Common IPV6 Issues

Common IPV6 Issues

Every day, technology evolves, and IPv6 gradually replaces IPv4 as the most used version of IP addresses worldwide. That does not mean that network administrators and internet users can jump without running into a number of problems.

Sadly, there are no more IPv4 addresses available. Also, it is not unexpected that many people are already switching to the IPv6 address system given that the internet runs on this version of the Internet Protocol (IP).

What is IPv6

The latest version of the Internet Protocol (IP), known as IPv6, was created to fix the limitations of IPv4 in order to solve its flaws. With its 32-bit addressing system, IPv4—which has been in use since the early 1980s—allows for over 4.3 billion unique IP addresses. This address space has run out due to the internet’s rapid growth and increasing number of linked devices, which is why IPv6 was developed.

With the adoption of IPv6, which uses a 128-bit addressing system, the number of available IP addresses is greatly increased to about 3.4 x 10^38, essentially infinite in the long run. In order to support the increasing number of internet-connected devices and guarantee that the internet can keep expanding and changing, this large address space was created.

Why is IPv6 needed?

Address Exhaustion

The main reason behind IPv6 development was to solve the IPv4 address exhaustion problem. With more gadgets connecting to the internet, such as smartphones, tablets, smart home appliances, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, the limited number of IPv4 addresses has become a serious issue. The internet may continue to grow since IPv6 offers a far bigger address space, removing the possibility of IP address exhaustion.

Improved Routing and network Autoconfiguration

IPv6 provides easier network autoconfiguration and more efficient routing. IPv6 offers stateless address autoconfiguration (SLAAC), in place of IPv4, which often requires manual configuration or the use of DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) servers. This eliminates the need for extra configuration by enabling devices to join to the network and automatically set up their own IP addresses.

Enhanced Security Features

Security was a priority throughout IPv6 design. IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) is a set of protocols that secures internet communications by encrypting and authenticating each IP packet in a data stream. Support for IPsec is needed. IPsec is optional and not always used with IPv4, even though it can be. Internet communications now have a greater baseline level of security because of IPsec’s mandatory inclusion in IPv6.

How does IPv6 impact the internet?

Transition challenges

The switch from IPv4 to IPv6 has been difficult and delayed, despite its benefits. One of the primary problems is that networks and devices must support both IPv4 and IPv6 during the transition phase since they are not directly compatible. The set up of this dual-stack strategy, which calls for upgrades to network infrastructure, hardware, and software, can be difficult and expensive.

Compatibility and Legacy systems

Many legacy systems and devices are incompatible with IPv6, which presents serious difficulties for businesses. The cost and duration of system upgrades may contribute to a slower adoption of IPv6. Furthermore, it’s possible that some outdated programs and software don’t support IPv6 fully, requiring updates or replacements.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Network Infrastructure

ISPs are crucial to the IPv6 transition. To support IPv6, they must update their network infrastructure, which may require significant financial investments. The gradual implementation of these upgrades by certain ISPs hindered the wider adoption of IPv6. But as IPv6 becomes more and more popular, ISPs are realizing how crucial it is to offer the new protocol.

Benefits for Future Internet Growth

IPv6 adoption is necessary for the internet’s continued expansion, given its difficulties. The basis for the internet’s ongoing growth and development is provided by IPv6, which offers a large address space, increased routing efficiency, and improved security measures. IPv6 will play a critical role in enabling these developments as more devices are connected and new technologies are developed.

Should we migrate from IPv4 to IPv6?

When it comes to giving network devices an internet address and enabling computer communication, IPv4 and IPv6 addresses are very similar.

But when IPv4 went live in 1981, nobody expected that its 4.3 billion addresses would eventually run out. It was clear that this amount would not be enough by the late 1980s. The Internet Engineering Task Force eventually released IPv6 in 1995.

The new version entered into effect in June 2012 and was standardized in 2017. IPv6 is developed as the answer to IPv4 exhaustion, with a 340 undecillion total range. Additionally, it led to improvements in:

  • Efficiency
  • Security 
  • Performance

All of that being said, not all network administrators and web-connected devices are prepared to adopt IPv6.

Above all, switching to IPv6 needs an enormous financial investment from any business. Furthermore, since your network administrator most likely set up your network to handle IPv4 only there are a lot of issues with IPv4.

This, along with a number of other factors, have made the switch to IPv6 far slower than anticipated. Although IPv4 is still the most widely used version of the IP address, both versions can coexist today. In December 2021, just about 33 percent of Google users were able to access the web over IPv6. 

Why should you use IPv4

IPv4 remains a fantastic option due to its many benefits, even with IPv6’s technological advancements:

  • Reliable security with data encryption
  • Because the routing database is smaller, routing is more effective.
  • Major gadgets are IPv4 compliant.

The advantages of IPv4 are still available despite its absence from the internet because of procedures like IPv4 leasing. With the help of this service, enterprises may easily lease IPv4 without having to pay hefty upfront costs. At the same time, it significantly reduces the worldwide exhaustion of IPv4 address space. 

Issues and challenges of IPv6

As we’ve previously mentioned, switching to IPv6 might cause issues that frequently make IPv4 services the better choice. We address the primary barriers and difficulties in the parts that follow, beginning with security concerns since they are the most noticeable.

Security issues

IPv6 offers numerous improvements in connectivity and performance, but it is still very vulnerable. The following are the primary IPv6 security issues:

  • Dual Stacking- Dual-stack problems are specific to the interaction between IPv4 and IPv6, not to IPv6 itself. Essentially, the two infrastructures have unique security issues that are only visible in dual stacks. 
  • Header Manipulation- Some attacks rely on manipulating headers; they can be countered by employing extension headers and IP Security, often known as IPSec. This isn’t always a solution, though, as certain nodes, like firewalls, might still become overloaded. 
  • Flooding- The huge size of the IPv6 address makes it far more difficult and time-consuming to scan the complete segment than it is for IPv4. This makes smurf-type attacks potentially problematic, which is why it’s a good idea to filter out unnecessary traffic. 
  • Mobility- The launch of IPv6 brought with it a new and complex ability called mobility. More smooth connections are made possible by the method, which makes use of both actual and mobile addresses. 

Network adaptation

Despite the fact that IPv6 is seen as the protocol of the future, many ISPs, particularly the smaller ones, do not currently provide IPv6 services or the monitoring necessary to support IPv6.

You might need to look for another ISP that can provide you with an expensive second line for IPv6 communication if your current one doesn’t support IPv6 addressing services. As an alternative, you can utilize a 6to4 router, which is hardware that allows communication between the two IPs, or you can have a virtual ISP.

DNS issues

The most fundamental piece of information required for a network connection is DNS data, yet IPv6 can make this difficult. This is mostly due to the complexity involved in setting up a DNS server on an IPv6 network.

Until we can all agree on the most effective means of communicating DNS information, this is probably going to be a problem. 

High cost

The costs of switching to IPv6 are not limited to money; they also include human and time resources required for a successful migration.

Complete migration needs a large team and plenty of time to make sure everything is functional in the end. Additionally, you might need to spend money on new servers or routers. 

Conclusion

The major problem of IPv4 address exhaustion is resolved by IPv6, which also offers many other advantages like a much bigger address space, better network autoconfiguration, and more security measures. However, due to compatibility issues, the requirement for infrastructure changes, and the difficulty of supporting both IPv4 and IPv6 throughout the transition time, the move to IPv6 has been delayed. In spite of these obstacles, IPv6 adoption is necessary for the internet’s continued expansion and development in order for it to support an ever-growing number of connected devices and cutting-edge technology.