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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."
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 --
'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.
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.
- 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?
- @#$^%$#$%!!!
grisha.org
Think: what do odd version numbers imply?
Bad Star Trek movies?
-- Dr. Eldarion --
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!