IPv4 Address Exhaustion

[PaxBritannia]

IPv4 address exhaustion is near. If you don't know what that means, then it's already too late for you.

Essentially, IPs are the address of any device which connects to the internet (phone, server, computer, printer, etc.). And when they run out, then you won't be able to connect to the internet unless you have one.

Since you probably don't have a static IP, your IP will sometimes be returned and you will be assigned a new one, if there are any still left. But don't worry, your ISP has a pool of them already reserved for you and your fellow clients.

The solution to this quandary is simple, change from IPv4 to IPv6. Notice how I said change? That's right, they aren't compatible with each other. If you change early to the IPv6 network, then you won't be able to view any of the internet as you knew it. Any site on IPv4 won't necessarily be online in IPv6. Everyone is waiting for everyone else to change - no one wants to jump in with both feet. So now, we're between a rock and a deep cliff: jump - or be pushed off.

Currently, 7 blocks of 16,777,216 IPs are reserved by AINA (these will be eventually released) and 5,731,~~~ are remaining. (In the minutes it took for me to write this, it is already down to 5,712,~~~)

What are your thoughts on the IPv4 and IPv6 protocols?

pax.

[Chris]

Solution would be to set up core routers that can do both. The problem core routers have to work as fast as possible and don't use software to do this. So there needs to be new technology that can do that.

[Jackolantern]

I think that the change-over just needs to eventually be mandated through law. It is exactly as Pax said: everyone is waiting for everyone else to change, so no one is going to change. It is about the same problem as the change-over to digital TV in the US recently, but on a much larger scale. In order to support the digital TV, stations needed to end broadcasting in analog. But if the stations changed as they were ready on their own, some channels would have been on one side while others would have been on the other, causing serious problems for viewers. So finally the government simply had to give a date when all broadcast had to be changed over, and on that day, analog broadcasts simply disappeared. It actually went fairly smoothly due to the drop-dead date. However, things are more complicated in this situation due to the international scope of the issue. Perhaps the rest of the world would follow if the USA, Canada and the European Union could collaborate on a date and a plan to help providers reach the goal.

[rockinliam]

The last blocks were allocated today...

[Torniquet]

Saw something about this some months back... then it appeared in the paper again earlier this week...

They say that the problem with this is not only are IPv4 and IPv6 addresses not compatable... but there are some operating systems (the older ones.. XP etc (although probably now days ONLY XP lol)) are not built to read IPv6 addresses, and there is still a huge portion of the world out there which are still running XP and such systems.

not only that, the software in all routers are also not designed to read IPv6. except maybe some asian ones, they have already started setting up ready for the change by all accounts.

This means that everything will have to be updated and upgraded effectivly all in one hit.... and soon as they say that addresses will have run out come september this year, maybe earlier esspecially if people start panicing.

So with that in mind, what you also have to think about, is if people are going to be reluctant to switch, what will that mean for web designers and people who own their own sites...

will prices shoot up in order to free up space of unused/low traffic sites? kick people out of the way who wont/cant pay mega bucks to have a website ready for people who do have the money and are willing to pay? start auctioning off web space?

I personally think, that if IPS's forced a ban on all sites related to vicious and illigal activities and freed up the space that would increase the life time of IPv4 addresses and give everyone a whole lot more time to think about how to go about the change.

my peice on the situation :p

[Chris]

From what I heard they ran out 7 hours ago XD.

[theg721]

R.I.P. IPv4?

[Jackolantern]

R.I.P. IPv4?

Just because they are all out doesn't mean they are dead. Far from it. In fact, without government intervention, we will still probably be using IPv4 for the next 5 - 10 years. It just means that IP rotations are likely to become more aggressive at most ISPs.

[theg721]

R.I.P. IPv4?

Just because they are all out doesn't mean they are dead. Far from it. In fact, without government intervention, we will still probably be using IPv4 for the next 5 - 10 years. It just means that IP rotations are likely to become more aggressive at most ISPs.

Without government intervention - exactly. President Madagascar has probably shut everything down by now XP.