What Does IPv6 Mean…

Published June 7, 2011 | By Krista

…in “Real People Terms”?

For most of us, we use the Internet and expect that what we are searching for or want to view will just appear. Kind of like a REAL good magic trick. We ask, and then we receive. Well, on June 8, 2011, let’s hope that requests and responses flow just as normal as any day.

Wednesday, June 8 is the International IPv6 test day. What does that mean for the majority of us? In a perfect world, not much. As long as everything goes smoothly, that is. Basically, every computer, printer, internet website has some sort of address where it can be found. And, unfortunately, the Internet neighborhood is running out of addresses. However, the Internet Society (ISOC) has determined a more advanced (and dare I say) even more secure than the current IPv4 standard. When/if the IPv6 is adopted as the industry standard, according to one source, there will be 240 trillion, trillion, trillion addresses available for the taking!

The new IPv6 standard is only going to be tested for a 24 hour period, simply because that allows for testing across the globe. Depending on how the testing fairs, will help determine the stability and readiness of switching over. Time spent after the 24-hour test will allow for tweaking and an opportunity to study its success and failures. However, in reality, COMPLETELY transferring EVERY home, business, and school computer connections to IPv6 would take years. Some routers (those magical black boxes that allow us to check our email) are not ready to accept the IPv6 protocol. The current IPv4 standard has been in place since the mid 1980s and, imagine that, some people think the 30-something year old system is out-of-date and needs an overhaul. Yet again, ask and ye shall receive.

The test sites/companies participating in the 24-hour test will continue to run business as usual using IPv4. Currently, there are 24 major companies taking part in this 24-hour event. Some names you might recognize are Yahoo!, Facebook, Microsoft (Bing), Mozilla, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, just to name a few.

If you are curious to see if your computer can handle the IPv6, click here. If that is a bunch of mumbo-jumbo and you want a simpler test, try this one.

People in every Internet Café, home, or place of business around the world should not notice when the change takes place. However, if you are curious as to when the testing begins in your area, ask and ye shall receive. Check out this site.

So, in the end, what should the “real people” do?? Just use the Internet like normal. You won’t notice anything different, anyway. At least, that’s what the “computer people” say.