What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
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An IP address serves as an identifier for a particular device on a specific network.
There are two types of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6.
What is IPv4?
IPv4 represents version 4 of the Internet Protocol. This updated version is the commonly used form for IP addresses.
It is a 32-bit address written in four numbers that are separated by the period (.) symbol (e.g., ). Each device has a different IPv4 address.
The figure below shows some of the properties of IPv4.
What is IPv6?
IPv4 provides four billion addresses, but these addresses are not enough to uniquely identify every device on the internet.
IPv6 stands for Internet Protocol version , which is the sixth improvement of the Internet Protocol and the heir to IPv4.
It works similarly to IPv4 in that it provides the different IP addresses required for Internet-enabled devices to communicate. However, it has an important exception: it uses a -bit IP address.
The figure below shows some of the properties of IPv6.
IPv4 versus IPv6
The following table highlights some of the differences between the two internet protocols.
IPv4
Length of Address
-bit address length.
Method of Addressing
Numeric address where binary bits are divided by a period (.).
Address Configuration
Provides manual and
Number of IP Addresses
Limited number of IP addresses, i.e., billion.
Virtual Length Subnet Mask
Supports
End to End Connection Integrity
End-to-end connection integrity can be achieved.
Security
Does not provide security.
Address Representation
Expressed in decimal notation.
Fragmentation
Achieved by senders and forwarding routers.
Authentication
Does not provide authentication and encryption.
IPv6
Length of Address
-bit address length.
Method of Addressing
Alphanumeric address where binary bits are divided by a colon (:).
Address Configuration
Provides manual,
Number of IP Addresses
A massive number of IP addresses, i.e., undecillion different addresses.
Virtual Length Subnet Mask
Does not support
End to End Connection Integrity
End-to-end connection integrity can not be achieved.
Security
Address Representation
Expressed in hexadecimal notation.
Fragmentation
Fragmentation is achieved by senders only in IPv6.
Authentication
Provides authentication and encryption.
Advantages of IPv6
Some of the main advantages of IPv6 over IPv4 are listed below:
- Auto-configuration.
- Header format is simpler.
NAT Network Address Translation - Simpler and more efficient routing.
- Private address collisions are not needed.
- Multicast routing is improved.