[release]The internet as we know it is reaching its limits.
Within 18 months it is estimated that the number of new devices able to connect to the world wide web will plummet as we run out of "IP addresses" -- the unique codes that provide access to the internet for everything from PCs to smart phones.
"The internet as we know it will no longer be able to grow," Daniel Karrenberg, chief scientist at RIPE NCC, the organization that issues IP addresses in Europe, told CNN.
"That doesn't mean it will cease to function, but entry could be limited to new devices."
Some estimate that by September 2011 the last large batches of addresses will be issued, meaning that months after that date there will be no new addresses available.
But while this sounds like a complete disaster -- another Millennium Bug -- it need not be, and there is a solution, if we all act quickly enough.
Currently the internet is built around the Internet Protocol Addressing Scheme version 4 (IPv4), which has around four billion addresses -- and they're fast running out.
Four billion no doubt seemed a huge amount when the system was designed in the 1970s, but few then could have predicted how the internet would take off, and how many billions more connections would be needed.
However, there is a replacement, IPv6, which has trillions more addresses available and ready to go. The problem is that businesses are proving slow to adapt their technology to IPv6, leaving experts fearful that we might be heading for a crunch within 18 months.
"My impression is that while awareness of the issue is quite high, a lot of businesses are sitting on the fence," said Karrenberg. "Many small businesses are waiting to see what the early adopters do; how they handle things.
"My suspicion is too many are leaving it too late."
This growing problem has been compounded in recent years as the amount of hardware needing an internet connection has risen enormously, thanks largely to the popularity of smart phones, like Apple's iPhone and other mobile devices, and the rapid pace of technological development in countries like China and India.
"All sorts of devices need to access the internet now, from smartphones and games consoles, to cars," says Karrenberg.
"But still only a quarter of European businesses are using IPV6 -- the rest should be making this a priority."
All the big players in the internet, such as Google, and YouTube, are fully IPV6 enabled, but many others have yet to commit.
"If they keep on lagging behind then the internet will not be able to grow in the way it has been; the curve will flatten out," said Karrenberg.
"Although it's still unclear what kind of plateau we will see, certainly we could see impeded or seriously curtailed growth."
None of this is what businesses need to hear as they struggle out of a serious recession, but there is still time to act.
"The window left to invest is still relatively large," said Karrenberg.
"But businesses should remember that the earlier they act, the less they will pay. The more they neglect this issue, the higher premiums people can expect to be charged."
According to Karrenberg, the necessary costs can be met as part of the routine process of upgrading technology. "It is possible to deal with these issues through the usual round of investment in hard and soft technology," he said.
"It's just a question of what tactics people follow as they make their choices. "Businesses need to future-proof their decisions and this issue needs to be on every CTO's radar."
In addition, while IPv4 and IPv6 are designed to work together, there have been reports of teething troubles, and businesses that leave their switch-over too late my find glitches compound their problems.
[/release]
More at: [url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/05/27/internet.crunch.2012/index.html?hpt=T2]Source[/url]
tldr; The internet as we know it is reaching its limits. No need to worry though, IPv6 is rolling around.
couldn't we just have dynamically expanding IP addresses?
[QUOTE=ProboardslolV2;22199708]couldn't we just have dynamically expanding IP addresses?[/QUOTE]
This. They'll probably implement such a system sooner or later, they won't let the net die.
I bet this is gonna screw up some stuff.
HOW about everyone works together and puts a big fat satellite in the sky that beams WiFi to every corner of the Earth.
<3
They'll just come up with IP's that have an extra number on the end. Shouldn't be that hard to solve.
[QUOTE=CobraUnit;22199786]HOW about everyone works together and puts a big fat satellite in the sky that beams WiFi to every corner of the Earth.[/QUOTE]
The hell are you on about, that won't do shit as what they are talking about is the actual address space for the websites.
[QUOTE=Viper202;22199798]They'll just come up with IP's that have an extra number on the end. Shouldn't be that hard to solve.[/QUOTE]
lol what? IP addresses are 8 bits of binary, 11111111=255 so 255-2 = your hosts which are ip addresses, You are thinking in base 10 while binary is base 2.
ITT: Facepunch denies logic and thinks the internet is MAGIC. (Also guys, let's make wifi satellites hurrrrrr) (Too bad that is completely off topic for one, it is also stupid as wifi can hardly go down a street, It is also so far that not even a basic fiber line can reach that distance, and by wifi I assume you want only 1 router supplying everyone, brilliant why aren't you out there engineering networks?) Also guys, the people who rated me dumb are also the ones that think wifi satellites are possible.
[QUOTE=Viper202;22199798]They'll just come up with IP's that have an extra number on the end. Shouldn't be that hard to solve.[/QUOTE]
The problem isn't creating it, the problem is that it would require them to update every PC in existence. It's like with phone phreaking. They could prevent it by getting rid of touch-tone pay phones, but it would require they overhaul the entire United states.
[QUOTE=Viper202;22199798]They'll just come up with IP's that have an extra number on the end. Shouldn't be that hard to solve.[/QUOTE]
It's already solved, providers and businesses just need to implement the new IPv6 system.
Assholes need to switch over to IPv6.
I'm pretty sure we will never use 2^128 IPs.
[editline]09:53PM[/editline]
So get IPv6 on the go now.
Euorpe? 'Merica has plenty of IP.......
I hope :ohdear:
[QUOTE=CobraUnit;22199786]HOW about everyone works together and puts a big fat satellite in the sky that beams WiFi to every corner of the Earth.
<3[/QUOTE]
You dumb?
You still need IP's for each device
Picture related, but 4 years old.
[IMG]http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/map_of_the_internet.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE=CobraUnit;22199786]HOW about everyone works together and puts a big fat satellite in the sky that beams WiFi to every corner of the Earth.
<3[/QUOTE]
So some country blows it up.
[QUOTE=|FlapJack|;22199955]I'm pretty sure we will never use 2^128 IPs.
[editline]09:53PM[/editline]
So get IPv6 on the go now.[/QUOTE]
Just in case you guys don't know:
2^128 =
340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456
edit:
added commas
[QUOTE=|FlapJack|;22199955]I'm pretty sure we will never use 2^128 IPs.
[editline]09:53PM[/editline]
So get IPv6 on the go now.[/QUOTE]
Until we expand across the universe and have populated hundreds of planets which all need internet? Don't think about the pings yet, we'll probably have invented internet wormholes by then.
Oh great future :awesomelon:
Local networks can stay ipv4, whilst the wide web needs to get ipv6. Hope they solve the teething problem.
[QUOTE=maurits150;22200247]Until we expand across the universe and have populated hundreds of planets which all need internet? Don't think about the pings yet, we'll probably have invented internet wormholes by then.
Oh great future :awesomelon:[/QUOTE]
there's no way in fuck we could use that many ip addresses
Let's just hope IP bans don't fuck up.
[QUOTE=Thomo;22200339]Yeah, but, [I]The Future[/I][/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=raccoon12;22200240]Just in case you guys don't know:
2^128 =
340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456
edit:
added commas[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=ProboardslolV2;22199708]couldn't we just have dynamically expanding IP addresses?[/QUOTE]
No, that would be a terrible idea. TCP/IP is made the way it is for a reason, and making weird standards would make it far less efficient. Computer standards would work better when there is a set amount of bits. Also, here is what is in a TCP packet, each section is a certain bit length (although the amount of data may vary).
[IMG]http://www.potaroo.net/papers/isoc/2004-07/fig1.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE=raccoon12;22200293]there's no way in fuck we could use that many ip addresses[/QUOTE]
Asimov thought Earth's population would never go above 8 billion.
His novel, the Caves of Steel, features humans living in cities (Large, underground arcoloiges holding millions per square mile) with a total population of around 8 billion people, and I'm pretty sure it was the year 4,000.
You never know when it comes to [I]The Future[/I].
It's obvious that whatever standard we choose will end up being outstripped by unexpected future growth in 30 years or so
We make the same mistake almost every time, if you set a finite limit that at the time seems astronomical it's gonna be reached fairly soon
Hurry up and switch to IPv6 already.
Well it's human nature to wait until the last imminent second to do something about a problem that could've been fixed years before.
[QUOTE=raccoon12;22200293]there's no way in fuck we could use that many ip addresses[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Jacam12SUX;22199665][release]
Four billion no doubt seemed a huge amount when the system was designed in the 1970s, but few then could have predicted how the internet would take off, and how many billions more connections would be needed.[/release][/QUOTE]
you never know what happens in the future
[QUOTE=windwakr;22200913]You guys don't seem to understand just how big 2^128 is.
WE WILL NEVER, EVER, USE THAT MANY IPS![/QUOTE]
Not while this generation is alive.
[QUOTE=DaveP;22200667]It's obvious that whatever standard we choose will end up being outstripped by unexpected future growth in 30 years or so
We make the same mistake almost every time, if you set a finite limit that at the time seems astronomical it's gonna be reached fairly soon[/QUOTE]
I'm pretty sure we won't use 340 undecillion/sextillion (ls) IP addresses that fast.
[editline]11:42PM[/editline]
That's like 56 octillion names per inhabitant of earth (assuming 6 billion)
uhm, IPv6 hurr.
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