IPv4 and IPv6

What is IPv4 and IPv6?

IPv4 and IPv6 are the two versions of the Internet Protocol address, IPv4 using 32 bits written as four denary numbers separated by full stops and IPv6 using 128 bits written as eight groups of hexadecimal digits separated by colons.

This definition is part of the Hardware chapter in Cambridge O Level Computer Science.

Concepts related to IPv4 and IPv6

• IP Address
• MAC Address
• Hexadecimal
• Router

Common mistakes with IPv4 and IPv6

• 26. “IPv6 is simply faster IPv4.” Why wrong Speed depends on the connection, the hardware and the route taken — not on how many bits an address contains. Correct model IPv6 uses a 128-bit address written as hexadecimal groups, against IPv4's 32-bit address written as four denary groups. The difference that matters is the size of the address space. Exam-safe “An IPv6 address is 128 bits, compared with 32 bits for IPv4, so IPv6 provides a much larger number of possible addresses.” Check: state the two differences worth writing about IPv4 and IPv6.The length of the address (32 bits against 128 bits) and how it is written (four denary groups against hexadecimal groups). The consequence is a much larger address space.