The debate between IPv4 and IPv6 is something that has kept many businesses into indecision about which is better. Many aspects define the best Internet Protocol and we have attempted to answer this from a technical perspective (IPv6 allows for bigger payloads than IPv4).
Firstly, what is IPv6 and what is it used for?
In simple words, IPv6 is the next generation, namely the 6th generation Internet protocol. It is a lifesaver for all those who use the internet for business, to stay in touch, to network, etc. basically for more than 4.5 billion internet users. IPv6 has was introduced to provide for more IPs since the IPv4 address range is 4,294,967,296 and was soon going to be exhausted. So, when you look at the maths, we are supposed to have already run out of IPv4s (IPv6 allows for bigger payloads than IPv4).
How many IPv6 addresses are there?
All of the RIRs, except AFRINIC, have already run out of IPv4s. ISPs, Corporations, Government Organisations have now resorted to buying IPv6 addresses with a range of approximately 340 undecillion.
When we talk about bigger payloads or maximum payload, we are talking about Jumbogram. Jumbogram is an IPv6 packet that exceeds the MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) of the network technology. In IPv4 the data size is limited to 16 bits, whereas with IPv6 jumbo payload it is 32 bits.
Why are companies hesitant in deciding between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4s are still not exhausted since many businesses are still using them, the only way they will get exhausted is when IPv4s is stopped being used and completely replaced with IPv6s (IPv6 allows for bigger payloads than IPv4). The world of the internet still seems to be very far away from this to happen, since there is a Secondary Market for IPv4s to buy and sell IPs. However, many ISPs and businesses have adopted IPv6. Your business website can also go through IPv6 Test, to check if your website is compatible or not, like many top websites who have adopted IPv6 – Google, YouTube, Facebook, Yahoo, Wikipedia and more.
IPv4 vs IPv6 Payload can be understood based on the following categories:
- Header:
IPv4 Datagram Header Payload: 20 to 60 bytes
IPv6 Header Payload: 40 bytes long + 8 bits
- Packet Payload:
IPv4 Packet Payload: 65,535 bytes long
IPv6 jumbo Packet Payload: > 65,535 bytes long
- Payload Length:
IPv4 Payload Length: 32 bits
IPv6 max Payload Length: 16 bits
- Payload Size:
IPv4 Payload size: The minimum: 20 bytes (header without data), maximum is 65,535 bytes.
IPv6 payload size: Fixed is 40 bytes and no maximum size
- Payload MTU:
IPv4 Payload MTU: Max of 64 KiB
IPv6 Payload MTU: IPv6 Jumbo or Max payload of 64 KiB, but up to 4 GiB with optional jumbo ram.
So, when you look at the debate IPv6 vs IPv4, it can be concluded, IPv6 has a much bigger capacity for payload and is much more robust than IPv4.
IPv6 is more compatible with mobile networks than IPv4
If you are a business that may have maximum future use of IPs, then going through a reputed IT company like Alpha InfoLab will be a better option. Alpha’s technical team will first determine your business requirement, then do an IPv6 payload field length calculation to provide your business with the right IP solution.
