Like the old joke “I can’t be out of money, I still have checks”, you wouldn’t think the Internet could run out of addresses.
Not only is it, it is imminent. As in, this year.
Actual Interrnet addresses – called IP (for Internet Protocol) addresses – are a series of 4 numbers, each between 0 and 255, and separated by dots (for example 192.168.0.1). There are a lot of these numbers but they are getting used up very fast mostly due to the increasing number of Internet connected devices.
Increases the number of IP addresses one person may be using.
What’s the solution? This has been predicted for years and a new protocol, IPv6, was developed, which allows for 6 numbers.
Making all computers and programs work with IPv6 is a lot of work, but its been a work in progress for a few years.
Now the first major test of IPv6 is scheduled for June 8th:
Participants include Google, Facebook, and Yahoo amongst many others. You don’t need to do anything to prepare, but be aware there is a slight chance (estimated at one in 2000) you may have problems.
