Is IPv6 required for web hosting?
Whenever we complete a new site for a client and/or add them to our hosting, we have to point the domain, or contact the client’s team to point their domain to a new IP address. The IP is where the domain locates the server with the website files. Many moons ago, the IP address was something like 000.000.000, or IPv4. As technology continues to move forward, changes in procedures…often driven by the need for better security…happen. And so, we are presented with IPv6.
What Is an IP address?
The term “IP” stands for Internet Protocol. The IP address is a number that is associated with all of the online activity you carry out on a particular device. Consider an IP address as being similar to your home’s address.
What Is IPv4?
The fourth IP version to be made available is IPv4. The internet uses rules for communication that have been designed for this particular version of IP. However, IPv4 is quickly running out worldwide.
IP addresses’ fourth iteration employs 32-bit integers that can be written in hexadecimal notation. A dotted-decimal or dotted-quad variant of IP addresses is more frequently found. All sorts of internet streaming devices employ IP version 4 addresses, which have a total number of 4.3 billion as of 2011.
However, a new version of IP has just been required. This is due to the fact that IPv4 currently lacks sufficient unique IP addresses. The switchover to IPv6, the following IP version, is now taking place over the internet.
What is IPv6?
The most recent version of IP addresses, version 6, was developed to meet the demand for more IP addresses. IP version 6 can provide 240 “undecillion” devices with unique addresses because to its 128-bit address space.
IPNG, which stands for Internet Protocol Next Generation, is another frequent name for IP version 6.
IPv4 vs IPv6
The functions that IP versions 4 and 6 provide to the internet community differ in a number of ways.
Both IP address versions employ binary numbers, although only IP version 4 uses a 32Bit binary number. In contrast, IP version 6 employs a 128-bit binary numeric address to uniquely identify each internet-connected device.
The addresses that are produced with IPv4 are separated by periods. Information is separated using colons in IPv6.
Another significant difference is the absence of checksum fields in IPv6 compared to checksum fields in IPv4.
Is IPv6 needed for Web Hosting?
Your website will be dependent on your hosting provider if you choose a shared hosting account to host your website. However, if you utilize your own server, your hosting company will need to provide you with an IPV6 address.
Why IPv6 is important
A practically infinite number of devices can each have a distinct IP address thanks to IPv6. Find a hosting provider that will enable you to smoothly integrate IPv6 into your website if you want to make sure that it stays current with the most recent version of IP.