As you know, in computer systems with Windows OS, the TCP / IP protocol system is used to access the Internet, which provides each terminal with a specific unique IP address that is not repeated by any machine (meaning external IP). But today, many are looking more and more towards IPv6. What it is, how to enable it and configure it, will now be considered. In addition, you can see the significant difference between IPv4 and IPv6, as well as find out the prospects for the introduction of new technology in the near future.
IPv6: what is it?
Speaking in plain language, IPv6 is an improved version of IPv4, which was developed back in the 70s of the last century.
In principle, in terms of the basic algorithms embedded in the IPv6 functioning system, this protocol is almost identical to the original approach. The only difference is the assignment and distribution of addresses to computer terminals and the security system.
When using Internet access, in most cases, an ordinary user practically does not encounter IP addresses, since the so-called domain name system, abbreviated as DNS, is responsible for all the connection setup procedures. However, in order to better understand the topic: “IPv6: what is it?”, You should understand a little about the basic principles of this protocol.
A bit of history
At the dawn of the development of Internet technology, a special method for identifying computer terminals was developed for quick and convenient access to the World Wide Web. As it was then assumed, each machine should have a unique identifier, and one that would not be repeated even once.
The purpose of this approach was to route and transfer data on the Network or interconnected networks between servers and individual computers (for example, e-mail). Agree, because the sending of a letter or message should be made to a specific recipient. And with two or more identical IP addresses of the terminals, delivery can be carried out by anyone. At that time there were no official mail servers, but the POP3 and SMTP protocols were used.
It was in those years that IPv4 was developed, which implied the creation of a unique address in the form of four numbers of 8 bits each, which in total yielded 32 bits. Thus, it was about creating an order of four billion never-repeated addresses.
Today the situation has changed, and as it turned out, IPv4 is no longer able to generate new addresses. Some experts say that he has exhausted his capabilities by 2009. It was then that many scholars and thought about how to expand the basic parameters. Actually, these developments as an additional add-on for IPv4 were started back in the late 70s and then got the name of the ST protocol, then - ST2, and a little later - the unofficial name of IPv5. But this development did not take root, was not even taken into service in terms of future development. Today it is believed that IPv6 will soon become the newest and most demanded.
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, you can increase the number of newly created unique identifiers to infinity.
At the same time, IPv4 has quite a few serious security issues in terms of data encryption, as well as bandwidth. In addition, in this system, with the same information transfer, sufficiently strong delays are observed, which negatively affects the operation of some network applications.
When developing IPv6, all this was taken into account, but the protocol itself has not yet received widespread adoption, although it is present in the latest operating systems, but by default it is not involved. 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 stating that IPv6 is being used without access to the network. However, even if this protocol is not yet used, the main points of its inclusion and configuration still need to be considered.
How to enable IPv6 in Windows 7 and higher
So, for starters, let's look at systems like the "seven" and above. We will make a reservation right away: if, for example, a router (wireless router) is used at home, it makes no sense to configure IPv6 to work on a local network, except perhaps towards the provider. But if the cable is connected directly, then yes.
First you need to check if the protocol is enabled in the system. This can be done quite simply by entering the ipconfig command on the command line (calling through cmd in the "Run" menu or a combination of Win + R). If there is no mention of IPv6 on the screen, you will have to enable the protocol manually.
How to enable IPv6? Yes, just use the network connections section in the standard "Control Panel", but it is easier to enter the ncpa.cpl command in the same "Run" menu.
Now we select the adapter network and enter its properties. Here you should check the box next to the protocol name, and then configure it (this will be discussed separately).
Enabling IPv6 in Windows XP
Now let's look at the XP version of Windows. In principle, it is also possible to enable IPv6 in this system 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 sequentially written:
- Netsh (+ input),
- Interface (+ input),
- ipv6 (+ input),
- install (+ input).
The operation of the protocol from the "Control Panel" is identical to the above case.
Auto tuning
Now let's look at setting up IPv6. An Internet connection will benefit from this (again, the setting is relevant only if the provider supports this protocol).
In most cases, to correctly configure IPv6, the address received by the computer terminal does not need to be entered manually. This is due to the fact that almost all large provider companies have an active DHCPv6 server in their own network, from which, in fact, the IP is assigned, that is, the server issues the IPv6 address to a specific machine itself.
Thus, for the simplest configuration, you should use the fields to automatically obtain the IP address and DNS server address. If automatic configuration is not possible, but there is support for IPv6, the IP address can be obtained automatically, but the values for the preferred DNS server will have to be entered manually. And here there are some snags.
Alternate Configuration Tips
How to enable IPv6 is probably clear already. Now a few words directly about setting up an alternative configuration.
As mentioned above, the main role here is to set the correct values for the preferred and alternative DNS server. 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 involved for local addresses.
It goes without saying that you can use, say, addresses for Yandex services, etc. This does not play a special role in this case. However, it is best, if possible, to find out the alternative configuration parameters from the provider. As they say, it will be more reliable. However, as practice shows, in most cases, automatic settings work fine.
Work check
So, the inclusion and configuration of IPv6 is done. Now it remains to make sure that the protocol is really involved and works without problems.
To check the connection, we use the same ipconfig command. After all correctly performed procedures and settings, the protocol should be displayed on the screen. If you set the goal 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 corresponding section of network connections is selected with the subsequent transition to the active connection.
Instead of an afterword
Here, in a nutshell, is all about IPv6. What is it, I think, is already a little clear. As you can see, the settings, in general, are not so complicated as it might seem at first glance. All of them are available in the corresponding sections in the "Control Panel". True, in XP it is better to use the command line.
According to most experts, in the coming years there will be a complete transition to a new type of protocol, since it has rather great prospects, as well as a more advanced functioning system. After all, if you look, the matter is not limited to computers alone. What an incredibly increased number of mobile equipment consists of, and yet, for accessing the Internet, each such device is also assigned a unique identifier. So IPv4 simply can not cope with such an impossible task.
It is believed that in the near future the use of mobile gadgets will increase even more. Well, to cope with this situation, the new IPv6-based address allocation system will help. It is for her the future, especially since, due to the increasing number of devices that require connection to the World Wide Web, almost exponentially, the new protocol has much more possibilities for providing addresses, and even more bandwidth.