link: IP
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6)
Overview
IPv6 is the most recent version of the Internet Protocol, designed to address the exhaustion of addresses provided by its predecessor, IPv4. It uses a 128-bit address system that significantly increases the number of available IP addresses.
Key Features of IPv6
- 128-bit Addressing: IPv6 addresses are 128 bits long, greatly expanding address capacity to approximately 340 undecillion addresses.
- Simplified Header: Streamlined packet processing with a simpler header compared to IPv4.
- Improved Security: Built-in support for IPSec (Internet Protocol Security), providing robust network security at the IP layer.
- No More NAT: With the vast address space, Network Address Translation (NAT) is no longer necessary, simplifying network configuration and improving end-to-end connectivity.
- Autoconfiguration: Supports stateless address autoconfiguration (SLAAC), allowing devices to configure themselves automatically when connected to an IPv6 network.
Addressing Enhancements
IPv6 addresses are typically written as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits, each group representing 16 bits (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). This notation can be simplified using rules to compress zeros.
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