Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Dept. of Defense IPv6 Interoperabilty Test Begins

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the let's-get-it-on dept.

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."

5 of 371 comments (clear)

  1. 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.

  2. 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...."

  3. 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.

  4. But first... by jo42 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Here is a web site and project that tracks how IPv4 addresses are allocated and misused, i.e. hijacked: http://www.completewhois.com/statistics/index.htm.

    The way I read it, a huge percentage of IPv4 addresses are not even being used...

  5. Re:Just for fun... by cK-Gunslinger · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.