IPv6 - Do you know about the bumps in the road?

In my Windows Secrets newsletter there is an article about the problems that may be associated with the Internet Protocol version 6 rollout. If you'r not sure exactly what this is you can read the entire article here: http://windowssecrets.com/2011/03/17/02-Caution-Bumps-in-the-road-to-IPv6

Basically speaking, the Internet ran out of addresses last month.

All of those addresses won't be assigned to users immediately, but they have been allocated to the Regional Internet Registries, who allocate them to your ISP's.

IPv4 only had 4.3 billion addresses. IPv6 has 340 trillion, trillion, trillion addresses. If you don't think that's a lot you don't understand what a trillion actually is and need to read my blog on it. http://joubaur.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-big-is-one-trillion.html It's quite unlikely we will run out of IPv6 addresses in the foreseeable future.

There is even a test there. No, it's not like the tests you used to have to do in school. You don't have to know anything, just click the link in the excerpted comment below:

"You don't have to wait for June 8, though. ISOC has a website set up to perform a one-off test of your current configuration. Go there now, and you'll receive a report..."

I failed the test. I am pretty sure it's my wireless router doesn't have IPv6, so the next time I buy a new one I will have to make sure it is up to standard. That should be easy enough, it'll say right on the box. Thing is just knowing to look.

Read the article though, so you'll know what's happening and how soon. You've got years before it completes the change, but, you may need to purchase different equipment before then and if you get the wrong stuff, you'll have to buy it all over again. Like me and my router.