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"Critical moment" as IP address exhaustion threatens web as we know it
19 Jan 2010 | 23.43 Europe/London
We're being warned that less than ten per cent of IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) addresses remain - and if action's not taken soon it could have "grave consequences" for the future of the Internet. That's according to the Number Resource Organisation (NRO), which says it's "a critical moment" that could affect "the future network operations of all businesses and organizations around the globe."
The Internet Protocol allows the flow of data in packet form between any given two points on a network; as such it's crucial to the inner workings of the net as we know it. Each device that's connected to the Internet needs an IP address - from PCs to mobile phones. IPv4 addresses have been is use since 1984; each time you connect to the net today, one's assigned to your computer.
With the vast majority of the web's infrastructure has been set up to deal with Internet Protocol version 4, the problem is that there are a finite number of IPv4 addresses. That's because they're made up of four number groups - i.e. 208.77.188.16 - and this means there's a very real limit on the number of combinations of digits you can use therein. It turns out the total number of combinations is around four billion, which is therefore also the number of devices IPv4 can connect to the web.
“Many decision makers don’t realize how many devices require IP addresses - mobile phones, laptops, servers, routers, the list goes on,” says NRO Secretary, Raul Echeberria. “The number of available IPv4 addresses is shrinking rapidly, and if the global Internet community fails to recognize this, it will face grave consequences in the very near future."
Right now, there are less than 400 million IPv4 addresses left and, while that may sound like a lot, it's been estimated that they could all be used up by as soon as the end of next year. According to the NRO, now is the time to make sure the world is ready to seamlessly take up the next version of the protocol, IPv6; otherwise, the growth of the Internet could suddenly be seriously curtailed.
“This is a key milestone in the growth and development of the global Internet,” says NRO Chairman Axel Pawlik “With less than 10 percent of the entire IPv4 address range still available for allocation ... it is vital that the Internet community take considered and determined action to ensure the global adoption of IPv6."
While IPv4 is said to be 32 bit, IPv6 is 128 bit - and this has a dramatic impact on the number of addresses it can support; by way of visual comparison, IPv4 has been described as a golf ball in relation to IPv6 being the size of the Sun. IPv6 addresses, which are expressed in hexadecimal format - i.e. 2001:db8:0:1234:0:567:1:1 - and are also (arguably) more secure.
"The limited IPv4 addresses will not allow us enough resources to achieve the ambitions we all hold for global Internet access," Pawlik continues. "The deployment of IPv6 is a key infrastructure development that will enable the network to support the billions of people and devices that will connect in the coming years."
If the threat of IPv4 exhaustion isn't taken seriously by ISPs in the UK, it could one day limit the number of customers they could take on - or even force them to share individual IP addresses amongst several connections, compromising their service in the process. Some remain hesitant to invest in the necessary modifications to their networks, however, because at present the cost of doing so appears to outweigh the demand.
The NRO says it's therefore up to everyone from the Government to individual businesses and software vendors "to fulfill their roles" when it comes to pushing IPv6 adoption. From its media statement:-
Governments should lead the way by making their own content and services available over IPv6 and encouraging IPv6 deployment efforts in their countries. IPv6 requirements in government procurement policies are critical at this time.
Civil society, including organizations and end users, should request that all services they receive from their ISPs and vendors are IPv6-ready, to build demand and ensure competitive availability of IPv6 services in coming years.
Software and hardware vendors should implement IPv6 support in their products to guarantee they are available at production standard when needed.
The business sector should provide IPv6-capable services and platforms, including web hosting and equipment, ensuring accessibility for IPv6 users.
Crucially, the NRO's message is supported by the firm that actually allocates IP addresses: ICANN. "For the global Internet to grow and prosper without limitation, we need to encourage the rapid widespread adoption of the IPv6 protocol,” said Rod Beckstrom, ICANN President and CEO. "This is the time for the Internet community to act."
IP freely
The Internet Protocol allows the flow of data in packet form between any given two points on a network; as such it's crucial to the inner workings of the net as we know it. Each device that's connected to the Internet needs an IP address - from PCs to mobile phones. IPv4 addresses have been is use since 1984; each time you connect to the net today, one's assigned to your computer.
With the vast majority of the web's infrastructure has been set up to deal with Internet Protocol version 4, the problem is that there are a finite number of IPv4 addresses. That's because they're made up of four number groups - i.e. 208.77.188.16 - and this means there's a very real limit on the number of combinations of digits you can use therein. It turns out the total number of combinations is around four billion, which is therefore also the number of devices IPv4 can connect to the web.
“Many decision makers don’t realize how many devices require IP addresses - mobile phones, laptops, servers, routers, the list goes on,” says NRO Secretary, Raul Echeberria. “The number of available IPv4 addresses is shrinking rapidly, and if the global Internet community fails to recognize this, it will face grave consequences in the very near future."
Right now, there are less than 400 million IPv4 addresses left and, while that may sound like a lot, it's been estimated that they could all be used up by as soon as the end of next year. According to the NRO, now is the time to make sure the world is ready to seamlessly take up the next version of the protocol, IPv6; otherwise, the growth of the Internet could suddenly be seriously curtailed.
“This is a key milestone in the growth and development of the global Internet,” says NRO Chairman Axel Pawlik “With less than 10 percent of the entire IPv4 address range still available for allocation ... it is vital that the Internet community take considered and determined action to ensure the global adoption of IPv6."
Internet Protocol version 6: a new hope
While IPv4 is said to be 32 bit, IPv6 is 128 bit - and this has a dramatic impact on the number of addresses it can support; by way of visual comparison, IPv4 has been described as a golf ball in relation to IPv6 being the size of the Sun. IPv6 addresses, which are expressed in hexadecimal format - i.e. 2001:db8:0:1234:0:567:1:1 - and are also (arguably) more secure.
"The limited IPv4 addresses will not allow us enough resources to achieve the ambitions we all hold for global Internet access," Pawlik continues. "The deployment of IPv6 is a key infrastructure development that will enable the network to support the billions of people and devices that will connect in the coming years."
If the threat of IPv4 exhaustion isn't taken seriously by ISPs in the UK, it could one day limit the number of customers they could take on - or even force them to share individual IP addresses amongst several connections, compromising their service in the process. Some remain hesitant to invest in the necessary modifications to their networks, however, because at present the cost of doing so appears to outweigh the demand.
The NRO says it's therefore up to everyone from the Government to individual businesses and software vendors "to fulfill their roles" when it comes to pushing IPv6 adoption. From its media statement:-
Crucially, the NRO's message is supported by the firm that actually allocates IP addresses: ICANN. "For the global Internet to grow and prosper without limitation, we need to encourage the rapid widespread adoption of the IPv6 protocol,” said Rod Beckstrom, ICANN President and CEO. "This is the time for the Internet community to act."
And it's still impossible for the vast majority of customers to get a native IPv6 address from their ISP, unless they go for one of the more niche providers.
20 Jan 2010 | 01.26 Europe/London
How exactly does an IPv6 'being' hexadecimal make it 'more secure'? For a start, the addresses aren't hexadecimal - one way of representing them is. IPv4 addresses can be represented in hexadecimal if you wish, as indeed can any number. What's more 'secure' about the hexadecimal representation than, say, decimal?
20 Jan 2010 | 08.01 Europe/London
This is a big problem! There are allot of transition technologies Vista+/Windows 2008+ and Linux has had ipv6 support for a long time. However lots of business are still using windows 2003 with no plants to move.
What really need to happen in for major ISP's to get a move on and implement IPv6 and only give IPv4 address as optional extra's. Then use 6to4 at the core of their networks. This would free up allot of address and start the transition.
20 Jan 2010 | 15.01 Europe/London