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A Comparative Study on IPv4 and IPv6

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 A Comparative Study on IPv4 and IPv6

Atena Shiranzaei Rafiqul Zaman Khan

Research Scholar/Department of Associate Professor /Department of
Computer Science, Aligarh Muslim Computer Science, Aligarh Muslim
University, Aligarh, U.P, India University, Aligarh, U.P, India
[email protected] [email protected], [email protected]

Abstract__ The addresses of Internet protocol (IP) are a The next generation of IP which widely
vital resource for the Internet. In the network, IP expanded is IPv6. IPv6 was developed to solve the
address is assigned to every interface which connects to shortage of addressing and most of the IPv4’s
the Internet. The addresses are still assigned by using
limitations. The reminder of this study is structured
Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4). IPv4 has
as follows: Section 2 of this paper introduces IPv4.
demonstrated robust, compatibility with vast range of
protocols, applications and easy implementation. IPv4
Section 3 briefly describes IPv6. Section 4 contrasts
had been supposed to cover all the network interfaces, IPv4 and IPv6. Section 5 compares IPv4 and IPv6
however with huge increase of the number of devices header.
(computer, mobile, tablet, routers, server, etc) the
reserve of assigned addresses is exhausted. IPv6 has II. INTERNET PROTOCOL VERSION 4
been deployed for providing new services and for
supporting the internet growth. This study compares In 1978, Internet Protocol version 4(IPv4)
the key specifications of IPv4 and IPv6, contrasts IPv4 was developed and determined in 1981 [1]. The
and IPv6 header’s fields, the structure of headers, fourth version of Internet Protocol is IPv4 and the
explains advantages of IPv6 and disadvantages of IPv4, first version of protocol that has been widely used.
and why we are running out of IPv4. IPv4 uses 32 bit addressing which the capacity of it is
32
4.3 billion or 2 unique internet addresses. IPv4
Index terms – IPv4, IPv6, IPv4 Header, IPv6
Header, Comparison IPv4 and IPv6 involves of five classes, A, B, C, D and E. Class A, B
and C specify the different length of host and
I. INTRODUCTION network. The addresses of class D are used for
multicasting group. And class E is kept for future use.
Internet Protocol (IP) is one of the important Each address involves four 8-octets which resulting
protocols in TCP/IP. This protocol identifies hosts an address with 32 bits length. An example of an
and routes data between them over the Internet. The IPv4 address is 192.168.1.10.
first generation of IP which has been used broadly is
IPv4. It had supported growth of Internet for a long III. INTERNET PROTOCOL VERSION 6
time. It was run in a trusted closed environment.
Therefore, it didn’t require any security mechanism The next generation of IP is Internet
Protocol version 6 (IPv6) which intended to succeed
for keeping safe hosts and network elements. IPv4
IPv4. The development of IPv6 started in 1991 and
supposed to be the last version with vast space of integrated in 1997 [2]. Eventually, Internet
addresses (4000 millions). Imaging that these days Corporation for assigned Names and Numbers
mobile phones, desktops, androids and huge number (ICANN) added the addresses of IPv6 to its DNS
of other internet devices connected to the internet. server in 2004 [2].
However, the fast expansion of IP makes shortage of In contrast to IPv4, IPv6 address space is
128 38
IPv4 addresses. IPv4 was sufficient at the time of its 128 bits. It allows 2 or 3.4 *10 unique addresses
beginning, it has never estimated the security, easier [3]. IPv6 addressing format is represented by eight
16-bit hexadecimal number fields which separated by
configuration, growth the number of IP addresses and “:”. For instance
quality of service. 2201:0000:3838:DCE1:0163:0000:0000:FECB or in the
easiest way we are able to write it as

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International Journal of Advanced Information Science and Technology (IJAIST) ISSN: 2319:2682
Vol.33, No.33, January 2015

2201:0:3838:DCE1:0163::FECB.

IV. COMPARISON OF IPV4 AND IPV6 and IPv6 compared in various concepts, IP
addresses, and IP functions.
There are different differences
between IPv4 and IPv6. In the Table 1, IPv4

Table 1. Comparison of IPv4 and IPv6

S.N Category IPv4 IPv6

1. Deployed 1981[1] 1999[1]

2. Length of address 32 bits (4 bytes) 128 bits (16 bytes)

3. Total number of 4,294,967,296 unique addresses 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,7

addresses 68,211,456 unique addresses
4. Style of address Each IPv4 address is represented in IPv6 address is represented in eight
four sets decimal digit, which is hexadecimal digit sets, which is divided by
divided by dots (“.”). Such as colons (“:”).
192.168.10.3, and the limited area of
each set is from “0” to “255”.If all For instance
digits in each set is zero, we use single FA90:0000:0000:0000:0301:B3EE:FE1E:80
zero, for example 192.168.0.0 [4,5]. 09, If all digits in each set is zero, we put
only a double colon. For example
FA90::0301:B3EE:FE1E:8009 [4,5].
5. Type of addresses Broadcast: the packet is sent to all the Multicast: the packet is sent to a number of
interfaces (hosts) [6]. Unicast: the interfaces [7] Unicast: the packet is sent to
packet is sent to only one interface [6]. only one interface [7]. Anycast: in this case, a
Multicast: the packet is sent to some number of interfaces is defined as
specific interfaces [6]. destinations but the packet is transferred to
one of the interfaces which are in set, it
depends on routing protocol.
6. Address ARP finds physical addresses, like the ARP is substituted with a function of
Resolution MAC or link address, which is Neighbor Discovery Protocol using IMCPv6
Protocol (ARP) associated by an IPv4 address [5]. to gain the MAC addresses [4,5].
7. Communications The task of communications trace is same in IPv6 [5]
trace gathering the information of trace of
TCP/IP packets which have been
entered or leaved.
8. Configuration IP address is configured by either Auto configuration is one of the important
DHCP or manually [8]. features of IPv6. It is known as “plug &
play” which allows a node to configure its
address by itself. There are two ways of
autoconfiguration in IPv6: (1).The stateless
autoconfiguration: in this case the address of
host doesn’t have to be configured manually,
and sometimes routers need minimal
configuration.(2).The stateful
autoconfiguration: this kind of
autoconfiguration is equivalent to the DHCP
protocol of IPv4.

Here a host gets the IP addresses of its

interfaces through a DHCPv6 server that is a

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International Journal of Advanced Information Science and Technology (IJAIST) ISSN: 2319:2682
Vol.33, No.33, January 2015

pool of addresses which allocated to the

interfaces.
Auto-configuration is easier and more
manageable for large installations [7,8,9].
9. Domain Name For mapping the name of hosts to the For mapping the name of host to the
Service (DNS) IPv4 addresses and reverse, it uses addresses of IPv4 and reverse, it uses host
host address (A) resource records in address (AAAA) resource records in DNS
DNS [8]. [8,10].
10. DNS record type For mapping IPv4 addresses to hosts For mapping IPv6 addresses to hosts PTR
and location for PTR records in IN-ADDR.ARPA records in IP6.ARPA DNS domain [8].
reverse name DNS domain [8].
resolution
11. Dynamic Host IPv4 is used DHCP to allocate IPv6 uses DHCPv6[10].
Configuration dynamic IP addresses to the various
Protocol (DHCP) devices over a network.
12. File Transfer FTP lets you to send and receive FTP doesn’t support IPv6 [5].
Protocol (FTP) information through the network.

13. Fragmentation When a packet is too big for the next Sender does fragmentation[12].
link, it should be fragmented. In IPv4,
Sender and forwarding routers are
responsible for fragmentation [4].
14. Internet Control network devices use ICMP to send It is used similarly by IPv4; although,
Message Protocol error messages, for example ICMP ICMPv6 has some more sufficient attributes,
(ICMP) destination unreachable messages, and such as error reporting in packet processing,
informational messages, like ICMP diagnostic activities, Neighbor Discovery
echo process and IPv6 multicast membership
request and reply messages [11]. reporting [11].
15. Router Discovery ICMP Router Discovery allows hosts ICMPv6 Router Solicitation and Router
to define the default gateway router to Advertisement messages work instead of
reach devices on different networks, it ICMP Router Discovery. It is required [8].
is important to note that it is optional
[12].
16. Internet Group IGMP is to exchange and update the The usage of Multicast Listener Discovery
Management information of host membership (MLD) is to realize multicast listeners
Protocol (IGMP) which is in specific multicast groups. (specific nodes that defined to gathering
Additionally, hosts are able to multicast packets which destined for specific
distinguish interest in gathering multicast addresses) on the links that are
multicast traffic from specific sources attached directly [14].
or specific set of sources [13].
17. Maximum The maximum size of a packet which The maximum size of a packet that a
Transmission Unit can be supported by a specific link is particular link can support is 1280 byte [5].
(MTU) 576 byte [5].
18. Loopback address An interface by one address of The loopback address is
127.*.*.* are a loopback address 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001
which a node can use it to send a or ::1. The name of physical address is
packet to itself. The name of physical *LOOPBACK [5].
address is *LOOPBACK [5].
19. Network address NAT is a process to assign a public IP IPv6 doesn’t require NAT [5].
Translation address to network devices, usually
(NAT) Firewalls. NAT’s purpose is to
decrease the amount of public
addresses [5].NAT gives IP addresses
which are private to the users then a
group of users can get the internet by

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International Journal of Advanced Information Science and Technology (IJAIST) ISSN: 2319:2682
Vol.33, No.33, January 2015

using a public IP address. So, NAT

has faced a lot of problems: (1) NAT
makes problem in RTC (Real Time
Communication) protocol. RTC is
used for VoIP and multimedia
communication. (2) It makes security
problems. Because it has to change the
IPSec headers as well as it harms the
end to end security and data integrity
(3) Peer to peer communication needs
unique IP address. NAT creates peer
to peer communication problem
because it is difficult to establish a
proper connection between users with
the public IP usage [15].

20. Routing protocols RIP,RIP-2,IGRP,EIGRP,OSPF- RIPng,OSPF-3,EIGRP,IS-IS,PIM,BGP-

2,OSPF-3,MOSPF,IS- 4[16].
IS,DVMRP,PIM,EGP,BGP-4[16].
21. Quality of Service QoS lets you to demand packet In Ipv6 there is a field which is known as
bandwidth and priority for TCP/IP Flow Label field. This field defines how
application [14]. In other word, QoS is specific packets are identified as well as
a mechanism to transfer a multimedia carried by the routers. The Flow Label field
packet such as music, voice and video lets the packets which begin from a specific
with good quality but in IPv4 there host to a particular destination to be
isn’t any assurance that all QoS identified and handled by the routers [17].
compliant devices are compatible with The purpose of QoS mechanisms are [7]:
another device [17]. - Real time application.
- Less latence and “jitter”.
- More tolerance to packet losses.
- Retransmissions are less important.
- More importance of the temporal
relationship.
22. Renumbering When we are interested in extending a Renumbering is one of the important
network or merging the networks we elements of IPv6, and it is automatic [5].
have to renumber the IP addresses of
networks, And it is done manually.
This is a troublesome and difficult
process [5].
23. Simple Network SNMP is used for managing a system Doesn’t use in IPv6 [5].
Management [5].
Protocol (SNMP)
24. Virtual Private VPN lets you to explode a private VPN supports IPv6 [5].
Network (VPN) network on a public network [5].

25. Security Security is bounded to tunnelling IPv6 provides data security, which involves
between two networks [18]. end-to-end backing for user authentication,
data encryption and data integrity [18].
26. IPSec support Optional[10] One of the important protocols in IPv6 is
IPSec. It involves a set of cryptographic
protocols for making secure communication
and key exchange. The major protocols used
are: (1) Authentication Header (AH)
Protocol: it enables authentication and
integrity of data. (2) Encapsulating Security

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Vol.33, No.33, January 2015

Payload (ESP): ESP enables authentication,

integrity of data and privacy of data .(3)
Internet Key Exchange (IKE): this protocol
sets up the security between two end points
and holds the track of information therefore
the communication will be secured until the
end [10,17,19].
27. Mobility Ipv4 doesn’t support mobility and Use MIPv6 with faster routing, handover and
handover. It means if a mobile node hierarchical mobility [10].
changes its location then the address
of node needs to be established again
[1]. Mobile IPv4 (MIPv4) is used by
IPv4 [10].

V. COMPARISON OF IPV4 AND IPV6 IPv6 header has removed all the useless
HEADER options and added some of them into a field which is
called extension header. The Figure 2, shown the IP
IPv4 header outlined in the Figure 1 [21]: header of IPv6 [21]:

32 Bits 32 Bits
Version Header Type of Total length Traffic
Length service Version class Flow Label

Identification Flag Fragment

offset Payload Length Next Header Hop
Time To live Protocol Header checksum Limit

Source Address Source Address

Destination Address
Option Padding Destination Address
Figure. 1 IPv4 header Figure. 2 IPv6 header

In the table 2, you can see a comparative study of IPv4 and IPv6 headers:

Table 2. Compare IPv4 and IPv6

IPv4 Header’s Field IPv6 Header’s Field

S.N Name of Length Description Name of Length Description
Field Field
1. Version 4 bits This field’s value is Version 4 bits The value of this field is 6.
the version of IP.
In IPv4 the value of
this field is 4.
2. Header 4 bits Header’s length Header ___ ___
Length Length Field
is removed
in IPV6
Header [24].
3. Type of 8 bits The way that a Traffic class 8 bits The function is same as Type of
Service datagram has to be Service
carried [21]. Field in IPv4 [24].
4. There is no ____ ___ Flow Label 20 bits QoS is a mechanism to transfer a

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 International Journal of Advanced Information Science and Technology (IJAIST) ISSN: 2319:2682
Vol.33, No.33, January 2015

Flow Label multimedia packet like voice,

Field in IPv4 video and music. The
Header functionality of Flow Label field
is same as QoS.
5. Total Length 16 bits Gives router the Payload 16 bits The process is similar to Total
total length of IP Length Length Field in IPv4[24]
header and data
[21].
6. Identification 16 bits It identifies the Identification ___ This field is removed in ipv6
value is allocated Field is header [24].
by the sender to removed in
help in assembling IPV6 Header
the fragments of a
datagram [21].
7. Flags 3 bits It specifies an IP Flags Field is ___ This field is removed in ipv6
packet might be removed in header [24].
fragmented or not IPV6 Header
[13,21].
8. Fragment 13 bits It shows the exact Fragment ___ This field is removed in ipv6
offset location of a Offset Field header [24].
datagram in a is removed
fragment [15, 21]. in IPV6
Header
9. Time To live 8 bits It displays the Hop Limit 8 bits The function is similar to Time
maximum time To live
when a datagram is Field in IPv4
permitted to be up
in the Internet
system. [21].
10. Protocol 8 bits At destination host, Next Header 8 bits The function is similar to
it defines the Protocol
protocol that the Field in IPv4
packet belongs to at
the next level [13,
21].
11. Header 16 bits It surveys whether Header ___ It is handled by upper-layer
Checksum the packet received Checksum protocols. Thus, it is removed in
error-free [13, 21]. Field is IPv6.
removed in
IPV6 Header
12. Source 32 bits The address of Source 128 bits The address of sender.
Address sender. Address
13. Destination 32 bits The address of Address 128 bits The address of receiver.
Address receiver.
14. Options Variable This field is Option Field ___ Added into Extension header
optional. These is removed
options can involve in IPV6
values for options Header
like Security,
Record Route,
Time Stamp and
etc [13, 21].
15. Padding Variable Padding will be Padding ___ Added into Extension header
added at the end of Field is
a packet by header removed in

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International Journal of Advanced Information Science and Technology (IJAIST) ISSN: 2319:2682
Vol.33, No.33, January 2015

length field if the IPV6 Header

size of header is
less than standard
size. [13, 21].
16. There is no ___ ___ Extension Variable Extension Field is added into
Extension headers IPv6 Header. It handles security
headers Field and the function of options field
in IPv4 in IPv4 [24]
Header

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 International Journal of Advanced Information Science and Technology (IJAIST) ISSN: 2319:2682
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