IPv6 is the newest version of the Internet Protocol and it serves to identify devices across a network. As an essential element in maintaining smooth communication between machines, IPv6 plays an essential role.
It provides a range of features and IETF security protocols (IPSec) for data encryption, authentication, and end-to-end connection integrity. Furthermore, its large address pool provides enough globally unique addresses to accommodate future expansion in smart devices and connectivity.
Larger Address Space
IPv6 is the latest version of the Internet Protocol that enables computers to uniquely identify other devices on the network. Prior versions, such as IPv4, used a 32-bit addressing scheme that supported 4.3 billion devices.
Today’s internet is expanding exponentially as more devices, such as mobile phones, tablets and ebook readers, connect to the network. This highlights the need for additional addresses.
Thankfully, IPv6 offers plenty of space. Unlike IPv4, there is no impending exhaustion of address space due to its 128-bit size; this marks a vast improvement from the current addressing system which has reached its limit and will soon no longer support additional devices.
Another advantage of IPv6’s larger address space is that it offers greater freedom in routing networks. Traditionally, IPv4 networks were constructed around a single topology and each had its own set of IP addresses for routing packets between routers. This resulted in very large routing tables and increased latency due to inefficient routing.
With IPv6, network operators can now create a hierarchy that divides networks into subnets and assigns each one an IP address. This simplifies routing processes while decreasing latency.
IPv6 not only offers a larger address space, but it also has enhanced security features that protect data from eavesdropping and spoofing. These include support for the IETF’s security protocols (IPsec) as well as privacy extensions which enable companies to regularly alter parts of their addressing schema in order to prevent third parties collecting third-party information.
Additionally, IPv6 addresses are much larger than their counterparts in IPv4. Each additional bit added to an address doubles its size – leading to significantly longer addresses overall.
IPv6 offers a larger address space than IPv4, meaning there are more addresses available than ever before. This will prove beneficial in the long run since it can accommodate the rapid expansion of the internet.
IPv6 also promotes the use of summary routes and hierarchical routing, which permits the announcement of a small number of summary routes per address range, keeping the size of the routing table to a minimum while aiding performance and route convergence.
More Efficient Packet Handling
The new IPv6 protocol offers greater adaptability and scalability while still preserving its core functionality. Additionally, it introduces features to further enhance networking capabilities such as jumbograms and mobile IP.
One of the primary advantages is more efficient packet handling. Its streamlined header format enables faster packet processing, since less information needs to be loaded in each packet and routing decisions are based on what matters most. This makes for more effective forwarding, especially over high-speed links.
IPv6 also supports a wider selection of routing protocols, including summary routes and hierarchical routing. This helps reduce the size of routing tables, improve performance, and enable better route convergence between networks.
Another feature is the capability to address a single host in a network using a globally unique address. This saves network resources, enabling devices to communicate without using NAT.
An address is created by combining locally available information with that broadcast by routers. Hosts have the option of manually creating addresses or using a stateless autoconfiguration mechanism for automated generation of addresses.
Network addresses are composed of an interface identifier (EUI-64TM) associated with a host’s link and prefixes identifying which subnet(s) it belongs to. These differ from link local addresses which a host can generate independently.
The traffic class field in an IPv6 address follows the same format as the Type of Service (TOS) field in IPv4. It allows different traffic types to be differentiated through network services like DiffServ QoS.
Furthermore, a flow label is added that uniquely identifies each packet’s path. This helps multilayer switches or routers recognize traffic flows within a network so they can perform packet switching and Quality of Service tasks more efficiently.
Another advantage of IPv6 is its greater selection of options compared to IPv4. These are encoded in an extended header and only processed once specified to a router, providing more support without needing extra packets sent for each one.
Better Security
IPv6 is a more secure version of the Internet Protocol standard than IPv4. It was specifically designed with security in mind and includes these features within its core architecture.
One of the standout features is that it supports IPSec, an IETF security standard designed to safeguard authentication, data integrity and confidentiality. IPSec works by scrambling the contents of traffic so anyone intercepting it cannot decipher what has been sent.
Another key security aspect of IPv6 is ND (Neighbor Discovery), which enables nodes to discover their neighbors in a similar fashion to ARP and RARP in IPv4. This capability makes IPv6 an invaluable platform for cybersecurity initiatives.
Network administrators can gain a better insight into which devices are connected to their network, as well as detect any malicious activity that might be taking place on it.
IPv6 networks also support other security measures, such as AH (Authentication Header), which provides authentication and data integrity; and ESP (Encapsulating Security Payload), which offers both authentication and encryption.
Furthermore, IPv6 utilizes cryptography to encrypt data packets and guarantee they are sent securely, making the system more secure than IPv4.
Furthermore, it incorporates an authentication mechanism that utilizes a Security Parameter Index (SPI) and Sequence Number to confirm the source of a packet is legitimate. This ensures that messages aren’t repeated by another party and prevents replay attacks.
Finally, this feature enables auto-configuration of devices so they can automatically assign themselves an IP address without the need for a server. This makes IoT-enabled products ideal as it enables them to seamlessly connect to multiple networks.
Overall, IPv6 is a more secure version than IPv4. Its core security features are built-in and can be tailored to fit the needs of your specific network.
Although IPv6 is more secure, it still doesn’t offer all the features available with IPv4. In fact, some systems still struggle to support it.
Enhanced Mobility
IPv6 introduces enhanced mobility capabilities for wireless devices, such as mobile phones. This enables the phone to move from one network link to another without changing its “home address,” which is used for routing packets destined for that node to their final destination.
In mobility networks, the issue of a mobile node changing its “home address” is critical. Packets sent to that node from another access router (AR) can be lost if it switches from one AR to another – an event commonly referred to as an “inter-domain handover.”
MIPv6 and HMIPv6 have been developed to address this problem, though they still have flaws such as handover latency, packet loss, signaling overheads. Furthermore, these mobility protocols cannot guarantee that a Mobile Node won’t experience unnecessary handovers when transitioning from one AR to another.
Therefore, a novel approach is proposed that reduces handover latency by optimizing both network layer and link layer mobility management processes in order to minimize overall delay during mobility handover. This solution is referred to as Advanced Mobility Handover (AMH) scheme.
The AMH procedure involves three distinct steps. The MN sends an association request frame with AMH code (01) to the AP, in which case it performs mobility handover on behalf of the MN. Subsequently, when sending another AMH code (10) to the AP, again it performs mobility handover on behalf of the MN. Lastly, when sending IPv6 address matching AP’s home prefix from MN to AP, finalization takes place.
This process is designed so the HA of the MN updates its global routing table upon receiving an AMH message from the AP, and then forwards this same AMH message on to a CN with both IPv6 addresses for MN and AR. This ensures all cached packets are forwarded to their new visited AR during time T3.
The Home Agent (HA) of the MN updates its global route to match that of the visiting AR, and then redirects all traffic between them during time T3. Afterward, the Control Node (CN) of the MN receives a new IPv6 address from the HA that corresponds with its home subnet prefix. Finally, a tunnel is established between them both.
Recommended readings:
- What is an IP Address?
- What is a Router?
- The Best Free VPN Services
- What is a DNS?
- What is a Semiconductor?
