what will happen when IPv4 runs out?

[skier]

simple and incredibly important question, impossible answer.

I have no idea if America has the infrastructure to run ipv6, let alone if all the client/personal computers even have ipv6 installed

maybe have windows, mac and linux distros all roll out updates including ipv6 if they havn't already, then paint the upgrade all over the news and online to make sure everyone updates before they lose internet, but do all routers and access points already have version6 coded in? will every AP need firmware upgrades?

all I know is that ipv6 doesn't work on the current v4 infrastructure unless you have it go through a router which masks ip's and just dishes out port numbers to computers like some colleges are set up to do

[JMMD]

I assume everything new would have to use IPV6 but I'm not sure how exactly that's going to work. How will people know and what if their device doesn't support it?

[skier]

exactly, i'm sure 90% of internet users don't even know what IP stands for, let alone the difference between v4 and v6

[smack323]

V6 has been around for a while - 10+ years I think. from what I rememeber in my networking class most all current (even XP) OS's are capable of running v6, and routers and swiches shoud be fine also.. I think at this point its just about making the switch. I think once v4 address are exhausted you will see it happen fairly quickly as large buisness make the move and everyone else joins ship.

[kenc51]

It's already happening. Some ISP's and carriers use it.
Most newer routers support v6 and all OS's since win2k onwards have support.

Your ISP will send you a new router capable of autosensing v4 and v6 way before the switch over.
When it does happen, most circuits will just disconnect and reconnect in seconds.

There will be plenty of notification before anything happens.

[Kaos Kid]

I've heard that IPv6 can circumvent IP blockers (like Peerblock, Protowall, etc.) since it can mask IPs (tunneling?). Is that true?

[kenc51]

I've heard that IPv6 can circumvent IP blockers (like Peerblock, Protowall, etc.) since it can mask IPs (tunneling?). Is that true?

Blockers will have to be re-designed. They were written to work with the v4 protocol, but it doesnt mean some equivalent software can't be written for v6

[Major_A]

Answer: Other

Time to resupply my stockpile from Y2K.