Understanding IPv4 vs IPv6: Key Features and Differences

What is an IP Address?

An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a set of rules and a method designed to allow a device to access the Internet and serve as a unique identification medium.

An Internet protocol address (IP address) is designed to have a unique combination of numbers and periods, such as 192.178.13.2. This combination of numbers acts as the system's identity when it connects to the Internet to access data.

Further, in this tutorial on ‘IPv4 vs IPv6’, you will examine the need to understand the difference between IPv4 and IPv6 when assigning system addresses.

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What is IPv4?

IPv4 is a version of the IP address used by most devices. It has two sections: the host address and the network address. This version was introduced by DARPA in 1981. Its 32-bit integers are expressed in decimal form. The IPv4 is presented by four numbers in the range of 0-255 that are then separated by dots. The range of numbers is converted to 0 and 1 so that the computers can understand it. For instance, an IPv4 address can be created as 178.163.132.60.

Address Format for IPv4

The most common format of IPv4 is the dotted decimal. It looks like x.x.x.x, where every x is a value below 255. For instance, if we consider the 128.11.3.31 IP address. Then, the binary digits for the address will be the following:

128 = 10000000

11 = 00001011

3 = 00000011

31 = 00011111

IPv4 Drawbacks

While IPv4 is useful, it also comes with its own set of drawbacks. Some of these are as follows:

• Complex Configuration: IPv4 requires DHCP or manual configuration to assign addresses. Due to its complexity, it is prone to errors and can also be incredibly time-consuming.

• Limited Address Space: IPv4 has a limited number of addresses. This is not enough for the large number of devices connecting to the Internet daily. 

• Security Concerns: IPv4 lacks some of the built-in security features required today. Thus, it is more vulnerable to attacks and needs extra security measures.

• Inefficient Routing: IPv4's structure makes routing more complex, which can slow down data transmission and increase latency.

• Reduced Performance: IPv4 utilizes broadcasting to communicate with several devices on a network. This unnecessary network traffic decreases its performance.

• Fragmenting Packets: IPv4 permits routers to fragment packets. It increases the chances of data being corrupted or lost, leading to inefficiencies.

• Limited Support: IPv4 provides limited Quality of Service (QoS) support. It prioritizes only certain kinds of data, affecting the performance of several real-time applications.

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What is IPv6?

IPv6 is the better version of IP addresses. A 128-bit hexadecimal address delivers a large address space with a simple header. The Internet Engineering Task Force first introduced this version of IP addresses in 1995, and it was designed to be better than IPv4.

Address Format for IPv6

The IPv6 address is formed in a bunch of eight hexadecimal numbers that are separated by the colon. For instance, it can be something like the following:

AC02 : FE10 : 5423  8976 : DCAB : E102 : 8254 : F320

Difference Between IPv4 and IPv6

Go over the following points to understand what is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6.

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How Does IPv6 Improve on IPv4? 

There is a considerable difference between IPv4 and IPv6; the latter is better. IPv4 needs Network Address Translation (NAT) to work according to expectations. NAT allows multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address, helping conserve the limited IPv4 address space. But NATs are not needed with IPv6. It removes the translation performance overheads. It’s not the only improvement when you compare IPv4 and IPv6.

Here are some of the other improvements: 

Routing

In the comparison of IPv4 and IPv6, the latter provides more efficient routing over the internet than the former. It simplifies the routing headers, route aggregation, and the NDP (Neighbor Discovery Protocol) for tasks like address resolution and network discovery.

Auto-configuration

IPv4 requires a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server to identify the machines connected to a network and to handle the IP address assignment. But, the IPv6 uses the Stateless Address Auto-Configuration (SLAAC). The device can auto-configure its address without needing an external protocol or party. It creates less traffic on the network due to removing the DHCP, but DHCPv6 may still be used for more complex networks. It is another difference in IPv4 vs IPv6 and another reason why the next version is better than the one before.

Security

The next difference between IPv4 and IPv6 is that the latter builds better and more security into the protocol than the former. IPv6 includes privacy extensions and offers optional Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) for encryption and authentication, although it is not mandatory. IPv6 can improve security but relies on proper configuration and external security measures.

Conclusion

In this article on 'IPv4 vs IPv6', we understood the need for an IP address in the system, followed by understanding which IP address type to choose for our network device through the detailed explanation of the difference between both types. To further enhance your knowledge and skills, consider exploring Cyber Security Courses or attending a bootcamp.

If you want to learn more about the workings and configurations of both IPv4 and IPv6 address types, you can take Simplilearn's Advanced Executive Program In Cyber Security course and gain more knowledge about network models and configurations.