CRUZ, JOSHUA T.

BS ECE V

History of IPV6 Implementation

History: In the year 1994, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IEFT) designed and developed of
the protocols and standards of Internet Protocol Version 6. It is a mean to phase out and
overthrow IPv4 over the coming years. The new protocol aims to effectively support the ever-
expanding Internet usage and functionality and the address security concerns. IPv6 uses a128-
bit address size compared with the 32-bit system used in IPv4 and will allow for as many as
possible addresses. The 128-bit system also provides for multiple levels of hierarchy and
flexibility in hierarchical addressing and routing, a feature that is found wanting on the IPv4-
based Internet. RFC 2460 published in 1998 in serves as the basic protocol of IPv6, basic socket
API (RFC 2553) and DHCPv6 (RFC 3315) was published in 2003. Last 2004, the Mobile IPv6 (RFC
3775) of the protocol was published, the Flow label specifications (RFC 3697) was added in the
same year. There was a slight revision in the Address architecture (RFC 4291) stable and lastly,
the Node requirements (RFC 4294) was published 2006. Besides having a 128-bit address size.
IPv6 has features, new header format designed to keep header overhead to a the streamlined
IPv6 header is more efficiently processed at intermediate routers. Efficient and hierarchical
addressing and routing infrastructure- based on the common occurrence of multiple levels of
Internet service providers. It has a built-in security, it provides header extensions that ease the
implementation of encryption, authentication, and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Better
support for prioritized delivery thanks to the Flow Label field in the IPv6 header. The new
protocol has neighboring node interaction. IPv6 can easily be extended for new features by
adding extension headers after the IPv6 header. And lastly, IPv6 holds out the promise of
achieving end-to-end security, mobile communications, quality of service, and simplified system
management.
Opinion:
After reading all the specifications and features of this new protocol, I am impressed with the
simplified network configuration because instead of the adapting the existing configurations,
the developers still managed and put effort to simplify a complex one. A host can generate its
own IP address by appending its link-layer (MAC) address, converted into Extended Universal
Identifier (EUI) 64-bit format, to the 64 bits of the local link prefix. I guess my only concern
about this new protocol was its security. Yes, IPSec provides confidentiality, authentication and
data integrity, but they are still smarter people will do everything just to hack the system.
Conclusion:
In today’s world, IPv6 is yet to be accomplished on many front lines. Not only business need but
also administrative procedures. IPv6 is a next generation technology and have overcome many
of the limitations of IPv4, while introducing new features and functionality. In addition, IPv6 has
introduced mobile IP providing roaming potential to mobile nodes, regardless of its location in
network. Furthermore, advance security has been embedded. Finally, IPv6 provides plentiful of
addresses space and is designed to expand the Internet services and supports multiple
addresses assignment in an interface that makes it possible for a node to assemble in more
than one network and utilize the resources available at the same time.