IPv6 has finally gone live, and it’s doing so in an very big way. On the internet, the number of IP addresses alone has expanded to “340 trillion trillion trillion,” according to a report from CNN Money.
The introduction of the new platform replaces the previous protocol known as IPv4. IPv4 is used to translate web addresses into actual digital coding, making sites available to view, it plays an integral role in the function of the web. The only problem is that the web was running out of available IPv4 addresses. So th solution to this problem was make it possible to feature more digits in an IP address. That’s where IPv6 comes into play, it features expanded capability for just that purpose.
While June 6th marks the official launch through top web presences, it’s a platform that’s been in the works for quite some time. In the hosting community, it’s an especially important issue. Final availability for IPv4 was previously depleted in February of 2008.
A few of the companies that are now using the IPv6 compatibility include AT&T, Comcast, Google, Yahoo!, Cisco and more. Today’s official launch follows another event held one year ago in which top internet presences tested the protocol.
In a CNET interview yesterday, Internet co-founder Vint Cerf applauded IPv6′s launch while noting the complexity of the matter. “This is not puffery. It is incredibly hard, painstaking work by engineers looking to make sure that every line of code that “knows” an IP address is 32 bits long in a certain format also “knows” that it could also be in IPv6 format, 128 bits long,” commented Cerf.
“This is a major accomplishment for ISPs and application providers around the world. The router and edge device providers have mostly done their homework years ago, but the ISPs and app providers are largely just getting there,” continued the man who’s currently chief internet evangelist for Google.
If you want to make sure you’re ready for the new platform, there is a testing option provided for through http://test-ipv6.com/.
So how will this change the way SEO hosting is done, not really sure yet but we look forward to it!
