IP ADDRESSES ARE RUNNING OUT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Yes, our worldwide system of networks that comprise what we call the Internet is running out of IP addresses. Experts and pundits are predicting exactly when this will happen, and sensationalist news headlines are popping up all over the place, inflating the IP-address exhaustion issue into apocalyptic proportions—an "IPocalypse", if you will.

But don't head for the bomb shelters just yet. Let's take a look at what's going on, what's being done about it, and most important: How this affects you.

Brief Background

IP addressing is a protocol that's gone through several revisions (just like wireless networking standards). Currently, IP version 4, noted as IPv4, is the most widely deployed standard. IPv4 has been in use since the early '80s. The problem is there is a finite amount of IP addresses that can be distributed. Without delving too deeply into the math, that number equals 3,706,650,000 usable addresses. From that pool, the number of IP addresses that can be used are further broken down by what's available in individual countries. So, most countries have significantly less than that amount available for their networks. IP address spaces are managed by an organization known as ICANN.

The explosive rate of people all over the world connecting to the Internet and the astounding number of new devices that are getting connected every day have led us to a threshold: IPv4 addresses are running out. However, this has been known for quite some time. In fact, NAT (Network Address Translating), the technology that allows an ISP to deliver a single public IP address to a private home network (while providing Internet connectivity for all hosts on that network) was devised to combat the IPv4 exhaustion issue (or at least stave off the issue for a while). Now that the end is near for IPv4, you can be sure that the major ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and organizations that provide IP addresses for us are not resting on their laurels about the situation.

What's Being Done?

IP addressing has been available in a newer version, known as IPv6. IPv6 provides a wider pool of IP addresses, a number that has been cited is 340 trillion, trillion, trillion addresses—enough to last us well into the future. There are also other benefits to IPv6, more efficient network management, better security and better interoperability for mobile networks.

Although IPv6 has been available since the '90s, not many companies, ISPs, or other organizations have implemented it. Most are still on IPv4. That is changing, though, as governments, corporations, ISP, and MSOs (Multiple System Operators) map out their plans to transition. Of course, the likely scenario is that many networks will run both IPv4 and IPv6 in tandem for a while until IPv6 becomes the standard.

The potential problem is with vendors—they need to ensure that new networking devices can use IPv6. Hopefully, vendors will get on board and start shipping devices that are IPv6 compatible. Again, major vendors have money to lose if they are lax on this issue, so most likely they will be ahead of the game here. Many routers and devices as well as OSes like Windows 7 have had support for IPv6 for quite some time.

"What Does This Mean for Me or My Business?"

So when the last available IPv4 address has been doled out, does that mean your router, iPad , laptop or other devices won't be able to connect to the Internet? No. Devices you currently use at home already have an associated IP address and won't be affected.

Those who host their own websites, have a registered domain or are responsible for a business network should be more vigilant. There's a great post on the steps those users should take in order to ensure IPv6 readiness from Cisco.

Google has been a leader in the push for IPv6. Google Apps users and those with Google Apps domain are all set for IPv6. In fact, Google is taking part in World IPv6 Day and is active in ensuring IPv6 is a forefront technology issue.

Additionally, major DNS server offerings such as Microsoft DNS server, ISC BIND, Cisco Network Registrar have supported IPv6 for years.

Sure, there may be some bumps in the road as the world moves to IPv6. Smaller ISPs may slip through the cracks and not make the transition completely or in a timely manner. There's bound to be newer devices that come to market that may not work at first with IPv6. Some websites may experience DNS hiccups as DNS records are added and edited to support IPv6. But IP address exhaustion has been known about for years, and those making up the backbone of the Internet have provisions in place. For most of us using our many devices and technology toys at home, the last IPv4 address will get allocated without any notice.

At Transworld, our network is IPv6-ready. We have our own IPv6 network block allocated to us by APNIC and the prefix is also visible on internet. All of our IP equipment on the core as well as on the edge also support IPv6. We are on the continuous go with recent developments on IPv6 and our core IP team is continuously gaining expertise on this new technology.

Modified From: www.pcmag.com