IPv6 – What does it mean, and what is it used for?

The IPv6 is a network layer protocol that allows communication and data transfer between two different hosts. It sets specific rules that help identify the separate hosts and track their location. That way, they could exchange information successfully. Only when the two corresponding IP addresses are identified, the route could be established, and the hosts are able to communicate.

IPv6 operates with 128-bit addresses. Each address includes eight different groups of strings, and every group has four characters (alphanumeric), divided by a colon. Thanks to these characteristics, it is able to provide an incredible amount of unique IP addresses. That guarantees that we should have available unique IP addresses to assign to all of the new devices for a very long time.

History of IPv6

IPv6 stands for Internet Protocol version 6, and it is the newer version of the Internet Protocol (IP). Yet, can you imagine it was around for more than 20 years? It was introduced back in December 1995! The main goal for its creation is to take over and eventually replace the previous protocol – IPv4. The reason is simple. The number of devices that want to connect to the Internet is growing tremendously, and IPv4 is not able to satisfy such needs. 

IPv4 protocol, the previous standard, allows 4.2 billion unique IP addresses. However, with the newer tech developments and the various new wireless and network-attached devices, such as the IoT devices, it was predicted that by 2010, the Internet would have exhausted all unique IPv4 addresses.

On the other hand, thanks to the standardization of the new IPv6, it allows 3.4 x 1038 unique IP addresses. This is equal to 340 trillion trillion trillion IP addresses.

How does the Internet work? 

The Internet is a pretty extensive cable network. It connects numerous data centers placed all over the world and the users that desire to reach and connect with their services. All of the network points are connected with massive cables.

Additionally, such a large network of interconnected machines and devices requires proper order and the ability to identify all of the different devices with their associated addresses. Therefore, both users and servers should have an IP address for that purpose. Moreover, the servers hold hostnames, too. 

When a user wants to view a particular website, it has to type its domain name (hostname) and connect to the web server that holds the information for it. Every website on the Internet is hosted on web servers in different data centers. That way, you can access websites, applications, and services.

IP address – definition

The IP address serves as an ID and identifies all of the various hosts on the network – both servers and users. There are two main types of IP addresses:

• Private: This type of IP address is used when users connect on a closed private network. Thanks to it, the user gains access to the specific network, and it is able to communicate with the other devices, which it includes.
• Public: This type of IP address is used when you want to connect to the Internet. Usually, an Internet service provider (ISP) provides you with a router that you need and a public IP address. Servers need such an address too, and it should not change, meaning they should be static.

You are probably wondering why we are talking about IP addresses. In reality, to access a website, we just type domain names. So, let’s find out more!

Domain Name System explained

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a global database that contains all of the existing domain names and their IP addresses. It answers the DNS queries of the users for the domain names and their IP addresses daily.

The Domain Name System is decentralized and built in a hierarchical order. Therefore, each level knows the answer for the one below. On the top level are the Root servers, which provide information about the TLD (Top-Level Domain) servers. In addition, they hold data about where the different extensions are, such as .com, .info, .net, etc.

Thanks to this arrangement, it is easy for users to type the domain name and reach the website. The user requests the needed IP address (IPv4 or IPv6), and it first checks the DNS cache of the device. If it’s not available there, the recursive DNS server performs the next step. It searches for the answer until it reaches the authoritative DNS server that holds the needed information (A record or AAAA record). This whole process is also known as DNS resolution.

Types of Internet Protocol version 6 addresses

Now we know what an IPv6 address is. So, let’s take a look at its three different types: unicast, anycast, and multicast, which are defined by RFC 4291: IP Version 6 Addressing Architecture.

• Unicast (a single interface) – It represents a particular node on a network and frequently alludes to a specific transmitter or receiver. Accordingly, it is one-on-one communication.
• Anycast (a set of interfaces) – It is linked to a group of interfaces, most of which are connected to various nodes. Accordingly, it is one-to-closest communication.
• Multicast (a group of interfaces) – We only implement it as a datagram’s destination and represents a collection of IP devices. Accordingly, it is one-to-many communication.

Furthermore, IPv6 does not support broadcast addresses. Multicast addresses are used to implement the broadcast features.

IPv4 vs. IPv6 – differences

The main contrast between IPv4 and IPv6 is in the increased number of addresses. The IPv4 is a 32-bit IP address, and IPv6 is a 128-bit IP address. Yet, IPv4 is still a popular choice compared to IPv6.

Additional differences between IPv4 and IPv6 are:

• IPv6 relies on an alphanumeric addressing technique. On the other hand, IPv4 is based only on numeric.
• The bits in IPv6 are divided by a colon. The bits in IPv4 are divided by a period.
• IP security is demanded by IPv6, while in IPv4, it is an option.
• IPv6 implements an IP security (IPSec) protocol. On the other hand, IPv4 leans on applications.
• With IPv6, networks are automatically configured. On the other hand, networks based on IPv4 should be configured via Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) or manually.
• IPv6 uses NDP (Neighbor Discovery Protocol) for mapping MAC addresses, and IPv4 operates with ARP (Address Resolution Protocol).
• IPv6 holds eight header fields with a length of 40-characters. IPv4 holds 14 header fields with a length of eight characters.
• IPv6 does not include any checksum fields.

Ways to check IPv6 address

If you are wondering how to check an IPv6 address, don’t worry we got you covered! It is a simple and easy task which you can perform both for a device (network) and for a specific hostname.

For a device/network

Checking your IPv6 address is a simple task. There are several ways you could see it. 

• Via your browser: 

You are able to check your external IPv6 address by simply writing “What is my IP” on Google.com. You are going to receive the regular search results, plus a rich snippet with the information you need. So, simple and easy, right!

• If you are a Windows user:

In this case, you should simply open the Command Prompt. Then, type the following:  “ipconfig”. You will receive as an answer the entire IP configuration.

• If you are a Linux user:

In this case, you should simply open the Terminal and then type the following: “ip addr”. Next, you should find “inet”, and you are going to notice your IPv6 address.

• If you are a macOS user:

In this case, click the Apple icon on your top left corner. Then click on “System Preferences” and find and click on “Network”. Lastly, search for the network connection that you use and click on it. There you are going to see your IPv6 address. Easy, right?

For a hostname

We took a look at how to check your Internet Protocol version 6. But let’s see how to find it for a hostname. It is also an easy procedure, depending on the Operating System that you are using.

• On Windows

Open the Command Prompt application. Inside it, write the following command:
nslookup -type=aaaa cloudns.net
Press Enter to get the IPv6 address(es) for cloudns.net. 

10 most used Nslookup commands

• On macOS

Open the Terminal application. Inside it, write the following command:
dig cloudns.net aaaa
Press Enter and check the results. 

Check out our article if you want to learn more about the dig command, how to install it, and use it.

• On Linux

Open the Terminal. Inside it, write the following command:
dig cloudns.net aaaa
Press Enter and check the results. 

*Note that you need to change cloudns.net with the hostname you want to check*

How to figure out the full address from the shortened one?

First, determine whether the address contains a double colon to select the full IPv6 from an abbreviated one. Next, view how many double colons represent 0 blocks if it has one. To do this, count the number of blocks in the abbreviated address and divide it by 8. In the address AF02::2, for example, there are two blocks: AF02 and 2. The double colon (::) represents the number of blocks (8 blocks – 2 two blocks).

After determining all eight blocks, count the number of hexadecimal digits in each. Each block must include four Hexadecimal digits. If any block has fewer than four hexadecimal digits, add an equal number of zeros on the left side or in the block’s leading position.

Let’s use the abbreviated example address to calculate the full address.

AF02::2
AF02:0:0:0:0:0:0:2 – The address after removing the abbreviated double-colon
AF02:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0002 – The address after adding leading zeros

So the full address of the abbreviated address AF02::2 is AF02:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0002.

Advantages and disadvantages

As many things in life, IPv6 also has its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore it is important to know what you can expect from this new Internet Protocol.

Advantages of IPv6

The main benefits of IPv6 include the following:

• It increases the capacity of address space – That way, the different resources are efficiently distributed to the adapted additional web addresses.
• Routing is efficient – It gives a possibility of easy aggregation of prefixes assigned to IP networks.
• Efficient Data Flow – It allows the transfer of large data packets simultaneously. That helps with preserving bandwidth.
• Security– It improves safety and security based on the improved authentication methods built into network firewalls.

Disadvantages of IPv6

As we mentioned there are some drawbacks of the protocol, which are:

• Slow adaptation: It is based on the fact that IPv4 is still very popular, and a large part of users are using it. The transition to the newer IPv6 is a slow process.
• Connection: IPv4 and IPv6 devices are not able to communicate directly. Yet, there are very few occasions that they would need to.
• Readability: Operating and learning IPv6 subnetting can be complicated on its own. Additionally, if you just think about remembering or memorizing your IPv6 address seems like a difficult task.

Suggested article: IPv4 vs IPv6 and where did IPv5 go?

IPv6 Transition Challenges

When it comes to discussing IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6), there are several challenges that organizations may face as they transition from IPv4 to IPv6. 

• Address Space Management: The biggest advantage of IPv6 is its vast address space, yet this can also be a challenge. Managing such a large pool of addresses requires robust strategies to ensure efficient allocation and prevent address exhaustion. Organizations need to develop effective address assignment policies to make the most of IPv6’s capabilities.
• Dual Stack Implementation: During the transition period, many networks operate in a dual-stack mode, supporting both IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously. As a result, configuration and maintenance are more complex, and potential security issues may arise. 
• Legacy System Compatibility: Not all systems and applications are IPv6-ready, and many legacy systems may only support IPv4. Ensuring compatibility and interoperability between IPv6-enabled devices and older systems can be challenging. It requires careful planning and investing in updates or replacements for outdated infrastructure.
• Security Concerns: While IPv6 includes features that improve security, such as IPsec integration, the transition itself can be risky. Misconfigurations, lack of awareness, and the coexistence of IPv4 and IPv6 can create vulnerabilities that attackers may exploit. Robust security measures and constant monitoring are crucial during the transition phase.
• Skill Gaps and Training: Implementing and managing IPv6 networks requires a different skill set compared to IPv4. Many IT professionals may need to learn the necessary expertise. Organizations should invest in training programs to ensure their team can effectively design, deploy, and maintain IPv6 networks.
• Costs and Budgeting: IPv6 adoption often involves investment in new hardware, software, and training. The upfront costs can be a significant barrier for some organizations, especially smaller ones with limited resources. Clear budgeting and cost-effective strategies are essential for a smooth transition.
• Internet Service Provider (ISP): The successful implementation of IPv6 also depends on ISPs. If they are not fully prepared to support the new protocol, it can lead to connectivity issues and interfere with the overall transition process.

Best Practices for Transitioning to IPv6

Transitioning to IPv6 requires careful planning to ensure a smooth and secure implementation.

• Start by adopting a dual-stack configuration, which allows your network to support both IPv4 and IPv6 during the transition. This approach helps maintain connectivity with both IPv4 and IPv6 devices.
• Develop a comprehensive IP address management strategy to effectively organize and allocate the large IPv6 address space.
• Prioritize training for IT staff on IPv6 configuration and troubleshooting as IPv6 introduces new protocols and practices.
• Implement strong security measures by configuring firewalls and monitoring systems for IPv6 traffic specifically.
• Collaborate with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to ensure they fully support IPv6, as ISP compatibility can significantly impact your transition’s success.

IPv6 Security: Exploring IPsec Integration

IPv6 includes IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) as an essential, built-in feature, offering improved security by encrypting and authenticating network traffic. Unlike IPv4, where IPsec is optional, IPv6 was designed with IPsec as a foundational element.

It provides three primary benefits: data integrity, data origin authentication, and data confidentiality, making IPv6 inherently more secure. This protocol suite is especially beneficial for sensitive data transmission, as it minimizes the risk of interception and tampering.

IPsec works by securing data packets at the network layer, which supports secure end-to-end communications without needing application-level encryption. However, IPsec setup and maintenance require expertise, so organizations should ensure their IT teams are highly familiar with IPv6 security practices to maximize the benefits of IPsec integration.

Conclusion 

There is no doubt that IPv6 is beneficial, and it is considered a revolutionary technology. However, it is going to take some time until we fully commit and use its real potential.

The post What is an IPv6 address? [Fully explained] appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

To be more precise, the domain name resolution is a translation process between the domain name that people use while writing in their browsers and the site’s IP addresses. You need the IP address of a site to know where it is located and load it.

A website could have both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, and the DNS resolution of a domain name will ask for both of them. The IPv4 address will come in the form of a DNS A record, and the IPv6 will come in a DNS AAAA record.

Let’s get into the details, and see how it works, shall we?

Domain name resolution – Why is it important?

In the world of the Internet, the addresses don’t contain streets and cities. They have numbers and symbols. There are two types of addresses: IPv4 and IPv6. In order to enter a particular website, the user needs to get its IP. Instead of remembering all of the IPs of every website, we simply need to remember the domain name. The domain name is usually not hard to remember, and this makes it easier. When the user types the name of the website, the process of the domain name resolution starts.

So let’s proceed and explain the whole process of DNS resolution.

DNS resolution process

The browser of a user needs to get the IP and sends queries to the name servers. This process involves domain name resolvers. The first answer that your browser will get is the root server, then the TLD (top-level domain). The servers with the TLD of the website you want to visit (com, net, or another) will refer your queries to the next step in searching authoritative servers that know the exact IP address of the domain name. Then the domain name will be resolved.

Let’s breakdown the DNS resolution step-by-step: 

1. A user is typing a domain name like cloudns.net into their browser. The user needs an A or AAAA DNS record to resolve the domain name.
2. If your device’s cache has the IP address of cloudns.net, the domain name resolution will finish here, and the user will be able to open the website. But, if it does not, there will be more steps. The devices keep DNS records for visited sites, depending on the TTL (Time to Live) values of those DNS records. After the time they indicate, they will be deleted, and a new query needs to be performed.
3. If your computer doesn’t have the needed IP address, it will search for the answer by performing a DNS resolution query. The next destination on the way will be the recursive DNS servers of the internet services provider. They also keep a cache with DNS records of domain names that users have accessed. If the desired site’s DNS records are still there, the user will get an answer to its query and access the site. If not, there will be a series of interactive DNS queries to find the answer.
4. If the domain name resolution didn’t finish with the previous step, the recursive nameserver would search for the answer. The next step will be to ask the Root server, which is indicated with a “.” sign after the TLD (top-level domain). The Root server does not have an answer about the exact domain name, but it will provide one for the part it is responsible for – it will indicate all the nameservers for the TLD that we asked for. In our case, it will show the nameservers of .net.
5. The TLD DNS servers will have the answer of which exactly are the authoritative nameservers for the domain you are searching. The TLD servers of .net will have that information for all of the domain names that finish with .net. They will return that answer so the query can continue.
6. Now that we know where the authoritative nameserver of the domain name we want is, we can ask and get the A and AAAA records to understand the site’s IP address.
7. The Authoritative nameservers of the domain name will provide the DNS records, the DNS resolution will be made. The recursive nameserver of our ISP and our device will both save the DNS records that we obtained based on their TTL values. That way, if we soon want to visit the site again, we will save time and access the site faster.
8. Visit the site. Now with the DNS record already obtained, the user can access the site.

Do we need to care about it?

The answer is yes! For humans, the DNS resolution process is essential. And if something goes wrong, the use of the Internet by regular users would be extremely difficult. 

So we should be concerned about DNS resolution for two reasons:

1. The first one is the importance of the speed. When a user accesses your website, the DNS resolution is the first thing that happens. If your page takes too long to load and access, the user will probably leave. That’s why this process needs to be performed fast.
2. The second one is the availability. The nameserver in charge of handling your domain name needs to be trustworthy. A backup DNS service is a great technique to guarantee that your domain is always reachable by your customers.

What to do if DNS resolution is not working?

1. Check your internet connection. Many times when the domain name resolution fails, the main reason is that you are not connected to the Internet. Check your connectivity and restart your router.

2. Verify the problem is DNS-related. Before diving into DNS-specific solutions, confirm that the issue isn’t related to general connectivity. Try accessing the site with its IP address instead of its domain name. If this works, the problem likely lies with DNS resolution.

3. Obtain DNS server address automatically. Go to the network adapter and open the properties. Then search for the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and open its properties. From there, you can click on Obtain DNS server address automatically. This will allow your computer to receive the DNS settings from the DHCP server.

4. Release and then renew the DHCP IP address. There could be an IP address conflict because of the DHCP server. What you can do as a user is to give up the IP address lease. You can do that with a command from the Command Prompt:

ipconfig /release

After that, you can renew your IP address with the following:

ipconfig /renew

Now your connectivity should be restored.

5. Flush the DNS cache of your device. You can do that by accessing the Command Prompt (as an administrator) and performing the following command:

• On Windows, open Command Prompt and type: ipconfig /flushdns
• On macOS, open Terminal and type: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
• On Linux, the command varies by distribution, but a common one is: sudo systemctl restart nscd

If you had a previous IP address of a domain that is no longer available, now you have deleted it. The device performs a DNS resolution again, and it should get the new IP address.

6. Disable any VPNs or proxies. VPNs and proxies can redirect your network traffic through different servers, which may cause DNS resolution issues. Try disabling them to see if that resolves the issue.

7. Check your hosts file. The hosts file on your computer can override DNS and manually map domain names to IP addresses. Ensure there are no incorrect entries that could be causing conflicts.

• On Windows, this file is located at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
• On macOS and Linux, it’s at /etc/hosts

8. Update your DNS records. If you’re managing a domain and have recently changed DNS records, it might just be a matter of waiting. DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours.

9. The last resort is to contact your ISP and tell them the problem. There is a chance that it is related to its equipment or software, and it can fix it. Or maybe it is blocking some websites on purpose. You can at least try to find an answer from it.

DNS Monitoring: Keeping Resolution on Track

DNS resolution is a silent yet critical driver of the digital world, translating domain names into IP addresses. DNS monitoring services amplify this process’s reliability by offering continuous oversight. These services rapidly identify and help rectify resolution delays or failures, ensuring users can always reach their online destinations.

DNS monitoring checks are essential in validating the seamless operation of DNS resolution, crucial for uninterrupted internet navigation. By querying specific hostnames against expected responses, these checks can swiftly flag a DNS resolution process as operational (UP) or problematic (DOWN).

For example, monitoring might run a command like:

If the response matches the expected IP, the DNS is considered healthy. This proactive measure ensures DNS performance remains robust, which is vital for network reliability and the overall user experience.

In the event of discrepancies, debugging tools, including Traceroute, assist in tracing the issue to its source, allowing for quick resolution. Thus, integrating DNS monitoring checks is a strategic move to bolster network stability and maintain consistent service delivery.

Why do we need recursive servers?

Theoretically, authoritative nameservers are enough to keep the DNS resolution process running. You can think that the only kind of DNS servers we need is authoritative, but imagine how much load they will need to take if all the complete queries get to them.

For decreasing the load and increasing the speed, there are recursive servers (DNS resolvers) that keep the DNS records with the information needed to access a particular website for a defined period of time. This time is called TTL (time to live), and the process is named DNS cache. There are such recursive servers in the internet service providers that keep the information for many websites for the period of time defined by the TTL.

To make it easier to imagine, it generally functions as a name server, acting as a go-between the customer and the authoritative DNS server. However, without it, you won’t be able to access any website that you want to reach on.

Why DNS Resolution Times Matter and How to Improve Them

DNS resolution times are a key factor in overall website performance, as they determine how quickly a user can begin accessing a webpage. If this process takes too long, it can significantly delay page load time, creating a poor user experience. Delays have a negative impact on e-commerce and business sites, where faster loading speeds directly affect sales and user engagement.

Several factors influence DNS resolution speed are the following:

• Server Proximity: The closer the authoritative DNS server is to the user, the faster the response. Many DNS providers use Anycast routing, which directs queries to the nearest server, reducing latency and speeding up resolution times.
• Caching Efficiency: When DNS records are cached effectively, repeat queries can be answered instantly from the cache, avoiding the need for a full DNS lookup. Time to Live (TTL) values determine caching duration – longer TTLs reduce query frequency for stable sites, while shorter TTLs allow for more frequent updates.
• DNS Provider Choice: A reliable, high-performance DNS provider often has better infrastructure and caching policies, as well as multiple server locations worldwide, which can reduce resolution time. Providers typically offer faster, more secure DNS resolution than ISP default options.

How DNS Resolution Works with IPv4 and IPv6 Addresses

When domain resolution occurs, it can return either IPv4 or IPv6 addresses or both, depending on the server’s configuration and the client’s capability to use either protocol. This flexibility ensures that DNS can adapt to the gradual transition from IPv4 to IPv6, supporting both legacy systems and modern networks.

The two address types serve distinct purposes:

• IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4): IPv4 is the older protocol that uses 32-bit addresses, resulting in about 4.3 billion unique IPs. DNS A records are responsible for mapping domain names to their corresponding IPv4 addresses. However, with the explosive growth of internet-connected devices, IPv4 addresses are in short supply, which is where IPv6 steps in.
• IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6): IPv6 was developed to provide a vast address space, using 128-bit addresses that allow for 340 undecillion unique IPs. This address space is critical for the future of the internet, as more devices connect daily. DNS AAAA records are responsible for returning IPv6 addresses for a domain. Additionally, the newer version of IP offers benefits beyond capacity, including better routing efficiency and improved security features.

Conclusion

DNS is a very useful system that saves a lot of time and makes our lives easier. After this article, you will know better what happens when you open a web page, how exactly the DNS resolution works, and what it means a domain name resolution.

The post What is Domain Name Resolution? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

What is IP (Internet Protocol)?

IP is an abbreviation of the internet protocol. The IP is the way devices connect to the internet. It has a set of rules that define how the data travels from host to its destination. Basically, we need to define what we see (hostname), where it is (IP address), and how to get there (route).

To identify all the devices (hosts), there are IP addresses that are unique to them. They are assigned by the network administrators and could be static (fixed) IPs or dynamic (changing automatically after time) IPs.

An IP address is a simple string of numbers that are separated by periods. An example of an IP is 127.0.0.1, which is the localhost of most network systems.

First, the IP protocol was part of the TCP/IP. The first version that separated from it was the IPv4.

Types of IP addresses

When are talking about cosumers’ IP addresses, we can define four:

• Private IP addresses

The Private IP address is used inside the network. Imagine your home or office. You have a router that probably uses a dynamic method of IP allocation like DHCP. Your device will request an address, and it will receive one. This is a private IP address for the network that your router creates. Other devices (computers, IoT devices, phones) connected to the Internet thought this router would get their IPs the same way.

The router uses the addresses to identify the connected devices and manages those IPs to provide to other devices later.

Router vs firewall, can you guess which is better?

• Public IP addresses

Now we are going broader. Your router will get another IP address from your Internet service provider (ISP). This is a public IP address from the IPS’s pool of IP addresses for outside of your network recognition.

This public IP address can be a dynamic IP address leased to you by a DHCP or another type of server for a limited amount of time, or it could be a static IP address that will be fixed for you. The static could allow you to offer services that require such an IP address, but usually, it requires an extra payment.

DNS vs DHCP. Are they connected?

• Static IP addresses

For a certain set of devices, having a consistent IP address is of utmost importance. This is the case with static IP addresses, which are set and remain fixed over time. It is used mainly on networks where a device needs to be identified in order to access resources or services. Examples of static IP address are 192.168.1.100, 10.0.0.15 and 172.16.1.255. With a static IP address, a computer is always assigned the same address, which makes it easier to access remote resources.

• Dynamic IP addresses

For many networks, having a single dedicated address isn’t feasible as the amount of devices connected can fluctuate. It’s here where dynamic IP addressing comes into play. It is one that changes every time an individual device connects to a network. It is used on networks where a station needs a unique address for a limited time, after which a different device may use that same address. Dynamic IP addresses are not permanent, so the device connected to the network keeps changing IP addresses as needed. 

What is IPv4 address?

IPv4 address is the Internet Protocol version 4 address that serves to identify a device on a network and looks like this 157.240.20.35. It has 4 numbers that can be from 0 to 254, and are divided by dots.

The IPv4 started being used in 1982 on SATNET and one year later on ARPANET.

The IPv4 protocol allows interconnected networks and transmission of data from one place (source) to the destination. It passes datagrams from one internet module to the next until the destination is reached. If the data is too large to pass through a network, it can get fragmentation, chopped into pieces, and pass the limit of the network.

 Problems with IPv4

• A scarce number of available IPv4. The total number of available IPs is 4 294 967 296 (232). It looks massive, but think about how many connected devices are there. Yes, they are already more, and the internet service providers need to reuse their available IPs. Some are running out of numbers already, and they are starting to provide IPv6 addresses.
• Does not support IPsec natively. Yes, it could be configured, but it is harder.
• Limited IPv4 header (60 bytes). You can’t add any additional parameters.
• The price of IPv4 is rising. Each year the price is rising. Currently is above 25 USD. Maybe finally, the price will be the number one driver to move to the superior IPv6.

When we are talking about DNS and IPv4 addresses, we need to resolve the hostname to its IP address, and we use A records for that purpose.

If you want to check your domain’s A record, we recommend you take a look at the first command from our article: 10 Most used Dig commands

What is IPv6 address?

IPv6 is the latest version of IP. It has been around since 1995 and was introduced to replace the IPv4 back in 1998. Since 2017, the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) has ratified it as an Internet Standard.

In contrast to the IPv4, which uses 32-bit addresses, the newer version IPv6 uses 128bit addressing. To see the difference, we will start with one example of IPv6: “2001:0db8:0000:0042:0000:8a2e:0370:7334”. It has 8 groups, double the number of the previous. Each group has 4 hexadecimal (hex) digits, and the groups are separated by colons.

As you can see, there are many more combinations of available IP addresses. To be precise, 1028 times more available addresses!

Another benefit of the new protocol is the increased security. It has IPsec (Internet security protocol). It authenticates the sender (with Authentication Header) and encrypts the data (Encapsulating Security Payload).

Stateless address auto-configuration (SLAAC) is important too. The IPv6 auto-configures by listening to the Ruter Advertisement (RA), from the host. After that, it auto-assigns a 64-bit prefix. The other 64 bits of the address come from the host who self-determines its address.

The main problem of the protocol is the slow adoption from the ISPs (internet providers). They mostly prefer to use IPv4 because they don’t want to invest in new technology. Currently, the adoption rate is 41.35% (date 14.05.2023, oogle IPv6 adoption statistic ), and the leaders are France with 74.68%, second is India with 68.76%, Germany with 67.5%, Belgium with 67.25%, Greece with 61.29%, and the Saudi Arabia with 60.47%.

You can use IPv6 addresses on your managed DNS with AAAA records.

If you need more information you can look at our detailed article about IPv6.

Where is the IPv5 address?

Ok, there are almost no IPv4s left. Why aren’t we moving to IPv5? Why did we skip it? The reason is that IPv5 doesn’t exist. It never made it to become one of the IP protocols. It was planned as a streaming protocol, and it got to its second version, ST2. Its packets had the IP version 5 ID but eventually died as a draft. To evade confusion, the next protocol was named IPv6.

The big problem IPv5 had was that it used the same IPv4 addressing and had the same limited number of addresses.

Part of its development went to the next version, and that is how IPv5 history finished. But let’s see in more detail why IPv5 never came.

Why did IPv5 never emerge?

The journey of IPv5 towards becoming a mainstream internet protocol was halted by several key factors. Its development, closely tied to IPv4’s architectural framework, did not address the looming issue of IP address exhaustion that threatened the internet’s scalability. This critical shortfall, coupled with the emerging needs of a rapidly expanding digital world, necessitated a more comprehensive solution. Enter IPv6, with its vast address space and improved functionalities such as enhanced security and efficient routing. 

As the global internet community gravitated towards adopting IPv6 for its future-ready capabilities, IPv5 remained a crucial yet bypassed step in the evolution of internet protocols, serving as a testament to the ongoing pursuit of technological advancement.

IPv4 vs IPv6

So we are finally getting to the true IPv4 vs IPv6 comparison. Here we are going to put the attention on the fundamental differences that the two protocols have. You will see how much did the new one improve over the IPv4.

IPv4 vs. IPv6: Speed comparison

Is the new IPv6 faster than the previous IPv4?

• IPv6 has one big advantage: it does not need Network Address Translation (NAT). It uses global addresses because simply there are enough addresses, and it does not need the NAT, while IPv4 will have to deal with NAT.
• The older protocol has header checksums for bit errors because back when it was introduced, the connectivity was far worse. The newer does not, and its header is fixed to 40 bytes.

Currently, IPv6 is mostly faster than IPv4, with small exceptions.

IPv4 vs. IPv6: Security comparison

• As we mentioned before, IPv6 already includes IPSec. IPSec can be used with IPv4. Just it takes extra steps.
• Address scanning is a lot harder for IPv6. We are talking about a massive number of IPv6 subnet addresses. It will take an incredibly long time for an attacker if it does not use some extra criteria for its scanning.
• IPv6 can support end-to-end encryption. This can reduce man-in-the-middle attacks.
• Another feature of the new protocol is called SEND (Secure Neighbor Discovery). It is a cryptographic check of a host to see if it is truly the one that it says it is.

Benefits of the IPv6 summarized

• Better routing without fragmentation of packets
• Extended address space (128it vs 32bit)
• IPsec
• SLAAC – Stateless address auto-configuration
• An improved structure of the header with less processing overhead

What Internet Protocol version does ClouDNS use?

If you host your domain at ClouDNS, you might be wondering whether ClouDNS uses IPv4 or IPv6. ClouDNS currently uses both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.

IPv4 enables compatibility with more older devices while IPv6 provides a larger address space, faster response time, and better support for quality of service. ClouDNS ensures the optimum operation of your website, application or any other service across multiple generations of devices and networks. This allows users to easily access your content no matter their device or network, securely and quickly.

Conclusion

IPv4 vs IPv6, now you know the difference. IPv6 provides enough IPs for a long, long time. We probably won’t see any new version any time soon.

As we stand today, more than 25 years from the beginning of IPv6, it is already used by 30% of the world’s Internet users. It will be the preferred IP version in the future, and it is important to start adopting it today.

The post IPv4 vs IPv6 and where did IPv5 go? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

IPv4 meaning

IPv4 is short for Internet Protocol version 4. The 4th version of the Internet protocol (IP) is still a popular protocol for communication over the Internet. It establishes the rules and limitations for communication over the Internet or on a local network. Thanks to the IP, we can have interconnected network routing with packet forwarding because it defines the format, and the communications, use IPv4 addresses, and routes data.

In contrast to the transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the Ipv4 protocol does not need to guarantee delivery, and that makes it a connectionless protocol. It functions on the best-effort delivery model and makes it fast.

IPv4 was first described in 1981 by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF, RFC 791) and was later adopted by the Department of Defense of The USA in 1982, SATNET in 1982, and ARPANET in 1983. 

We can’t miss talking about IPv4 addresses too. An IPv4 address is a 32-bit address that identifies a device on a network. It is made of 4 groups of numbers (octets) with up to 3 numbers each. The IPv4 will identify the network and the individual host on the network. 

Here you have an example of an IPv4 address: 185.107.80.231

You can find the website’s IP address by performing a simple command on your computer. Go to the Command Prompt on Windows or Terminal on macOS and Linux, type this command, and press the Enter:

nslookup domainname.com

Change domainname.com with the domain you want. The result will be IPv4 address (from the A DNS record) and IPv6 address (from the AAAA DNS record). 

The problems that IPv4 has are the following:

• IP address exhaustion. The business needs for IP addresses can’t be satisfied with IPv4 addresses only, so they are already migrating to IPv6. 
• No IPsec support by default. You can still enable it, but it is a lot easier with the newer IP. 
• Limited header in which you can’t add extra parameters. 
• It is getting too expensive with prices above $25 per IP address.

How does the Internet work?

Contrary to popular belief, the Internet is not many clouds communicating wirelessly, but rather a cable network connection between many data centers spread worldwide and clients who want to use services. There are giant cables between the oceans that connect important network points. 

In this large network of interconnected devices and smaller networks, we need order and clearly defined identifications of the connected devices and their addresses. 

The clients need IP addresses as identification so do the servers. The servers will also need hostnames. For web servers, you have seen they have a domain name (hostname) like Google.com, and when you want to get to it, you will see the content of that page.

The content of each website is hosted on web servers in data centers. Websites and applications need servers to host services so you can access them.

IP address

The IP address is the ID, the identifier of each host – client or server device on the network. There are public and private IP addresses. You will have a private IP address on a closed private network that will let you use the network and connect to the other devices on that network. 

If you want to access the Internet, you will need a router that will use a public IP address provided by an Internet service provider. 

On the server-side, they also need a public IP address. This IP address should not change. It should be static, so clients can find it easily. 

But, when you are access sites, you are not typing their IP addresses but their domain names. How does this work?

DNS (Domain Name System)

Here comes the Domain Name System (DNS). It is an international system, a database of domain names and their IP addresses. It is the all-knowing service that answers DNS queries for domain names with their IP addresses.

DNS has a hierarchy structure with different levels, where each one knows the answer for the one below. The highest is the Root, which knows where the TLD servers are. On the other hand, they know where the domain names of their TLD (like .com, net, etc.).

This organization let you simply type domain names, and your computer will start a quest to find its IP address (A or AAAA DNS record) that starts from your computer’s DNS cache, then different recursive DNS servers who are searching for your answer, and finally authoritative DNS servers which provide this answer.

The begining of IPv4

The ARPAnet was where it all started. The US Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Projects Agency provided funding for the research network known as ARPAnet. It first became accessible in 1969 and permitted connections between 4 hosts. Each host had their own specific address for online communication. The network grew over time, and there were 213 hosts connected in 1981. ARPA significantly impacted universities and research facilities in the United States.

As soon as different types of networks appeared, it became necessary to link them into a single, inclusive, sizable network. The goal was to keep each network’s heterogeneity while enabling user communication across networks. In order to achieve this, Vint Cerf (NCP) and Robert Khan (DARPA) worked on a Transmission Control Program during the first half of the 1970s and published their first paper in 1974.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP) were divided into separate versions in the third of its four implementations. The initial draft of TCP/IP v4 was released in 1978. By 1981, it had become the norm, and on January 1, 1983, often known as “flag day,” the ARPANET replaced NCP with TCP/IP (also recognized as “IPv4”).

Explore TCP monitoring service by ClouDNS

…And IPv4 today 

Later in 1993, a huge improvement to the IPv4 addresses allocation was introduced, which was called Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR). Thanks to CIDR, now we have a suffix that is a number between 0 and 32 and shows how many bits represent the network. It looks like this 192.168.100.14/24. The CIDR allows a variable-length subnet that adapts to the current needs. 

By lowering the number of unused addresses that plagued the class system, CIDR delayed the expansion of routing tables and prolonged the lifespan of IPv4. This trick helped a lot with the IPv4 address exhaustion but is more like a temporary fix than a final solution.

IPv4 classification

We can distinguish five classes of IPv4 addresses: A, B, C, D, and E. Each of them has its own set of IP addresses. Let’s take a look at them.
Class A – The first bit, which is 0, spans the values 0.0.0.0 to 127.255.255.255. This class, which has 8 bits for the network and 24 bits for hosts, is designed for large networks.
Class B – It is intended for medium-sized to big networks. The first two bits, which are 10s, fall between 128.0.0.0 and 191.255.255.255. It also contains 16 bits for hosts and 16 bits for the network.
Class C – We use it for the small local area networks (LANs). The network in this class is indented using three octets. And the IP address has a range of 192.0.0.0 to 223.255.255.255, 24 network bits, and 8 host bits.
Class D – Only programs that require multicasting use it. That means we don’t use Class D for standard networking functions. Instead, it first three bits are set to “1,” and the fourth bit is used for “0”. Furthermore, 32-bit network addresses make up Class D addresses.
Class E – We use it for experimental or study-related reasons. This class of IP addresses covers the first octet values 240.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255. An E class IP address’s first four bits are one in binary format.

Benefits of using Internet Protocol version 4

There are still a few benefits of using IPv4:

• Excellent system support. Thanks to the years it already has, IPv4 is supported on all network devices.
• Simple topology. It is easier to set up and manage an IPv4 network. 
• IPv4 addresses are short. That makes them easier to write and even memorize.
• Compatible with any device. IPv4’s fundamental purpose is to connect devices across the network. And certainly, millions of devices already support this protocol. That makes it the easiest compatible Internet Protocol for devices.

How can you monitor your IPv4 address?

An exposed component of the networking protocol is the IP address. Cyber attackers can change the IP (IPv4 or IPv6) addresses if they have access to the DNS settings. By doing this, they can either prohibit consumers from reaching a location or point them toward a dangerous website. But you can prevent this by using a DNS monitoring service. With it, you can check the IP address, and if something goes wrong, you will be notified, so that you may take appropriate action.

IPv4 vs. IPv6 – differences

There are several important differences between the old IPv4 and the new IPv6:

• 32-bit addresses vs. 128-bit addresses, which provides a lot more addresses in the case of IPv6.
• 4,294,967,296 IP addresses vs 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456 IP addresses.
• Fragmentation allows vs. no fragmentation. 
• Address configuration manually or with DHCP vs. SLAAC or DHCP6. 
• IPsec optional vs. part of the standard. IPv6 supports end-to-end encryption and can avoid man-in-the-middle attacks. 
• NAT translation vs. no need for it in IPv6. 

You can read our in-depth IPv4 vs. IPv6 comparison for more information. 

How to find your IPv4 address?

You can find your external IPv4 address by typing “What’s my IP” in Google.com, and you will see it inside the rich snippet without the need to open any page. 

If you are using a Windows device, you can open the Cmd (Command Prompt) and type “ipconfig“. You will see the complete IP configuration. 

On Linux, open the Terminal and type “ip addr“. Then search for “inet”, and you will see it there. 

On macOS, click the Apple icon on your top left corner and then System Preferences. After that Network, find the network connection you are using and click on it. 

In addition, on Linux and macOS, you can check your IPv4 with the Dig command. Open the Terminal application and inside it, write the following command:

dig cloudns.net

Then in the answer section, you can find the IPv4 address of the domain name you want to check.

What is the future of IPv4?

We are in a time of transition from IPv4 to IPv6. It is not a fast migration, and many businesses decide to stick to the dual-stack model for now. It is harder to manage, but it is more reliable than IPv6-only. 

Due to the IPv4 address exhausting, eventually, we are going to an IPv6-only future, which will take a while. The leading countries in this are India, Belgium, Germany, Malaysia, and Greece. 

Currently, the global adoption rate is just north of 30%, but the percentage is rising.

How to find my website IP address?

Ensuring your website is accessible to all users requires knowing if it supports IPv4, IPv6, or both. Here’s a simplified guide to using the ClouDNS Free DNS Tool to find out:

1. Open the Tool: Head to the ClouDNS Free DNS Tool website.
2. Enter Domain Name: Type in your website’s domain, like cloudns.net, into the tool.
3. Select Tool Type: Choose “DNS records” from the options.
4. Choose DNS Resolver: Pick a DNS resolver and click “check” to start the query.
5. Review Results: Scroll down to the results section. If you see:

• An A record, your site supports IPv4.
• An AAAA record, your site supports IPv6.
• Both records indicate support for both IPv4 and IPv6.

This quick check ensures your website is up-to-date with internet protocols, enhancing accessibility and performance for a global audience.

Conclusion

The most popular protocol to date is IPv4. When IPv4 first came up, it appeared that there were enough addresses for all devices connected to the internet. However, the world’s population is expanding quickly, increasing the need for IP addresses.

Additionally, more networks have grown as a result of the ongoing technological advancements in nearly every sphere of society. Therefore, that implies an increase in IP addresses. This resulted in the developing of a new type of IP address, such as IPv6, which has more outstanding features and capacity, and that we expect one day to replace IPv4.

Nevertheless, as long as there are IPv4 addresses available, someone will require them. So, get unused IP addresses right away to help with the global IPv4 shortage.

The post What is IPv4? Everything you need to know  appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.