The IPv4 to IPv6 Conversion Guide
The Internet has exploded! And you don't have to trust me on that - just look around you! We are surrounded by lots of devices which are connected to the Internet, and each one of them needs to have its own IP address.
Under these circumstances, it's not surprising that the supply of IP addresses is constantly and quickly depleting. While the problem affects both wired and wireless network users, it's particularly serious for people using Wi-Fi networks, who may need to replace their wireless routers in the near future.
Of course, there's always the option of updating the router firmware, but some manufacturers may not be inclined to provide free firmware updates, preferring to use this problem as an opportunity to sell their newer products.
As you probably know, an IP address consists of a set of four numbers that looks like this:
123.456.15.43
Any of these four numbers can have values that range from 0 to 255. In your home, the router or modem has a public IP address, and all the devices that are connected to it have private IP addresses, which are assigned to them by your router or modem. This means that a regular home only uses a public IP address.
Back in the 80s, when the current IPv4 system was designed, its creators thought that the available 4 billion IP addresses will be more than enough for everyone. Well, it looks like they were wrong! We ran out of unique IPs a few years ago. Sure, it will take some time until all these addresses will be assigned to the devices that are being built as you read this article, but the truth is that IPv4 has come close to its end.
