IPv6 just turned 30 and still hasn't taken over the world (theregister.com)

Article summary

IPv6, designed to replace IPv4, was introduced 30 years ago but has not yet taken over the world, with less than half of all internet users using it today. Despite this, experts argue that IPv6 has succeeded in absorbing growth pressure in areas like mobile, broadband, and cloud environments. The slow adoption of IPv6 is attributed to its lack of backward compatibility with IPv4 and the development of alternative solutions like network address translation (NAT). IPv6's vast address space has enabled innovation in areas like large mobile networks and the Internet of Things.

Main themes

• IPv6 adoption
• IPv4 limitations
• Network address translation
• Internet infrastructure
• Technological innovation

What commenters say

• The slow adoption of IPv6 is due to its lack of significant features and improvements over IPv4, making it less appealing for organizations to migrate.
• IPv6 has succeeded in areas where it was needed most, such as mobile and cloud environments, and its adoption will continue to grow as IPv4 addresses become scarce.
• The use of private IP address ranges like 10.0.0.0/8 can lead to conflicts and inefficiencies in large enterprises, making IPv6 a more attractive option.
• The cost of public IPv4 addresses is expected to increase due to speculation and financialization, making IPv6 a more economical choice.
• Some argue that IPv6 is not necessary for most organizations, and that IPv4 can still meet their needs, while others believe that IPv6 is essential for future growth and scalability.
• The development of new technologies like Quick UDP Internet Connections (QUIC) may reduce the need for IPv6, as they can operate without requiring a public IP address.
• IPv6 has become less relevant in some areas, such as server infrastructure, due to the use of Domain Name Service (DNS) and name-based security frameworks.