IPv6

Internet Protocol version 6. IPv6 is the next-generation IP protocol. The specification was completed in 1997 by IETF. IPv6 is backward- compatible with and is designed to fix the shortcomings of IPv4, such as data security and maximum number of user addresses. IPv6 increases the address space from 32 to 128 bits, providing for an unlimited (for all intents and purposes) number of networks and systems; IPv6 is expected to slowly replace IPv4, with the two existing side by side for many years.