Understanding IPv6

An IPv6 address is much longer than IPv4 address. This is one reason to use the new protocol. The number of addresses is virtually infinite. Each machine (node ​​in IPv6 terminology) connected to the network can use a global IPv6 address or addresses. No more complications NAT and port forwarding. Again all the machines can communicate directly.

An IPv6 address is represented by 128 bits (32 in IPv4) that is written in 8 suites with 4 hexadecimal characters (0-9, af) separated by colons:

2a01: 05d8: 52eb: be1d: F053: 2abf: ef7d: 6c89

The notation of IPv6 addresses

The notation has 39 characters. It can be simplified by removing the leading zeros and replacing a sequence of zero. The following addresses are all equivalent.

2001:0 db8: ab 0000:0000:0000:0000:1428:57
2001:0 db8: 0000:0000:0000:: 1428:57 ab
2001:0 db8: ab 0:0:0:0:1428:57
2001:0 db8: 0:0:: 1428:57 ab
2001:0 db8:: 1428:57 ab
2001: db8:: 1428:57 ab

Addresses 2001: db8:: / 32 as above are used for examples and are not routed.
URL notation

IPv6 addresses in URLs are written in [] that adds a port number if necessary.

http:// [2a01: 5d8: 52eb: be1d: F053: 2abf: ef7d: 6c89]: 81 /

Scoring Network

This is the CIDR format that is used in IPv6. It shows the number of bits that are identical in all places of the network. Example
2a01: 5d8: 52eb:: / 48 represents the network address range from which
2a01: 5d8: 52eb: 0:0:0:0:0 to
2a01: 5d8: 52eb: ffff: ffff: ffff: ffff: ffff

This is different from the concept of class used in IPv4. The goal is to simplify the routing tables.

Should We Move to IPv6 Now?

A short guide to understanding IPv6

Since January 2008 Free has deployed IPv6 in its offer public. It is the culmination of a long walk. The project IPv6 [Internet Protocol version 6] was launched in 1990 and adopted as standard by the IETF to replace IPv4 in 1998.

Today the Internet works primarily with the IPv4 protocol, which has more than twenty years of age. IPv4 has the fantastic growth of the Internet with a few modifications like NAT. In 2008, the 4 billion of public IPv4 addresses are nearly all attributed as the number of devices connected to the Internet in particular mobile phones is growing strongly. The transition to IPv6 that provides virtually unlimited address space (1038) is inevitable. IPv6 also brings benefits such as improved routing performance and simplifying the auto network configuration. However, IPv6 is not compatible with IPv4. He has to manage a transition, which is never easy. The aim of this paper is to serve as a practical guide to become familiar with IPv6 at home, not to replace the reference document or external website to thousands of articles that detail the characteristics of this protocol.

How to switch to IPv6 at home

You need a Free unbundled access. In the management interface of the Freebox, check IPv6 Support and restart the Freebox.

If you have an Ubuntu Linux machine, there is nothing to do. IPv6 is enabled by default.  Windows XP SP2, you must first install protocol “Microsoft TCP / IP version 6″ over the “Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) that supports IPv4 (type ipv6 install in a command window).
Windows Vista, IPv6 is enabled by default.

IPv6 addresses are assigned automatically. In fact, you keep your IPv4 addresses that coexist side by side, with IPv6 addresses.