Let's not go crazy or get nervous. It's normal not to have heard of Internet network protocols and standards, so we'll explain. For the network to work, it requires certain processes that allow devices like computers to communicate with each other. Each product has an identification number or IP, and we currently use two types: IPv4 and IPv6. In this article, we'll discuss them and their main differences.
What is an IP?
To begin, we need to clarify what an IP address is. Its acronym stands for "Internet Protocol," and it is governed by a set of rules that route data packets, ensuring they reach the correct destinations.
There are many daily processes in which a computer wants to send information to other devices. This is when the information is divided into small pieces with IP information that serves as identification for proper delivery to other computers.
In fact, and as we already know, each device has an IP address that is like each one's identity document.
Differences between IPv4 and IPv6
Now that we've learned what an IP address is and how it works, let's talk about the two versions of IP that we use today.
What is an IPv4?
IPv4 was born in 1983, and despite using the "v4" tag, it's the first version in existence and still works correctly. It uses a 32-bit address and provides more than 4 billion unique addresses.
An example of IPv4 would be this: 192.0.2.123
What is an IPv6?
On the other hand, we have IPv6, which uses a much larger format, reaching 128 bits, including letters and numbers. This type of IP offers 1.028 times more addresses than IPv4.
A good example of how the old IPv4 would become IPv6: 2001:db8:1234:2::123
Additionally, IPv6 includes QoS (quality of service) with a built-in network security layer and eliminates what we commonly refer to as NAT.
IPv4 vs IPv6 – Which is faster?
There's no clear evidence that one is faster than the other, but it does suggest the most recent, IPv6, is slightly faster in most data transmission processes.
There is a very famous blog on Facebook about engineering which has proven that access to the social network is up to 15% faster if we use IPv6, although many other tests determine equality in speed when it comes to other processes.
After seeing the composition of each type, we can say that the speed variation may be due to the fact that IPv6 does not waste time in translations (NAT) as IPv4 does.
How do I know if I'm using IPv4 or IPv6?
This is a very simple procedure that we explain to you step by step.
- Open your computer's settings.
- Click on «Network and Internet«.
- Now you will see the connection you are on, so click on "Properties«.
- Scroll down and you'll see your network properties, as well as the data you're looking for.
Conclusions, Why use IPv6 and not IPv4?
For all technological devices, it's best to keep them updated with the latest software versions. A similar situation applies to hardware: the more up-to-date it is, the better it will work with the software.
Generally speaking, there's no harm in using IPv4, but it's advisable to upgrade to IPv6. This is mainly because the Internet is running out of space for more IPv4 addresses, while IPv6 offers much more space than previous IPvXNUMX addresses.
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