| |
IPv4 |
IPv6 |
| Definition |
The fourth internet protocol version, uses a 32-bit numeric address for data transmission across networks |
Most recent internet protocol version, which uses a 128-bit alphanumeric address to overcome the limitations of IPv4 |
| Example |
192.168.0.1 |
2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334 |
| Use cases |
Due to affordability, most of the internet, legacy infrastructure systems, intranets, and private networks |
Internet services providers (ISPs), microservices, and complex Internet of Things (IoT) devices |
| Loopback address |
127.0.01 |
::1 |
| Address length |
A 32-bit (232) address with four octets |
A 128-bit (2128) address that contains 16 octets |
| Address size |
Approximately 4 billion unique addresses |
Approximately 340 undecillion unique addresses |
| Address types |
Unicast, broadcast, and multicast address modes |
Unicast, anycast, and multicast addresses |
| Address notation |
Dotted decimal notation, full stops separate four lots of three-digit numbers |
Hexadecimal notation, whereby colons separate eight lots of four-character alphanumeric addresses |
| Address configuration |
Manual configuration and dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) |
Various address configurations, including manual, DHCP, stateless address auto-configuration (SLAAC), and renumbering |
| Address translation |
Network address translation (NAT) to enable private network devices to connect with public IP addresses and ports |
Uses NAT64 or NAT46 for IPv4 to IPv6 translation |
| Address resolution |
Address resolution protocol (ARP) is the standard for IPv4 deployments |
Neighbor discovery process for address resolution |
| Address classes |
IPv4 has five classes: class A (0-127), class B (128-191), class C (192-223), class D (224-239), and class E (240-255) |
No classes as it doesn’t rely on classless inter-domain routing (CIDR) |
| Header fields |
An IPv4 packet header contains 14 fields, including the optional ‘options’ component |
8 header fields, uses extension headers for options |
| Header length |
20 bytes, can go up to 60 bytes depending on optional fields and flag |
40 bytes |
| Header checksum |
Features a header checksum to identify corrupted packet headers |
No header checksum, which speeds up packet forwarding |
| Transmission scheme |
Limited and direct broadcast schemes |
Multicast addressing |
| Packet flow identification |
Uses a combination of source address, source port, destination address, destination port, and protocol to identify flow |
Uses a flow label in its header to identify spoofed packets |
| Fragmentation |
Senders and forwarding routers are both responsible for fragmentation in IPv4 |
Only senders are responsible for fragmentation |
| End-to-end connection integrity |
Not possible |
Achievable |
| Compatibility |
Most networking hardware, operating systems, and network infrastructure, but not with IPv6 |
Neither legacy systems developed for IPv4 nor IPv4 |
| Domain name server (DNS) resolution |
A records |
AAAA records |
| Routing efficiency |
Uses header information for hierarchical routing and packet delivery |
Routing tables and globally routable addresses for improved latency |
| IP security (IPsec) |
Optional |
Integrated security features in its extension header structure |
| Encryption and authentication |
Neither |
Both |
| Privacy |
Address masking to hide the last eight bits of IP addresses |
Random temporary addresses in IP privacy extensions |
by Sagar Joshi
