The Internet is Almost Full!

Is it estimated that by November 2011 the internet will be full as we exhaust the number of IPv4 addresses on the internet. An IPv4 address consists of four numbers between 0-255 which equates to 4.3 unique combinations just under 5% of these are still available.

The start of IPv6, IPv6 uses a new system where a hexadecimal system of numbers replaces the antiquated IPv4 addresses that were designed over a decade ago. The hexadecimal system of using the numbers 0-9 and letters A-F in a longer string of numbers similar to your current mac address will provide the internet with over a trillion, trillion, trillion combinations that should be more than enough to keep us going.

Google, Yahoo and Facebook have decided to take action and on the 8th June will be converting their sites to IPv6 for 24hours, to test and promote the need for change. With over 1 billion visits to these sites each day, this will be a great way to highlight where changes will need to be made.

How will it effect you?
Google suggest that 99.9% of people will not be effected by the activity on the 8th June however, if you are within the 0.1% that has an ISP not supporting both IPv4 and IPv6 you may not be able to access these sites on the 8th June.