The term “IPv6” can come across as quite technical but we’re here to help you understand what it is and how it is different to its counterpart IPv4.
An IP address is the way to identify a location of a computer or device over the internet. Every computer, laptop or tablet has one and is easy to find out if you need to.
The main advantage of IPv6 over IPv4 is its larger address space. The length of an IPv6 address is 128 bits, compared with 32 bits in IPv4. With IPv6, router decisions can be made faster due to the header being simpler making everything work at a faster pace.
One difference between IPv4 and IPv6 is that there is no broadcast support and it uses multicast to communicate with multiple hosts.
IPv6 has end to end connectivity; there are no translating components. The data goes straight from one address to another without interference. The hosts can be directly reached by other hosts on the internet. This works well for VoIP and quality of service (QoS) as it becomes more robust.
More benefits of IPv6 include:
• Easier management of networks through auto configuration capabilities
• Known as a platform for innovation due to the numbers of addresses, scalability and flexibility
• Improved security features as IPSEC is built into the IPv6 protocol
Many ISP’s (internet service providers) still base their services on IPv4 and will still be used in the years to come.
Feel free to contact us if you are unsure as to which would work best for your business.