefix of the local link in its router advertisements. A host can generate its own IP address by appending its link-layer (MAC) address, converted into Extended Universal Identifier (EUI) 64-bit format, to the 64 bits of the local link prefix.
Support For New Services
By eliminating Network Address Translation (NAT), true end-to-end connectivity at the IP layer is restored, enabling new and valuable services. Peer-to-peer networks are easier to create and maintain. Services such as VoIP and Quality of Service (QoS) become more robust.
The Future is IPv6
The transition from IPv4 to IPv6 is crucial to the continued growth and evolution of the internet.
Since 2016 we offer IPv6 in all of our locations ensuring that our customers across the globe can take full advantage of the benefits of this advanced protocol. Whether you’re in Romania, Finland, Iceland, or The Netherlands, we’ve got you covered. For more details please open a ticket and we will help you with more details.
