Internet Protocols and IP addresses.
Internet protocols can be defined as rules or protocols used for routing and addressing packets of data to travel across networks and reach the correct destination. All the IP information is attached to the packet, which means not only resolvers send these IP packets to the right destination. Rectifying the barriers for many internets are assigned a numerical label which acts as an identifier for a specific system on a specific network known as IP address. All packets are addressed towards the IP address attached to them and reach where it is needed. Each IP address has a sequence of characters like 192.168.1.1. Which is always a 32-bit. IP addresses identify the technical format of the addressing and packet’s structure. Let’s also create a virtual relationship between a destination and a source.
IPv4
IPv4 is the abbreviate for Internet Protocol version 4. It is used to identify devices on the network using an addressing system. The oldest system makes it possible for us to connect our devices to the web. It was the initial edition of IP deployed for creation in the ARPANET in 1983. It uses a 32-bit address scheme to store 2^32 addresses which is more than 4 billion addresses. It is the primary Internet protocol carrying out about 95% of the internet traffic. So, when a device accesses the internet, the IPv4 assigns a unique IP address to send data from one device to another through h internet. people should transfer data packets throughout the network containing the IP addresses of both devices. The IPv4 has various features, highlighted below
- It is mostly a connectionless communications protocol.
- IPv4 helps design a simple virtual transmission layer over the various devices
- IPv4 also provides a choice for video libraries and conferences.
- It has been supported by many devices
- IPv4 requires less memory, and it’s easy to remember his address.
IPv6
ÌPv6 abbreviate for the internet protocol version 6. It was introduced in 1999 to meet increasing demand. It facilitates and permits communication and data transfer over a network. It is a 128-bit IP address that supports 2^128 internet addresses altogether. It not only resolves the difficulty of inadequate network addresses but also helps rectify the barriers for many devices to connect to the internet. The features of having a 128-bit address space allow the IPv6 of 340 undecillion unique address spaces. The IPv6 is also called next generation internet protocol (IPng). The text form of IPv6 address if XXXX:XXXX:XXXX:XXXX:XXXX:XXXX:XXXX: XXXX where x is a hexadecimal digit, representing 4 bits. The significant features of IPv6 are highlighted below.
- It has got features of hierarchical addressing and the routing infrastructure.
- It helps in support of the quality of service (QoS)
- It is a perfect protocol for adjacent node interactions.
- It is also a stateful and stateless configuration, or we can say that it is auto-configuration
- It is free from private address collisions.
- It has got the advantage of multicasting routing making routing more efficient.
- It has got more flexible options and extensions.
- It has the advantage of easier administration as it does not use DHCP.
Comparison between IPv4 and IPv6
| Based on | IPv4 | IPv6 |
| IP address Structure | It is a 32-bit IP address | is a 128-bit IP address. |
| Addressing Method | Binary bits and numeric addresses are separated by a dot (.) | All the alphanumeric addresses whose binary bits are separated by a colon (:). |
| Address Types | It has the address type of unicast, broadcast and multicast. | It got an address types of unicast, multicast and anycast. |
| Header Fields Number | 12 | 8 |
| Header fields Length | 20 | 40 |
| Checksum | It has checksum fields. | It does not have checksum fields. |
| SNMP | It utilises SNMP protocol. | It does not support SNMP protocol. |
| Packet Size | It requires a packet size of 576 bytes. | It requires a packet size of 1208 bytes. |
| Configuration | In Ipv4, IP addresses and routes must be assigned. | In Ipv6, it is optional. |
| Routing Information Protocol | It is supported by the routed daemon. | Routing internet protocol is not able to support IPv6. It uses static routes. |
| Mapping | IPv4 uses ARP(Address Resolution Protocol) for mapping to MAC address. | It uses NDP(Neighbour Discovery Protocol) to map the MAC address. |
| Quality of Service (QoS) | In IPv4, quality of service allows requesting packet priority and bandwidth for TCP/IP applications. | IPv6 does not support the implementation of quality of service. |
| Packet Header | It does not recognise packet movement for QoS handling, which contains checksum options. | In IPv6 packet head includes a flow Label field that specifies packet flow for QoS handling |
| IP to MAC address | Broadcast ARP | Multicast Neighbour Solicitation |
| Optional address | It has Optional Fields | It does not have optional fields. But Extension headers are available. |
| IPsec | Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) concerning network security is not obligatory | Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) Concerning network security is mandatory |
| Compatibility with mobile services | IPv4 address works the dot-decimal notation. That’s why it is not appropriate for mobile networks. | IPv6 address is characterized in hexadecimal, colon-separated notation.IPv6 is better suitable for mobilenetworks. |
| Security | depends on applications – IPv4 was not designed with safety in mind. | It is built into the IPv6 protocol and usable withproper critical infrastructure. |
| Several classes | of IPv4 compromise five different IP addresses, which are Class A to E. | lPv6 permits storing an infinite number of IP Addresses. |
Conclusion
After comparing IPv4 and IPv6 in the above paragraphs, it can be concluded that IPv5 is very important for the long-term development of the internet. Transferring from IPv4 to IPv6 will give the web a large pool of IP addresses. In the current world, IPv4 and IPv6 exist together, and IPv4 will continue to exist because of the cost and compatibility issues of IPv6. In the long term, IPv6 will continue to dominate the internet wo in future because of its advancement, security and speed.
