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Dept. of Defense IPv6 Interoperabilty Test Begins

securitas writes "The Department of Defense has launched Phase I of its delayed IPv6 interoperability test (mirror) in a six-month project dubbed Moonv6. It is the largest North American IPv6 test ever and its goal is to evaluate IPv6 for 'network-centric military operations.' Phase II was originally scheduled to begin in January 2004 but may be delayed due to the late start of the current test. 'IPv4 addresses are 32 bits long, enough for around 4 billion unique addresses.' In contrast, the IPv6 address length is '128 bits, or 340 billion billion billion billion unique addresses.' Experts hope this will solve a predicted IP address shortage as more devices are created to use the Internet."

15 of 371 comments (clear)

  1. Billion billion billion billion billion billion by DrEldarion · · Score: 4, Funny

    340 billion billion billion billion unique addresses.

    That sounds like a number that I'd make up as a kid. "OH YEAH? Well when I grow up I'm going to have 340 billion billion billion billion hundred million thousand dollars!"

    -- Dr. Eldarion --

    1. Re:Billion billion billion billion billion billion by Camel+Pilot · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes and in forty years someone will be making fun of it -

      "You know 340 billion billion billion billion addresses should be enough for about anyone...."

    2. Re:Billion billion billion billion billion billion by uberdave · · Score: 2, Funny

      (XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX)

      No wonder you're misfiring, that's an IP4 address

  2. 32 vs 128 bits by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    'IPv4 addresses are 32 bits long, enough for around 4 billion unique addresses.' In contrast, the IPv6 address length is '128 bits, or 340 billion billion billion billion unique addresses.'

    Once again proving that size does matter.

  3. Story Cut Off... by bcolflesh · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Experts hope this will solve a predicted IP address shortage as more devices are created to use the Internet. Otherwise, DOD officials will fast track their Laser Population Control (LPC) program."

  4. No Hope about it by Amiga+Lover · · Score: 5, Funny

    In contrast, the IPv6 address length is '128 bits, or 340 billion billion billion billion unique addresses.' Experts hope this will solve a predicted IP address shortage as more devices are created to use the Internet."

    They HOPE that 340 billion billion billion billion unique addresses will solve the shortage...

    That's like "hoping" that a 100megaton nuclear weapon will dislodge the stubborn tree stump near the driveway. I think it'll work.

  5. Customer service will have a ball by semanticgap · · Score: 4, Funny

    - Sir, what is your IP adress?

    - It's eight five six charlie zero fox alpha three niner zero six file nine charlie fox fox nine charlie zero six three two zero one one zero zero one alpha one two four eight five six charlie...

    - I am sorry, can you start over?

    - IT's eight five six charlie zero fox alpha three niner zero six file nine charlie fox fox nine charlie zero six three two zero one one zero zero one alpha one two four eight five six charlie zero fox alpha three niner zero six file nine charlie fox fox nine charlie zero six three two zero one one zero zero one alpha one two four.

    - Sorry, I didn't get the part after "zero zero one"?

    - ONE ONE THREE CHARLIE FOX SIX THREE

    - Three?

    - @#$^%$#$%!!!

  6. Re:IPv5? by DrEldarion · · Score: 4, Funny

    Think: what do odd version numbers imply?

    Bad Star Trek movies?

    -- Dr. Eldarion --

  7. Just for fun... by jridley · · Score: 3, Funny

    I just whipped up a spreadsheet.
    2^128 is enough IP addresses to give 2.68*10^15 addresses to every square millimeter of surface area of every planet in the solar system, plus the moon, Charon, and the Galilean Jovian satellites.

    That should last a while. But I'm all for overkill. I was glad when Maxtor finally punted and made BigDrive able to address a BIG ASSED address space; if you're redefining a standard, no point in just doubling it or even *16; go big!

    1. Re:Just for fun... by Tackhead · · Score: 3, Funny
      > For anyone who wants to 'pronounce' the number: 2^128 is: 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,45 6
      > Which is:
      > 340 undecillion, 282 decillion, 366 nonillion, 920 octillion, 938 septillion, 463 sextillion, 463 quintillion, 374 quadrillion, 607 trillion, 431 billion, 768 million, 211 thousand, 456.

      Oh. A assload! (I believe that's an Imperial assload, to be precise. The Metric assload is only 2^100.)

  8. Re:One man, One IP! by petabyte · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't think thats very likely. Its much more likely that someone would be assigned their own subnet. That way everything you have will have its own ip address. Sure, thats all tinfoil hat stuff for most stuff but when you can traceroute6 to your keys to find its one hop from "couch" you'll wonder how you ever did without it.

  9. Re:Why did they pick 128? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sure, it seems like enough, but when each of the billions of nanites/microbots in your body has their own separate addressable IP address you'll be glad -- GLAD I tell ya! -- they had the foresight.

    Well, ok, maybe not, but I'd rather have them pick a ridiculously large number out of the hat than a number they think *might* be sufficient in the future.

  10. Re:NAT is the answer by caluml · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hypothermal dumbells? Cold weights? You guys are all off your heads, or are on crack, or something. Start speaking some sense here please. Slashdot used to be a great site back in the 80s.

  11. Re:Why did they pick 128? by hyperstation · · Score: 2, Funny

    i don't see why nanites and microbots in your body would need a public ip. let them use nat.

  12. That's a lot of IP goodness by TimeForGuinness · · Score: 2, Funny
    IPv6 addresses: 2^128
    People on Earth: ~6,349,797,441
    IP per person: ~5.358948377215462*10^28

    ........my Visa Card accepts your feeble challenge!