The IPv-4 and IPv-6 Network Technologies: the Characteristics of Both Addressing Schemes - Research Paper Example

 1- Abstract The use of internet in almost every walk of life has become very common, thus the number of internet users are increasing day by day. Additionally, old internet protocol IPv4 is not able to support such a huge number of internet users. The main reason is that the numbers of addresses supported by the IPv4 network have used or finished. Thus, there is need for a new network addressing scheme that could be able to facilitate the emerging needs of internet users. In this scenario the IPv6 is new network addressing scheme that is able to support and uphold the increasing number of the internet users. However, there are a lot of problems those are hindering the implementation of this new network addressing technology (Scholz et al., 2001). This paper discusses the issues and opportunities in case of transition of IPv4 to IPv6 network. In this scenario the research will concentrate on some of main problems in updating to IPv6. This paper will also outline some of main issues and aspects that are lacking or creating problems in case of transition to new IPv6 technology platform. 2- Introduction The research and development in the internet protocol was started in the 1960s, at that time, the computing environment was not similar to current environment. There were not a large number of consumers of internet. At that time the telecommunications lines were used to support the communication as well as networks were not much powerful, quick, and error-free. Additionally, the appli­cations distributed on the internet involved smaller data packets, and there was not such a demand to distribute them in real time. But, with the passage of time, these demands on the internet began to grow; then the designers decided to create a modern internet protocol that take benefit of the current technology. As a result, IPv6 was created (Das, 2008; Childress et al., 2003). This paper presents a detailed analysis of the issues raised in case of transition to new IPv6. This paper will also outline some of the main aspects regarding the implementation of the IPv6 networking technology. 3- IPv4 3.1- IPv4 Addressing and Structure An IPv4 address is a 32-bit addressing scheme that exclusively or uniquely identifies the connection of a device such as, a router or a PC to the internet (Forouzan & Fegan, 2003, p.549). IPv4 addressing scheme offers unique and universal addresses. They are universal for the reason that the addressing system must be acknowledged by any host that needs to be linked to the Internet. Additionally, these are unique because each address refers to one, and only one, internet connection. Thus, two devices (computer or router) on the internet will have different addresses at the same time. Additionally, an address is allocated to a device for a specific time frame and then taken back and allocated to a different device. In addition, this process is done through some strategies. However, if a device working on the network layer has z connections to the Internet, then it should have z addresses (Forouzan & Fegan, 2003, p.549). Each addressing scheme has an address space that is the total number of addresses that can be employed by the addressing scheme. For instance, if an addressing scheme employs k bits to establish an address, then the address space will be 2^k for the reason that each bit would have two dissimilar values (1 or 0), thus k bits would have 2^k addresses. In this scenario, the IPv4 addressing scheme uses 32-bit addresses, in this way the total address space of IPv4 addressing scheme is 2^32 or 4,293,967,296, approximately 4 billion. In other words, theoretically, without any restrictions, approximately 4 billion devices can be connected to the internet through IPv4 addressing scheme. However, there are various types of restrictions imposed on the addresses, thus the actual number of connections could be different from the calculation (Forouzan & Fegan, 2003, p.550). According to Comer (2000) IPv4 addresses are typically characterized in dot-decimal notation format in which there are four numbers, each has value from 0 to 255; these four numbers are separated by dots, for example 206.13.105.198. Every component stands for 8 bits of the address, and is consequently identifies as an octet. To write IPv4 addresses in binary or hexadecimal format. When transferring, each octet is treated as a split number (Comer, 2000). Figure 1 IP address (version 4) –Source [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ipv4_address.svg] According to Comer (2000), in IPv4 scheme, network administrators create an IP address as an arrangement of host number and network number. The most significant eight bits of the octet are assigned for the network number and the remaining of the bits are the remaining field or host identifier and utilized for host numbering inside a network (Comer, 2000). 4- IPv6 4.1- IPv6 Emergence According to Hinden (2003), the internet protocol version 6 is the advanced generation internet protocol version that is designed to improve the features of IPv4. Internet Protocol version 4 was initially implemented to the internet that is still in use. This IP4 version is the internet layer protocol for internetworks of packet-switched method. The newer version IPv6 was released on December 1998 by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). The IETF has published an Internet standard specification that is RFC 2460, regarding this new version of the internet addressing (Hinden, 2003). Deering & Hinden (1999) states that IPv6 has an enormously large internet address space as compared to the IPv4. This makes use of a 128 bit internet address, whereas IPv4 employs simply 32 bits regarding the representation of the internet address (Deering & Hinden, 1999). For the communication TCP/IP protocol suit is currently IPv4 (Internet working Protocol version 4). Additionally, the internet uses IPv4 protocol to uphold the host-to-host communication between systems. Despite the fact that IPv4 is well-made, data communication has developed since the beginning of IPv4 in the 1970s. However, there are several factors or issues that make IPv4 inappropriate for the rapidly developing Internet (Forouzan & Fegan, 2003, p.596). Regardless of all basic solutions for instance classless addressing, subnetting, and NAT, less addressing space is still a long-standing issue in the Internet. The Internet should offer verification and encryption of data for a number of applications. However, IPv4 provides no encryption or authentication facilities. The Internet should support real-time video or audio communication. Additionally, this type of communication needs least delay strategies and management of resources. However, the IPv4 design does not provide these facilities. Thus, to deal with these issues, IPv6 (Internetworking Protocol, version 6) also acknowledged as IPng (Internetworking Protocol, next generation), was designed and now has become a standard. Additionally, in the IPv6, there were made widely changes in internet protocol to uphold the unpredicted expansion of the Internet. In addition, the length and the format of the IP address were modified in conjunction with the packet format. Also, other associated protocols, for instance ICMP, were also updated. Moreover, extra protocols in the network layer, for instance RARP, IGMP, and ARP were either removed or integrated into the ICMPv6 protocol. Furthermore, the routing protocols, for instance OSPF and RIP, were also to some extent changed to support these modifications. It is expected that IPv4 and its associated protocols will quickly replace with the IP version 6. However, this replacement has been slow for the reason that the actual goal for its creation, less size or space of IPv4 addresses, has been improved by temporarily plans for instance, NAT and classless addressing. On the other hand, the quickly increasing utilization of the Internet, and the development of innovative services and facilities for instance IP telephony, mobile IP, and IP-capable mobile telephony, would ultimately need the whole substitution of IPv4 with IPv6 (Forouzan & Fegan, 2003, p.596). 4.2- Advantages The IPv6 offers a number of benefits over IPv4 that are discussed below: (Forouzan & Fegan, 2003, p.596; Childress et al., 2003), (Arnberg, 2009), (Beijnum, 2007) & (Hinden, 2003): More address space: The size of IPv6 address is 128 bits long. In contrast with the 32-bit address of IPv4, this is 296 times more increased in the address space. Better header format: IPv6 makes use of a new header arrangement in which preferences are divided from the base header and added, whenever they are necessary, between the upper-layer and base header data. Thus, this speeds up by simplifying routing process for the reason that most of the preferences are not necessary for the routers. More options: IPv6 allows more options to offer extra functionalities. Allowance for extension: IPv6 is developed to provide the additional room to the protocol if necessary for new applications or technologies. Facilitate resource allocations: The type-of-service field has deleted from IPv6, however a method that is acknowledged as flow label has been included to facilitate the source to ask for special handling of the packet. Furthermore, this method can also be employed to maintain traffic for instance real-time video and audio. Offer more security: IPv6 offers the authentication and encryption facilities, which ensure privacy and reliability of the packet. Addresses: IPv6 makes innovative address of any cast. An identifier for a set of interfaces characteristically belonging to different nodes. A packet sent to any cast address is delivered to one of the interfaces recognized by that address. While IPv-4 uses uni-cast and multicast. Figure 1- IPV-6 Packet Structure Source: [http://users.tkk.fi/oar/ip6/Story.html] 5- Replacing IPV4 According to Moore (2006), the majority of people in the networking and internet world have great interest in next-generation internet protocol version 6 and internet2, which will replace the highly successful IPv4. However, IPv6 have some problems but resolves various IPv4 challenges, so the transition to IPv6 seems quite accepted, though it would not be simple. Currently we are able to see that internet and networking world remains quite complacent with the performance and working of IPv4 because numerous business, organization, communication and transmission solutions have been developed (primarily we can recognize the network address translation or NAT, to overcome the shortage of availability of the globally unique IPV4 addresses). And network administrators have a lot of doubts of replacing the old IPv4 technology with immediately a single protocol (comprising complete network renumbering) (Moore, 2003). However, a time will come when the transition will become necessary and imminent for handling overall network areas. The sensible network administrators have already initiated the preparation to transit from IPV4 to IPV6. However, currently, they run their business, organizational or academic internet applications and networks on the foundation of dual-protocol stacks, which support both IPv6 as well as IPv4 (The SCO Group, 2004) & (IPv6 Portal, 2009). The IPv6 presents a number of technological efficiencies and advancements, like that a larger address freedom, an additional robust internet security and safety model for the peer-to-peer environment, auto pattern, as well as improved mobility support. Since, both administration and business leaders are concerned with how problems can be resolved, how to develop and maintain efficiency, or how revenue is generated as well as cost investments into their business or corporation. IPv6 definitely has the capacity to facilitate and deliver all possible facilities and scenarios; however the transformation to IPv6 requires effectively managing the needs and offering better solutions (The SCO Group, 2004) & (Oracle Corporation, 2010). 6- Problems in transition to IPv6 This section discusses some major issues and problems that hinder the implementation of the IPv6 network addressing technology: 6.1- Interoperability issues This section discusses the interoperability issues in adoption of IPv6 technology. I will discuss this problem by using an example. For example we have purchased and implemented a public IPv6 address for our business or corporation. After that implementation we are facing problem such as we are not able to access the CNN servers or the Google servers or our corporate web servers. This type of problem in called the interoperability issue. Additionally, this problem happened because presently majority of the internet servers can not communicare with the clients using public IPv6 addresses. In this scenario changing our corporate IP address to IPv6 can lead towards a disaster for clients. However, this problem can be resolved if all the networks’ servers change to IPv6 or adopt some means to communicate with their clients. Additionally, the costs of public IPv6 addresses are lesser as compared to the public IPv4 addresses, for the reason that there is huge capacity of the IP addresse available. However the cost advantage would did not work since the public IPv6 addresses are obviously less practical as compared to IPv4 addresses. Moreover, public IPv6 addresses are nearly inadequate (Bernstein, 2009). 6.2- IPv6 incompatibility According to Bernstein (2009), IPv6 designers have made a fundamental theoretical error that they designed the IPv6 network addressing as an alternative to the IPv4 address space while they have not designed this technology as an extension to the IPv4 address space. Stating in another way, IPv6 network specifications do not permit public IPv6 addresses to transmit packets to public IPv4 network addresses. Additionally, they as well do not permit public IPv4 network addresses to transmit packets to public IPv6 network addresses. However, the public IPv6 network addresses are able to simply exchange data and information packets with each other by having similar versions. Howeber, the condition could have described a functionally comparable public IPv6 network address intended for every public IPv4 address, inserting the IPv4 network address space into the IPv6 network address space; however they did not. (RFC 2893 performed some efforts to resolve this problem however the IPv6 proponents state that RFC 2893 is a local alternative, not element of the IPv6 network structure (Bernstein, 2009) 6.3- IPv6 is not an extension but an upgrading software According to Bernstein (2009), because of fault in the IPv6 design, this network technology still in held regarding its complete implementation to market. Additionally, the IPv6 was made as upgrading software rather than an extension version. Thus, every network administrator of a corporation’s server on a public IPv4 address needs to pay additional effort to implement as well as support a public IPv6 address (Bernstein, 2009). 6.4- IPv6 Incoherence In transforming from IPv4 to IPv6, IPv6 designers do not offer a transition plan. Additionally, they have taken a number of supportive steps, however they normally declare success (``IPv6 support'') but the actual problem has not solved. In addition, the new strategy offered by the IPv6 designers is the combined v4/v6 network operating. Howeverm, this scheme is not useful or functional without a logical transition plan; in this scenario IPv6 is not offering some credibility. Thus, in implementing half-baked plans we will definitely waste time (Bernstein, 2009; Cho et al., 2004). 6.5- IPv4 Router Cannot Be Upgraded to IPv6 If a network equipment is able to not be upgraded, we might have to buy IPv6 ready equipment. Additionally, some of the IPv4 network routers are not able to be upgraded for IPv6 support. However, if these circumstances relate to our network topology, physically wire an IPv6 router subsequently to the IPv4 router. Then, we can tunnel from the IPv6 router over the IPv4 router (Oracle Corporation, 2010). 6.6- Problems following Upgrading Services to IPv6 There various problems that can appear after the implementation of the IPv6 support. In this regard certain applications, still after they are changed to IPv6, do not turn on IPv6 support by default. However, we need to configure these applications to start the IPv6 network services. In addition, a server that executes numerous services, a number of which are IPv4 only, and others that are both IPv4 and IPv6, can experience problems. Some clients might require utilizing both kinds of services that lead towards disorder on the server side (Oracle Corporation, 2010). 6.7- Present ISP Does Not Support IPv6 IPv6 network services do not support various ISPs. Thus, to resolve this problem we need to hire an ISP to offer a second line intended for IPv6 network communications from our site. However this type of solution is much more costly to implement (Oracle Corporation, 2010) 6.8- Security Problems Sotillo (2009) stated that however IPv6 presents improved security (bigger address space as well as make use of the encrypted network communication), the protocol as well raises latest network security challenges. Eventually, the new protocol produces many new security problems as it solves previous ones. However, if that is not as much essential, the transition from the old protocol stack (IPv4) to the new one (IPv6) can present even additional challenges, something that will promise plenty of fun intended for security network professionals in the predictable future (Sotillo, 2009). 7- Conclusion This paper has presented a detailed analysis of the IPv-4 and IPv-6 network technologies. First of all, this paper has discussed the advantages of IPv6 over IPv4 by comparing the charactersics of both addressing schemes. Mainly, this paper has outlined some of the main aspects regarding the IPv6 technology and issues in its implemention. If IPv6 deals with all the issues of IPv4 then why it can not be adopted into the networks? This paper has answered this question in detail. Since, IPv6 offers a lot of advantages but there are various challenges in adopting this network structure. I hope this research will offer a deep analysis of the problems associated with IPv6 problem in changing from IPv-4. 8- Bibliography Arnberg, O., 2009. Introduction to and History of IPv6. [Online] Available at: http://users.tkk.fi/oar/ip6/Story.html [Accessed 24 April 2010]. Beijnum, I.v., 2007. Everything you need to know about IPv6. [Online] Available at: http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2007/03/IPv6.ars [Accessed 20 April 2010]. Bernstein, D.J., 2009. The IPv6 mess. [Online] Available at: http://cr.yp.to/djbdns/ipv6mess.html [Accessed 24 April 2010]. Childress, B., Cathey, B. & Dixon, S., 2003. The adoption of IPv6. Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges, 18(4), pp.153-58. Cho, K., Luckie, M. & Huffaker, B., 2004. Identifying IPv6 network problems in the dual-stack world. In Applications, Technologies, Architectures, and Protocols for Computer Communication, Proceedings of the ACM SIGCOMM workshop on Network troubleshooting: research, theory and operations practice meet malfunctioning reality. Portland, Oregon, USA, 2004. ACM New York, USA. Comer, D., 2000. Internetworking with TCP/IP Vol.1: Principles, Protocols, and Architecture. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Das, K., 2008. IPv6 - The History and Timeline. [Online] Available at: http://ipv6.com/articles/general/timeline-of-ipv6.htm [Accessed 22 April 2010]. Deering, S. & Hinden, R., 1999. Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification. [Online] Available at: http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2460.txt [Accessed 22 April 2009]. Forouzan, B.A. & Fegan, S.C., 2003. Data Communications and Networking. New York: McGraw-Hill. Hinden, R., 2003. IP Version 6 (IPv6). [Online] Available at: http://playground.sun.com/ipv6/ [Accessed 22 April 2010]. IPv6 Portal, 2009. The Migration from IPv4 to IPv6. [Online] Available at: http://www.cu.ipv6tf.org/literatura/chap12.pdf [Accessed 21 April 2010]. Microsoft, 2005. IPv6 address space. [Online] Available at: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc781652(WS.10).aspx [Accessed 21 April 2010]. Moore, K., 2003. Dubious Assumptions about IPv6. [Online] Available at: http://www.cs.utk.edu/~moore/opinions/ipv6/dubious-assumptions.html [Accessed 22 April 2010]. Oracle Corporation, 2010. Common Problems When Deploying IPv6. [Online] Available at: http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/816-4554/ipv6-troubleshoot-2?a=view [Accessed 20 April 2010]. Oracle Corporation, 2010. SystemAdministration Guide: IP Services. [Online] Available at: http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/816-4554/ipv6-ref-2?a=view [Accessed 22 April 2010]. Scholz, G.R., Evans, C., Flores, J. & Rahman, M., 2001. Internet protocol version 6 (student paper). In Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges, Proceedings of the seventh annual consortium for computing in small colleges central plains conference on The journal of computing in small colleges. Branson, Missouri, United States, 2001. Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges, USA. Sotillo, S., 2009. IPv6 Security Issues. [Online] Available at: http://www.infosecwriters.com/text_resources/pdf/IPv6_SSotillo.pdf [Accessed 20 April 2010]. The SCO Group, 2004. Porting IPv4 applications to IPv6. [Online] Available at: http://uw714doc.sco.com/en/SDK_netapi/sockC.PortIPv4appIPv6.html [Accessed 21 April 2010]. Read More