* Addressses under IP version 6
IPMI V2.0 simplifies server management
IPv6 addresses demand for space
By Karl Siil
IP address space is becoming scarce under IPv4, the main Internet communications protocol. Growing demand for Internet-enabled devices requires more space for growth. Wireless carriers would like to tie a unique IP address to every phone, pager and PDA, and household appliance makers are experimenting with smart connected devices such as refrigerators and washing machines.
IPv6 offers an enhanced addressing scheme that leaves room for growth. IPv6 has been around since the early 1990s, but the lack of a killer application has slowed its acceptance in the commercial world. Recent events indicate IPv6 might take off soon.
Late 2004 saw the activation of Cernet2 – the next-generation Internet in China and the largest IPv6 network in the world. The U.S. government’s deadline for its IPv6 rollout and compliance is February 2008. Businesses, especially those with Asia-Pacific or U.S. government interests, might find themselves pulled into IPv6 by the need to connect to their colleagues.
IPv6 is a direct plug-and-play replacement for IPv4. All major operating system and network hardware vendors support IPv6, and ISPs are starting to offer IPv6 connectivity. The only thing remaining that holds back IPv6 deployment is the massive effort required for corporations to re-address millions of computers, routers and other Internet devices. But this effort is slowly starting to gain momentum.
The basic IPv6 header is far simpler than the IPv4 header. Each header contains source and destination addresses for packet, payload length, hop limit (equivalent to the IPv4 Time To Live field) and a field indicating the protocol encapsulated in the packet, such as TCP or User Datagram Protocol.
For the complete story on IPv6 addresses, please go to:
http://www.networkworld.com/news/tech/2005/051605techupdate.html?nlt
