Computers World to run out of internet addresses in 2012

Hog's Gone Fishin · 07-26-2010, 07:24 PM

World Will Run Out of Internet Addresses in Less Than a Year, Experts Predict

Published July 26, 2010

In 2003, Geoff Huston gave a presentation titled "IPv4 Address Lifetime Expectancy Revisited" where he showed the trends in IP address deployment, and used a simple model to extrapolate these trends to predict the moment the last IP address would be used up.

Experts predict the world will run out of internet addresses in less than a year, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Monday.

The internet protocol used by the majority of web users, IPv4, provides for about four billion IP addresses -- the unique 32-digit number used to identify each computer, website or internet-connected device.

There are currently only 232 million IP addresses left -- enough for about 340 days -- thanks to the explosion in smartphones and other web-enabled devices.

"When the IPv4 protocol was developed 30 years ago, it seemed to be a reasonable attempt at providing enough addresses," carrier relations manager at Australian internet service provider (ISP) Internode John Lindsay told the Herald.

"Bearing in mind that at that point personal computers didn't really exist, the idea that mobile phones might want an IP address hadn't occurred to anybody because mobile phones hadn't been invented [and] the idea that air-conditioners and refrigerators might want them was utterly ludicrous."

The solution to the problem is IPv6, which uses a 128-digit address. It would give everyone in the world more than four billion addresses each, but most of the internet industry has so far been reluctant to introduce it.

It would require each device that connects to the internet to be reconfigured or upgraded, with some users even being forced to buy new hardware, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

In the meantime ISPs may force multiple customers to share IP addresses, which may lead to common applications, such as Gmail and iTunes, ceasing to work.

There are also fears a black market of IP addresses may spring up.

I hope the lizard Gods bring their own.

**bevischief** · 07-26-2010, 07:26 PM

Must be what the Mayans saw...

**Bugeater** · 07-26-2010, 07:42 PM

They'll have to pry mine from my cold, dead hands.

**BigRedChief** · 07-26-2010, 07:43 PM

Shaddup I don't want to learn how to figure out IPv6.

Stanley Nickels · 07-26-2010, 07:46 PM

If they have people share IP addresses, illegal internet activities will absolutely skyrocket. Plausible deniability and 35-pass hard drive erasing means that, with no unique IP, you can't easily pin crimes on a single individual.

**007** · 07-26-2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanley Nickels

If they have people share IP addresses, illegal internet activities will absolutely skyrocket. Plausible deniability and 35-pass hard drive erasing means that, with no unique IP, you can't easily pin crimes on a single individual.

I don't see them ever considering shared IPs. That would create so much insecurity it would be a nightmare for business.

07-26-2010, 07:24 PM
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1680477	World to run out of internet addresses in 2012 World Will Run Out of Internet Addresses in Less Than a Year, Experts Predict Published July 26, 2010 In 2003, Geoff Huston gave a presentation titled "IPv4 Address Lifetime Expectancy Revisited" where he showed the trends in IP address deployment, and used a simple model to extrapolate these trends to predict the moment the last IP address would be used up. Experts predict the world will run out of internet addresses in less than a year, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Monday. The internet protocol used by the majority of web users, IPv4, provides for about four billion IP addresses -- the unique 32-digit number used to identify each computer, website or internet-connected device. There are currently only 232 million IP addresses left -- enough for about 340 days -- thanks to the explosion in smartphones and other web-enabled devices. "When the IPv4 protocol was developed 30 years ago, it seemed to be a reasonable attempt at providing enough addresses," carrier relations manager at Australian internet service provider (ISP) Internode John Lindsay told the Herald. "Bearing in mind that at that point personal computers didn't really exist, the idea that mobile phones might want an IP address hadn't occurred to anybody because mobile phones hadn't been invented [and] the idea that air-conditioners and refrigerators might want them was utterly ludicrous." The solution to the problem is IPv6, which uses a 128-digit address. It would give everyone in the world more than four billion addresses each, but most of the internet industry has so far been reluctant to introduce it. It would require each device that connects to the internet to be reconfigured or upgraded, with some users even being forced to buy new hardware, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. In the meantime ISPs may force multiple customers to share IP addresses, which may lead to common applications, such as Gmail and iTunes, ceasing to work. There are also fears a black market of IP addresses may spring up. I hope the lizard Gods bring their own.
Posts: 40,361

07-26-2010, 07:26 PM	#2
bevischief .... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere Kansas Casino cash: $8659352 VARSITY	Must be what the Mayans saw...
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07-26-2010, 07:42 PM	#3
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $6252680	They'll have to pry mine from my cold, dead hands.
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07-26-2010, 07:43 PM	#4
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3119627 VARSITY	Shaddup I don't want to learn how to figure out IPv6. __________________ Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. -YODA
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07-26-2010, 07:46 PM	#5
Stanley Nickels [null] Join Date: Sep 2008 Casino cash: $3170893	If they have people share IP addresses, illegal internet activities will absolutely skyrocket. Plausible deniability and 35-pass hard drive erasing means that, with no unique IP, you can't easily pin crimes on a single individual. __________________ Bacon-wrapped shrimp: My first-favorite food wrapped around my third-favorite food. I'd go to a banquet in honor of those Somali pirates if they served bacon-wrapped shrimp.
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