THE Internet is running out of new “addresses” to allocate that are based on its current Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) and a fundamental technology shift is coming to every network around the world called Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6).

Put simply, Internet Protocol assigns “addresses” to individual devices attached to a network. Any device attempting to get on to a network or the internet; be it a laptop, mobile phone, printer, scanner or tablet, must have an address assigned to it in order for it to connect.

Not having an address is the equivalent of picking up the phone to call someone, but not receiving a dial tone. The problem on the horizon for networks is that the current Internet Protocol (IPv4) has just about run out of new addresses to allocate. When exactly the addresses will be totally exhausted is still subject to speculation but it has been reported that Asia has already run out.

RIPE (the European Internet registry) is slated to be the next to use all its allocation and it is predicated that this may happen as early as July this year.

The problem stems from the 80s when IPv4 was conceived and since then, demand has outstripped the number of addresses that are physically available.

The good news is that this scenario has been anticipated for about 10 years and the new Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) rectifies this problem by offering an exponentially greater number of new addresses that will last many years into the future. IPv6 will be critical for the Internet to reach its full potential as a catalyst for growth, innovation and economic prosperity.

What this means to the business community is that every device that connects to an IP network (which is almost every networked device on the planet) will need to be able to support IPv6 in the near future. To do that, most devices (and their applications) will require some form of update to support IPv6 as well as IPv4. Fortunately, some devices are already IPv6 compliant but some will require an update to their firmware to ensure compatibility with the new protocol.

Unfortunately, many legacy networking and network-attached products in use today do not have any upgrade path whatsoever due to lack of support for the firmware and will need to be replaced. Eventually, all products will have to support IPv6 and IPv4 will be retired.

World IPv6 Day to be held on June 8 is an opportunity for the internet industry to collaborate and test IPv6 readiness that will lay the groundwork for large-scale adoption and help businesses prepare for the migration.

IPv6 will provide over four billion times more addresses than IPv4, which will be enough to connect the billions of people not connected today.

This migration isn’t a critical IT issue right this second, as today’s global networks will continue to support both IPv4 and IPv6 for the next year or two. However, all businesses connected to the internet need to anticipate the pending migration and begin planning their budgets accordingly.

The global adoption of IPv6 is not a question of if, but when. However, by following a few simple guidelines, migrating to IPv6 doesn’t have to be a painful process. What follows are three simple steps that will help you formulate a realistic implementation roadmap.

Step 1: Discovery: Because IPv6 will affect every device and application on a network, the first step towards a successful migration is to conduct an inventory all of the devices that are currently connected to the network.

∙ Step 2: Readiness: After taking inventory, examine each vendor’s support pages for an IPv6 roadmap and timeframe for full compliancy. This research should reveal if the device requires a simple software update or a complete hardware refresh.

∙ Step 3: Planning: Once the type of upgrade is determined, the costs associated with updating to a newer device or firmware needs to be factored in. Understanding these IPv6 related costs makes it easier to integrate them within a normal IT refresh cycle.

Andy Hunter, head of unified communications at Knowledge I.T, said: “Knowledge I.T has recognized these challenges and is ensuring that the North East of England is not disadvantaged by the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses. As a local internet registry administering and managing the allocation of IP addresses, Knowledge I.T is at the forefront of this technology and has already implemented IPv6 in their North Tyneside data centre. This has been accomplished whilst ensuring that compatibility with IPv4 is maintained.

“In addition, Knowledge I.T has established an IPv6 Internet Exchange in their North Tyneside data centre to allow carriers and customers alike to benefit from IPv6 and to ensure that the Internet continues to expand and function as the communications superhighway.”

To ensure that businesses are ready for the challenges and opportunities that IPv6 presents, Knowledge IT are offering IPv6 readiness audits and will be running a number of customer awareness events that aim to highlight the features and benefits of IPv6.

If you would like to know more or are interested in a free IPv6 readiness audit, call Knowledge I.T today on 0191 417 0099 or visit www.knowledgeit.co.uk