Frequently Asked Questions

What is an IP address? 

An IP address is a numeric identifier that is used by devices on the Internet using the Internet Protocol (IP) to communicate with each other.  These identifiers are the base level “numbers” that devices use to connect to each other.  An IPv4 address is written as a dotted quad such as 192.168.123.19 and and IPv6 address is written in a hexadecmimal format such as 2001:DB8::1234

What is IPv6?

By the 1990s, IPv4 address space was clearly running out. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the primary standards body for the Internet, designed a protocol called IPv6. Compared with IPv4’s 32 (2^32)-bit address space, IPv6’s enormous 128 bits (2^128) easily provides enough space for the foreseeable future. However, many businesses have been slow to adopt IPv6, because of the significant effort involved in doing so, and the critical need was not yet apparent.

Is IPv6 backward compatible with IPv4?

Unfortunately, No.  IPv6 does not operate in concert with IPv4, but it is a completely separate protocol. Since the Internet will have IPv4 services for a number of years organizations will have to install both IPv4 & IPv6 using a deployment method known as dual stack or will have to deploy a transition technology which allows the two incompatible networks to communicate with each other.

What is an RIR?

An RIR or Regional Internet Registry is an organization that was created to allocate IP number resources to organizations around the world who have a need for unique indentifiers.  There are currently five registries: American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) serving North America, Latin American Network Information Center (LACNIC) serving Latin America, Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) serving Asia and the Pacific Region, African Network Information Centre (AfriNIC) serving Africa, and Réseaux IP Européens NCC (RIPE) which service Europe.

More questions?

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