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IPV6: Next Generation Internet By Dan Calloway, TheWorldJournal.com 
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The internet is quickly running short of Internet Protocol addresses that can be utilized by machines to get onto the internet using a protocol known widely throughout the internet as TCP/IP or Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. When you logon to the internet, you either have a static IP address of the form XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX; for example 207.4.56.128, or you are assigned an address by your ISP (Internet Service Provider) for the internet session you are currently in. This IP address expires as soon as you disconnect from the internet. IPv6 is short for "Internet Protocol Version 6". IPv6 is the "next generation" protocol designed by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) to replace the current version Internet Protocol, IP Version 4 ("IPv4") which is woefully lacking in its ability to support internet communications. The Internet Engineering Task Force is a large open international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers concerned with the evolution of the Internet architecture and the smooth operation of the Internet. It is open to any interested individual. The actual technical work of the IETF is done in its working groups, which are organized by topic into several areas (e.g., routing, transport, security, etc.). Much of the work is handled via mailing lists. The IETF holds meetings three times per year. The IETF working groups are grouped into areas, and managed by Area Directors, or ADs. The ADs are members of the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG). Providing architectural oversight is the Internet Architecture Board, (IAB). The IAB also adjudicates appeals when someone complains that the IESG has failed. The IAB and IESG are chartered by the Internet Society (ISOC) for these purposes. The General Area Director also serves as the chair of the IESG and of the IETF, and is an ex-officio member of the IAB. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is the central coordinator for the assignment of unique parameter values for Internet protocols. The IANA is chartered by the Internet Society (ISOC) to act as the clearinghouse to assign and coordinate the use of numerous Internet protocol parameters. Most of today's internet uses IPv4, which is now nearly twenty years old. IPv4 has been remarkably resilient in spite of its age, but it is beginning to have problems. Most importantly, there is a growing shortage of IPv4 addresses, which are needed by all new machines added to the Internet. IPv6 fixes a number of problems in IPv4, such as the limited number of available IPv4 addresses. It also adds many improvements to IPv4 in areas such as routing and network autoconfiguration. IPv6 is expected to gradually replace IPv4, with the two coexisting for a number of years during a transition period. © August 9, 2000 |
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