You’ve probably heard over the last few weeks that the Internet will soon be experiencing a big change. The change you’ve been hearing about is the transition to IPv6, which many people are still puzzled by. Read on for an explanation of IPv6 and what it could mean for you.
What it is
IPv6 is the latest version of Internet Protocol (IP), which is the method by which data is sent from a computer over the Internet. Until now, we have been using IPv4, which will soon be running out of addresses, which prompted the development of IPv6.
IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses as opposed to the 32-bit addresses used by IPv4. The longer number strings allow for more addresses because there are a greater number of possible combinations.
How the transition may affect you
The biggest issues relating to IPv6 will probably occur during the initial transition. Whether or not you will have a problem accessing a page will depend on your browser and the Web server of that domain. Potential problems include:
- If you’re using IPv6 and you try to access an IPv4 site, you may receive a “404” error.
- If you are on a network that only supports IPv4, you may not be able to access IPv6 sites – you can reconfigure your network in order to fix this.
Despite these minor problems, many people agree that you will most likely still be able to access any site.
How to avoid IPv6-related problems
There are several resources that can warn you about any issues you may run into during the transition to IPv6. Websites like http://omgipv6day.com/ and http://test-ipv6.com/ will tell you if you will be able to access most sites. They will also tell you where your problems will stem from, if you experience any.
Overall, IPv6 will be a much-needed change that will allow for a greater volume of information and activity on the Internet.
