IPv4 and IPv6

IPv4 and IPv6 versions of IP – a group of Internet protocols that provide routing and addressing of packets between network devices within one or more interconnected networks.

IPv4

IPv4 – the fourth version of the Internet protocol, which aims to define standards for packet exchange to ensure the stable operation of computer networks. The protocol allows a device to be identified by an addressing system. The protocol assigns a unique identification number – an IP address – to each computer connected to a particular network.

Features of IPv4:

• the protocol allows you to assign easy-to-remember addresses and does not require large amounts of memory;
• IPv4 works without establishing a connection;
• allows you to create a simple virtual communication layer on devices of different modifications;
• the ability to assign the same address to multiple devices via NAT;
• supports conferences and video libraries.

IPv4 assigns addresses based on a 32-bit scheme. The number of addresses is limited to 4.19 billion. Today, the number of IP addresses is running out. A new, sixth version of the protocol has therefore been introduced.

IPv6

IPv6 is a new version of the IP protocol, developed primarily because of the running out of addresses of the previous, fourth version of the protocol. IPv6 works already on a 128-bit scheme.

Features of IPv6:

• hierarchical routing;
• two types of configurations: with and without state preservation;
• the best option for interaction with neighboring nodes;
• higher routing performance and speed compared to the previous version of the protocol.

Despite the fact that IPv6 is a more advanced version of IPv4, the fourth version is still more popular. There is no need for a mandatory transition to the sixth protocol.