IPv6 - what is it? How do I turn on iPv6?

As you know, in computer systems with Windows on board for Internet access, the TCP / IP protocol system is used, providing each terminal with a specific unique IP address that no one machine repeats (meaning an external IP). But today, many are looking more and more towards the IPv6 protocol. What it is, how to enable and configure it, will now be considered. In addition, you can see the significant difference between IPv4 and IPv6, as well as learn the prospects for the introduction of new technology in the near future.

IPv6: what is it?

In a clear language, IPv6 is an improved version of the IPv4 protocol, which was developed back in the 1970s.

In principle, in terms of the basic algorithms incorporated in the IPv6 operation system, this protocol is almost identical to the original approach. The difference is only in the assignment and allocation of addresses to computer terminals and security systems.

An ordinary user, when using Internet access in most cases with IP-addresses, practically does not face, because for all the procedures for establishing a connection there is a so-called domain name system, abbreviated DNS. However, in order to better understand the topic: "IPv6: what is it?", One should understand a little the basic principles of the functioning of this protocol.

A bit of history

At the dawn of the development of Internet technologies, a special method was developed to identify computer terminals for quick and easy access to the World Wide Web. As it was supposed then, each machine should have a unique identifier, and one that would not be repeated once.

The purpose of this approach was to route and transfer data on the Web or interconnected networks between servers and individual computers (for example, e-mail). Agree, because the sending of a letter or message must be made to a specific addressee. And with two or more identical IP-addresses of the terminals, delivery can be made to anyone. Then there were no official mail servers yet, and POP3 and SMTP protocols were used.

It was in those years that the IPv4 protocol was developed, assuming the creation of a unique address in the form of four numbers of 8 bits each, which in total gave 32 bits. Thus, it was about creating about four billion never-repeated addresses.

Today, the situation has changed, and as it turned out, the IPv4 protocol is no longer able to generate new addresses. Some experts say that he has exhausted his capabilities by 2009. Here, many scientists have thought about how to expand the basic parameters. In fact, these developments in the form of an additional add-on for IPv4 were started in the late 70's and then received the name of the ST protocol, then ST2, and later the unofficial name IPv5. But this development has not taken root, it has not even been adopted for future development. Today it is believed that the newest and most popular will soon be the IPv6 protocol.

The difference between IPv4 and IPv6

Now let's look at the main differences between the two systems. The most important thing is that the length of any IP address is 128 bits. Accordingly, the number of newly created unique identifiers can be increased almost indefinitely.

At the same time, IPv4 has a lot of serious security problems in terms of data encryption, as well as bandwidth. In addition, in this system, with the same information transfer, there are quite strong delays, which negatively affects the performance of some network applications.

While developing IPv6, all this was taken into account, but the protocol itself has not yet been widely implemented, although it is present in the newest operating systems, but it is not used by default. In addition, not all providers support Internet access at this level. Well, if there is such support. Otherwise, the user even after the correct configuration in automatic mode will receive a message that uses IPv6 without access to the network. However, even if this protocol is not yet used, it is necessary to consider the main aspects of its inclusion and tuning.

How to enable IPv6 in Windows 7 and above

So, first, let's look at systems like the "seven" and above. Let's talk at once: if, for example, a router (a wireless router) is used at home, there is no sense to configure IPv6 for working in the local network, except to the provider. But if the cable is turned on directly, then yes.

First, you should check whether the protocol is enabled in the system. You can do this quite simply by typing the ipconfig command on the command line (calling via cmd in the "Run" menu or Win + R combination). If there is no mention of IPv6 on the screen, you must manually enable the protocol.

How to enable IPv6? Simply use the network connections section in the standard "Control Panel", but it is easier to enter the command ncpa.cpl in the same "Run" menu.

Now we select the adapter network and enter its properties. Here you should tick the name of the protocol, and then configure it (this will be discussed separately).

Enabling IPv6 in Windows XP

Now look at the XP version of Windows. IPv6 is included in this system, in principle, it is also possible through the properties of network connections in the "Control Panel", but it is easier to do this from the command line, where the following commands are successively prescribed:

- Netsh (+ input),

- Interface (+ input),

- ipv6 (+ input),

- install (+ input).

The protocol is activated from the Control Panel in the same way as described above.

Automatic configuration

Now let's look at the IPv6 configuration. The Internet connection from this will only benefit (again, the adjustment is only relevant if the provider supports this protocol).

In most cases, you do not need to manually enter the address that the computer terminal receives to correctly configure IPv6. This is due to the fact that almost all large provider companies have an active DHCPv6 server on their own network, from which, in fact, an IP assignment is made, that is, the IPv6 server gives out an address to a particular machine itself.

Thus, for the simplest configuration, you must use the fields to automatically obtain the IP address and the DNS server address. If automatic configuration is not possible, but there is support for IPv6, the IP address can be obtained in automatic mode, but the values for the preferred DNS server will have to be entered manually. And here there are their snags.

Tips for configuring an alternate configuration

How to enable IPv6 is probably understandable. Now a few words directly about configuring the alternative configuration.

As mentioned above, the main role here is to set the correct values for the preferred and alternative DNS servers. For practical use, the following data should be prescribed (for example, for Google services):

- Preferred DNS - 2001: 4860: 4860 :: 8888.

- Alternative DNS - 2001: 4860: 4860 :: 8844.

Proxy settings can be left unchanged. In most cases, the proxy server is not enabled for local addresses.

It goes without saying that you can use, for example, addresses for Yandex services, etc. There is no special role in this case. However, it is best, if such an opportunity exists, to find out the parameters of the alternative configuration for the provider. As they say, it will be safer. However, as practice shows, in most cases automatic settings work perfectly.

Verification of work

So, the inclusion and configuration of IPv6 are done. Now it remains to be convinced that the protocol is really involved and works without problems.

To test the connection, we use the same ipconfig command. After all the correct procedures and settings, the protocol should be displayed on the screen. If you set the purpose of viewing the address, you can simply click on the network connection icon in the system tray and select the status menu. The same can be done from the "Control Panel", where the appropriate section of network connections is selected with the subsequent transition to the active connection.

Instead of an afterword

Here, in short, and everything that concerns the IPv6 protocol. What it is, I think, is already a little clear. As you can see, the settings, in general, are not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. All of them are accessible to the corresponding sections in the "Control Panel". However, in XP it's better to use the command line after all.

According to most experts, in the next few years a complete transition to a new type of protocol will take place, since it has quite large prospects, as well as a more advanced system of functioning. After all, if you look at some computers, the matter is no longer limited. That only there is an incredibly increased amount of mobile equipment, and in fact for access to the Internet each such device is also assigned a unique identifier. So IPv4 with such an impossible task is simply not coping.

It is believed that in the near future the use of mobile gadgets will increase even more. Well and to cope with such situation just also the new system of distribution of addresses on the basis of protocol IPv6 will help. It is the future behind it, especially since, in connection with the increasing number of devices that require connection to the World Wide Web, almost in geometric progression, the new protocol has much more opportunities to provide addresses, and even more bandwidth.