IPv6 and the Internet of Things

Nick Hardiman explains why the switch to IPv6 will further enable the world of connected devices.

The Internet of Things means the continued growth and development of an open, global Internet. The tool that is going to make that possible is IPv6, and organizations from the IEEE to ISOC have been pushing it (World IPv6 Launch Day was June 6, 2012). But what is it good for? Is it just about replacing IPv4 addresses like "" with weird looking IPv6 addresses like "2001:41c8:51:27e::10"?

Getting from nothing to something

IPv4 was the main tool used to create the global Internet. It was an IT success story, of getting from nothing to something for everyone. It wasn't perfect, but the history of IT success stories is full of examples of dodgy decision-making. Using two ports for FTP probably seemed like a good idea at the time. Tying Ethernet MAC addresses to their manufacturers probably wasn't the greatest security decision. A URL really doesn't need :// stuck in it.

As an example, take the IPv4 address. It looks something like this: That IPv4 address format is called dot decimal notation, and it is a little whacky. It's a coding system that turns the 32 bits that a machine can read into four decimal octets for humans to read. It isn't really decimal, it isn't really binary, and it certainly isn't octal. This dot decimal system helped IT people remember IP addresses, at a time in IT history after they had agreed that splitting code into 8 bit chunks was useful and before they had realized this shorthand notation would escape and find its way into every home and office in the world.

Getting from something to something better

Jumping from version 4 to version 6 will simplify the networking world. The simple fact that IPv6 has a zillion addresses means the workarounds used with IPv4 can be removed. The simple Internet model of sending a packet from one address to another was broken with NAT (Network Address Translation).

With IPv6, there is no need for private addresses. Most enterprise computers have private IP addresses, so making the most of IPv6 in an enterprise will require quite a shift in working practices.

IPv6 can also make current practices redundant -- IP address block land grabs, the IP pools of ISPs, and even the client/server model could disappear.

Should I switch to IPv6 in 2013?

For an enterprise, yes - well, partly. For a residential user, no.

When an enterprise refreshes its technology, it makes sense to have a strategy that insists on new kit that can handle IPv6. It makes sense to build new IPv6  services alongside new IPv4 services. There is no pressure to upgrade existing services to use IPv6.

At home, most of the components needed to make sure IPv6 replaces IPv4 are already in place. The popular operating systems can talk IPv6. Most home computers understand IPv6, and so do many home routers. Many Internet services have IPv6 addresses. Unfortunately, many people can't reach them because their ISP only does IPv4 - if a residential early adopter wants to reach an IPv6-only website, she may be out of luck. It's going to be a while before IPv6 becomes the norm in domestic networks.

Can I face the change?

And there's the learning curve that comes bundled with every new technology. I know I ought to learn about IPv6 and change my servers that only use IPv4, but I am not excited by the prospect. It feels like a low-priority chore, and keeps slipping to the bottom of my to-do list. After many years in the Internet industry, I remember IPv4 addresses like I remember birthdays (the really important ones stick, but I need reminding about the rest).  I haven't thrown enough IPv6 addresses at my memory for any to stick.

I will learn, and I will change my servers. IPv4 enabled the Internet and IPv6 will enable the Internet of Things. If I want a future in Internet IT, I must update my skills. IPv6 and the Internet of Things are the future.