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I had read a similar news article a few days ago, but the problem it talked about was that our capacity to transmit information was increasing faster than we can build infrastructure to accommodate it.
Switching to IPV6 looks like the only longterm solution, but I imagine it will take a while. IANA or someone should have started years ago working with the big IP holders on getting most of their computers behind NATs and trying to free up space, although I seriously doubt that would be a quick solution either.
Huge companies and universities were able to buy up huge chunks of IP blocks. I guess it is similar to the current oil situation. No one thought oil was ever going to run out or become scarce so everyone used it freely (I don't really have an opinion if oil is truly scarce or not, I'm just saying...) so IANA was letting everyone buy up IP blocks with more IP addresses than they would likely ever need. How many cubicle jockeys really need a legitimate public IP? Not many. Using NAT when feasible would have helped hold off the shortage for awhile longer while IPV6 was being rolled out.
Big communication companies aren't in a rush to lay out more infrastructure. That costs money and I think they are pretty happy right now screwing people with 50$/mo "high speed" internet running on old technology. Verizon seems to be the only company in the U.S. that is looking at long term solutions for their company and subscribers. They offer fiber optic connections to the home cheaper than my cable internet. Now that is being proactive.
Last edited by J Arp; 07-07-2008 at 12:04 PM..
Reason: Typo
IPv6 is already supported by most core network systems. Its just a matter of implementing it (most network admins have little clue about it even though its been around for over a decade). The US government has a mandate to migrate their core to IPv6 by this year (if I recall correctly). And I believe Lockheed is already on it......
That whole implementing part is going to take a lot longer than flipping a light switch though. I bet the total of ipv6 accessible sites is easily under a hundred and I'm sure the bulk of those websites deal with *nix/oss, technology research...stuff a regular Joe wouldn't be interested in. I could see a lot of people using Teredo and 6to4 for awhile.
Yeah, IPv6 equipment already exists, and ISPs and Cell Phone providers are making the switches necessary to implement IPv6.
Not only that, I believe that at various locations, until everything is switched over.. there will be some basic NAT equipment to allow IPv4 networks to talk to IPv6 networks.
So, don't worry... the big guys will move their equipment to IPv6, and Vista supports IPv6 by default, and you can install IPv6 on XP.
Its not a big deal. We'll all switch, and we'll be happy for... hopefully ever.
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