With the launch of internet protocol version 6 or IPv6, a great many aspects and further improvement measures have come to surfaced before the world. IPv4 which was just the earlier version have subject of numerous discussion concerning an array of problems that it offers. With the objective of addressing some specific problems with IPv4 Internet Engineering Task Force developed IPv6 which is not only devoid of such problems and addresses many related issues most coherently and convincingly. Until the end of 2012 or beginning of 2013 IPv4 was the main carrier for the big majority of internet traffic and as of 2013 data IPv6 is just picking up to cross 1% of internet traffic.
What is IPv4 or IPv6 is all about?
For a person who is accustomed to such terms, these terms definitely demands to be explained. But before explaining IPv4 or IPv6 let us have a quick recap of what does IP stands for and what purpose does it serve. IP stands for Internet Protocol which is nothing but an identity of the device connected to the internet network. Every device connected to an internet network must be having an IP address without which it cannot communicate to other devices and naturally cannot gain access to internet at all.
The difference between IPv4 and IPv6
Now as the number devices connecting internet in the last decade suddenly became huge thanks to wide escalation of mobile internet devices, suddenly providing unique IP address to each device became a bit challenging with the IPv4 to accommodate. On the contrary the revised version IPv6 uses 128 bit address to open much more wider scope to accommodate all devices, whereas IPv4 uses 32 bit address protocol and consequently causing address exhaustion. IPv6 using a far longer addresses protocol as believed, can accommodate all devices without being itself vulnerable to address exhaustion.