Why IPv6 DNS Hosting is Better

If you have heard the term IPv6 and have wondered what it is and what it means to your website, keep reading and we’ll explain it for you. If you are in the market for a new web hosting provider and have wondered what IPv6 DNS hosting is, how it differs to that of IPv4 and how it will impact the performance of your website, we’ll cover that as well. We’ve compiled the IPv6 basics and what you’ll need to know about switching to the latest Internet Protocol.

First, let’s start with the basics…

What Is IPv6?

Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the most recent version of the Internet Protocol (IP), the communications protocol that provides an identification and location system for computers on networks and routes traffic across the internet. An Internet Protocol is binary numbers that can be stored as text for humans to read. Essentially, an IP specifies the technical format of packets and how computers will communicate over the network.

What Is the Difference between IPv4 and IPv6?

IPv4 is the fourth revision of the Internet Protocol used to identify devices on a network through an addressing system. Each device on the internet – whether computer, laptop, mobile device, or tablet – is assigned an IP address for identification and location definition. IPv6 is the successor to IPv4, and the protocol which will eventually replace IPv4. IPv6 has been in development for over twenty years after it was determined that the supply of IPv4 would eventually run out, due to the growth of the internet and the increasing number of devices that people own.

The Numbers

• IPv4 addresses have a 32-bit numeric address which is written in decimal as four numbers separated by periods. Each number can be zero to 255.
  For example, 1.160.10.240
• IPv6 addresses are 128-bit IP addresses written in hexadecimal, and separated by colons.
  For example: 3ffe:1900:4545:3:200:f8ff:fe21:67cf

Given the nature of which the internet is rapidly growing, the 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses are simply not enough to keep up with the addition of smartphones, tablets and devices, and we are running out of IP addresses – hence the need to replace IPv4 with IPv6 and its potential 340 undecillion addresses.

The evolution of addresses from IPv4 to IPv6. Image Source: thetelecomblog.com

Is It Urgent to Switch to IPv6?

IPv4 and IPv6 are not interoperable and this is why you hear so much talk regarding switching over to IPv6. IPv6 provides each and every device with its own public IP address, replacing the need for a Network Address Translation (NAT) to translate between IPv4 to IPv6. The majority of the devices connected to the internet today are not compatible with IPv6, and NAT makes it possible for the two to communicate. Although it isn’t urgent, it’s important to build a migration strategy into your future plans, especially for areas where IPv4 addresses have run out completely and we are forced to use the next generation protocol.

When Is the Right Time to Transition?

IPv4 addresses have been fully deployed globally and will be exhausted in the future; therefore, at some point, we will all need to migrate to IPv6 DNS hosting. Soon IPv6 will be the only option for adding new devices, so it’s important to be prepared for when IPv4 is no longer supported. When will that be? It’s hard to tell, but it’s good to be prepared.

Why Is IPv6 DNS Hosting Better?

It’s inevitable that we will one day have to embrace IPv6, but the good news is that there are also so many benefits that come as a result of this next generation protocol.

1. More Numerical Addresses

As mentioned, the 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses will soon be exhausted. The successor, IPv6 will provide a potential 340 undecillion addresses or 340 times 10 to the 36^th power. I think we can agree that it’s highly unlikely that we are going to run out of numerical addresses in the foreseeable future.

2. Elimination of Network Address Translation

Given the number of unique IP addresses of IPv6, each device will have its own unique IPv6 address, and organizations won’t have to rely on NAT to connect to the internet. IPv6 eliminates most of the address conflict issues common under IPv4, and enables more efficient connections and communication for devices. There will be less complexity in the network, making the network easier to configure.

3. Efficiency

IPv6 has a much simpler packet header structure, meaning that the headers are processed more efficiently, minimizing the time and effort of header processing. This efficiency allows for reduced processing time for routers, making hardware less complex and packets that can be processed more quickly. IPv6 supports multicast rather than broadcast, allowing bandwidth-intensive packet flows (multimedia) to be sent to multiple destinations simultaneously, saving network bandwidth and increasing performance.

4. Security

Authentication and encryption is a mandatory component of the IPv6 protocol, unlike IPv4, where it is optional. IPv6 encrypts traffic and checks packet integrity to provide VPN-like protection for standard internet traffic. The integrity and authenticity of each IPv6 packet is ensured through encryption, and packet-spoofing protection measures. IPv6 has built-in authentication and privacy support, ensuring that internet traffic gets to the correct destination without being intercepted.

5. Auto-Configuration and Support for New Services

Auto-configuration allows each device to generate an IPv6 address as soon as it is given power. Using a link local address and an IPv6 router, any IPv6 compatible device can generate a local address and a globally routable address, providing access to the internet. For mobile devices, Mobile IPv6 (MIPv6) makes it possible for mobile (Wi-Fi) clients to select a new router without renumbering, which results in a more reliable and faster connection with less network interruption.

Deciding on an IPv6 DNS Hosting Provider

Want to migrate from your current protocol to IPv6 DNS hosting? It’s inevitable that all websites will need to move to the new generation protocol, so it’s important to be prepared. StudioCoast now offers IPv6 support on all web hosting plans. If you would like more information on how StudioCoast can help your business enable an IPv6 address on your domain name, contact us today.