Internet runs out of addresses as devices grow

[joeunderdog]

NEW YORK—The spread of Internet use in Asia and the proliferation of Internet-connected phones worldwide are causing the Internet to run out of numerical addresses, which act as "phone numbers" to ensure that surfers reach websites and e-mails find their destination.

The top-level authority that governs such addresses will distribute the last batches on Thursday, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because a formal announcement wasn't planned until Thursday.

snip

The current Internet address system, Internet Protocol version 4, has been in place since the 1980s. It allows for a theoretical maximum of 4.3 billion addresses in use, far beyond what was thought necessary for what was then mainly a network for academic use.

Engineers have known for years that the pool of these IP addresses would one day run out. Websites and service providers have been experimenting with a new technology that allows for many more addresses -- an infinite number, for all practical purposes. But many have been slow to do so because of a lack of immediate benefits. The exhaustion of IP addresses at the top level puts pressure on them to move more quickly.


http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2011/02/01/internet_runs_out_of_phone_numbers_for_websites/?p1=Upbox_links

[The Straight Story]

1. called ip v6, we need to get off our butts and adopt it - been around a long time

Not much else we can do.

Might be a tech boom around it though, so more jobs :)

[backscatter712]

4. We've got to wait until Comcast and other ISPs adopt it.

Most reasonably modern PCs, routers and other devices already know how to deal with IPv6. Comcast is behind the 8-ball in adopting it though - they're testing in a few areas, but they really need to speed things up.

[The Straight Story]

6. Agreed - when I said 'we' I meant those in the tech field (like you mentioned) holding it up (nt)

[htuttle]

7. I think the reason that IPv6 has taken so long to adopt...

...is that the addresses are almost impossible to memorize.

I know that DNS servers are supposed to handle that job for regular users, but having been in charge of a corporate network for quite some time, I know that I often have to remember the dot addresses for my DNS servers, my gateway router, etc... Techs are used to being able to remember the addresses for significant servers on their networks, and that's almost impossible with IPv6 addresses. Along with just the pain of reconfiguring everything, I have to think that this has had the most to do with lack of IPv6 adoption. If most network technicians were willing to do it, it would have been done already. It hasn't been a hardware issue for years for most networks.

[Old and In the Way]

8. I'm curious about ipv6....will routers and existing hardware need to be changed out

to read the new extended addresses? Or will you be 'walled out' of accessing those addresses that will be v6 compliant with v4 devices?

[backscatter712]

12. Most modern PCs and routers on the consumer side already do IPv6.

If you've got Windows XP SP1 or newer, you're good.

There's probably still some oddballs out there running Windows 98, but there aren't too many of them left.

[Taverner]

9. +100

Although really, how is using an IPv6 address easier than just going by MAC addresses?

[The Straight Story]

10. You need both for routing (basically) (nt)

[Taverner]

14. Well yeah, and MAC addresses aren't routable

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. We could divide by zero like they do for black holes and everything should work

out, on paper at least.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

3. IP-calypse now? n/t

[Renew Deal]

5. Read this: Are your networks ready for the cutover to IPv6?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=261136&mesg_id=261136

[slackmaster]

11. Peak IPv4

:scared:

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. Nonsense...on many levels

Many large blocks are allocated but unused. They could/should be pulled back and reissued as needed.

IPv6 is ready to go. It can coexist with IPv4 (current system) if done intelligently.

This is not rocket science and there is no real problem here.