IPv6

[Big Sky Awards]

What exactly is IPv6 and how will it effect our sites?

Thanks,
Dave Loda

[datakes]

Dave,

I am definitely no tech expert, but from some of the reading I've done it appears that the most dominantly used internet protocal used today is IPv4, and it is nearing exhaustion. There is some good technical info at this LINK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPv6). It's a wiki, so take it for what it is worth.

[Big Sky Awards]

David,
Thanks for the link! Now, all I need is to find someone who can speak geekspeak. Only kidding.

[M. David Matney]

Well, simply put back around 1998, the internet consortium estimated that IPv4 addresses will run out with the way the internet was growing. An IPv4 address looks something like 192.168.45.187 - it contains 4 sets of numbers separated by dots. Every computer, every printer, every server, everything that is connected to the internet has an IPv4 IP Address similar to the above. Based upon current estimations, the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses could occur by end of this year, however the internet will not come crashing down at that time. Simply put, when the IPv4 exhaustion does occur, even if not at the end of this year, what it will mean in its worst case is no more devices can go on the internet until the cut over to IPv6 occurs.

Back in 1999, IPv6 addressing system was developed by the Internet Consortium to head off the exhaustion of IPv4. This pre-planning was 10 years ahead of the projected exhaustion of IPv4 addresses. So here is the bottom line scoop. Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, Windows servers, UNIX servers, apples, and basically most devices connected to the internet are capable of supporting IPv6.

The largest problem right now is internet hosting companies are not ready and haven't even started to get ready for IPv6.

All NetSoft Studio ShopKart servers are IPv6 ready, and actually have been IPv6 ready since 1999, so from that standpoint, your good to go. Your ShopKart Server even has an IPv6 address already assigned to it so there really isn't anything you have to do as we handle all that behind the scenes.

One thing you might check into if running any equipment such and laser engravers, etc that are Networkable, is to find out what the manufacturer is doing about IPv6 addresses. I have not personally researched it, but I know Epilog lasers are network ready, and use IPv4 addresses. I am sure Epilog will address the issue if they haven't already through a bios update to the laser machines. I do not know about the other manufacturers lasers, engravers, etc as to whether or not they are network ready like Epilog's lasers are as I have not checked into other manufacturers, but if they are network ready and you have a machine from one of those manufacturers, you might want to contact them and find out if those lasers are IPv6 ready, and if not, another question is "will they be ready before the IPv4 exhaustion?"

David, I did a check on your artglassw.com domain and it looks like the company hosting that site of yours is NOT IPv6 Ready or at least has not assigned you an IPv6 address. See the screen shot below:

8

In Contrast the ShopKart site you have with us is IPv6 ready. See the following screen shot:

9