Internet Protocol (IP)
IP (short for Internet Protocol) specifies the technical format of packets and the addressing
scheme for computers to communicate over a network. Most networks combine IP with a
higher-level protocol called Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), which establishes a virtual
connection between a destination and a source. IP by itself can be compared to something like
the postal system. It allows you to address a package and drop it in the system, but there's no
direct link between you and the recipient. TCP/IP, on the other hand, establishes a connection
between two hosts so that they can send messages back and forth for a period of time.
Internet Protocol Versions
There are currently two version of Internet Protocol (IP): IPv4 and a new version
called IPv6. IPv6 is an evolutionary upgrade to the Internet Protocol. IPv6 will coexist with the
older IPv4 for some time.
IPv4 -- Internet Protocol Version 4
IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4) is the fourth revision of the Internet Protocol (IP) used to
to identify devices on a network through an addressing system. The Internet Protocol is
designed for use in interconnected systems of packet-switched computer communication
networks
IPv4 is the most widely deployed Internet protocol used to connect devices to the Internet. IPv4
uses a 32-bit address scheme allowing for a total of 2^32 addresses (just over 4 billion
addresses). With the growth of the Internet it is expected that the number of unused IPv4
addresses will eventually run out because every device -- including computers, smartphones
and game consoles -- that connects to the Internet requires an address.
A new Internet addressing system Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is being deployed to fulfill
the need for more Internet addresses.
IPv6 -- Internet Protocol Version 6
IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6) is also called IPng (Internet Protocol next generation)and
it is the newest version of the Internet Protocol (IP) reviewed in the IETF standards committees
to replace the current version of IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4).
IPv6 is the successor to Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4). It was designed as an evolutionary
upgrade to the Internet Protocol and will, in fact, coexist with the older IPv4 for some time.
IPv6 is designed to allow the Internet to grow steadily, both in terms of the number of hosts
connected and the total amount of data traffic transmitted.
IPv6 is often referred to as the "next generation" Internet standard and has been under
development now since the mid-1990s. IPv6 was born out of concern that the demand for IP
addresses would exceed the available supply.
While increasing the pool of addresses is one of the most often-talked about benefit of IPv6,
there are other important technological changes in IPv6 that will improve the IP protocol:
- No more NAT (Network Address Translation)
- Auto-configuration
- No more private address collisions
- Better multicast routing
- Simpler header format
- Simplified, more efficient routing
- True quality of service (QoS), also called "flow labeling"
- Built-in authentication and privacy support
- Flexible options and extensions
- Easier administration (say good-bye to DHCP)
COMPARISON OF IPv4 AND IPv6
IPv6 is based on IPv4; it is an evolution of IPv4. So many things that we find with IPv6 are
familiar to us. The main differences are illustrated in the table below:
IPv4 IPv6
The size of an address in IPv4 is 32 bits The size of an address in IPv6 is 128 bits
Address Shortages: Larger address space:
IPv4 supports 4.3109 (4.3 billion) addresses, IPv6 supports 3.41038 addresses, or
which is inadequate to give one (or more if 51028(50 octillion) for each of the roughly
they possess more than one device) to every 6.5 billion people alive today.33(*)
living person.
IPv4 header has 20 bytes IPv6 header is the double, it has 40 bytes
IPv4 header has many fields (13 fields) IPv6 header has fewer fields, it has 8
fields.
IPv4 is subdivided into classes <A-E>. IPv6 is classless.
IPv6 uses a prefix and an Identifier ID
known as IPv4 network
IPv4 address uses a subnet mask. IPv6 uses a prefix length.
IPv4 has lack of security. IPv6 has a built-in strong security
IPv4 was never designed to be secure - Encryption
- Originally designed for an isolated military - Authentication
network
- Then adapted for a public educational &
research network
ISP have IPv4 connectivity or have both IPv4 Many ISP don't have IPv6 connectivity
and IPv6
Non equal geographical distribution (>50% No geographic limitation
USA)
Submitted by,
Nandulal R
III MCA R
14MCA115
