ZLB

The future of the open, two way internet depends somewhat on the adoption of IPv6. Currently we are using IPv4, but the number of adresses is running out (and has been running out for a long time). To solve this issue we started to use NAT’s (Network Adress Translators), which basically allow on IPv4 adress to be shared by several computers. This what happens when several computers in home share that same internet connection. This solves (temporarily) the adresses running out problem, but it creates a new problem, although it’s transparent to have centralized services working such as HTTP, all the p2p services become crippled  (such as VOIP, games, torrents, etc) because when a incoming request appears at the NAT that was not initiated by a computer inside the private network he doesn’t know who to send that packet to. This why we have to configure port-fowarding and UPNP.

IPv6 would solve all this, because there are almost an unlimited number of IPv6 adresses and each computer could have it’s own, becoming a first class citizen in the internet.

Now let’s think for a moment, who wouldn’t want what ? But off course, all the business operating on the internet that are based on the centralized model (such as the media industry, etc.). It’s not in their interest to adopt IPv6, because it’s not in their interest to have end users be in parity with the big business. And thus a whole bunch of excuses are being made to keep on using IPv4, and to cripple even more the capabilities of p2p traffic.

Further reading:
IPv6 and NAT… Again !
The Future Without IPv6

ps: I’m not such a techie for internet protocols, so please forgive any technical inaccuracy…