IP-Converge enhances services by implementing IPv6

June 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Internet data center, telecommunications and cloud services provider IP Converge Data Services, Inc. recently announced that its network infrastructure now supports the use of IPv6 (Internet protocol version 6) for customers’ Internet connectivity requirements. The new Internet protocol allows the allocation of more IP addresses to various devices and is said to enhance the quality of service of Internet providers that use it.

An IP address is a numerical label assigned to a device (e.g., computer, printer) connected to a computer network and uses Internet Protocol for communication. This label has gone through various designs and architecture since the dawn of the Internet. Currently, the most widely used version is a 32-bit number (or four sets of 8-bit numbers) known as IPv4. However, large commercialization and individual usage of the web over the past few years has resulted in the near-exhaustion of IPv4 addresses. Hence, it is imperative for providers to shift towards the next generation Internet protocol, IPv6.

IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, which means that the number of addresses that can be used would be 2 to the 128th power, a number that would look more like a sentence if spelled out. That’s enough addresses to assign every human being on the planet with trillions of IP addresses each. With IPv6, the world would likely never run out of IP addresses again.

In the Philippines, IP-Converge is among the first to use IPv6, which not only utilizes a longer, more complex IP address string, but has better security, real time consideration, plug and play capabilities, and better optimization than its predecessor.

According to IP-Converge President Reynaldo Huergas, “Nobody really understood the potential of the Internet at the time it was created. But when its value to business and media was realized, everybody wanted their own space on the web. At this point, the world is very close to using up all 4.29 billion addresses on IPv4, and the best option is to migrate to IPv6.”

Sherwin Torres, IP-Converge Senior Manager for Network Operations says, “We’re IPv6-ready. Our network equipment and application software are all updated, and we’ve ensured that all integral parts of our network are compatible. This means more efficient network routing, enhanced security, increased resiliency and quality of our co-location and connectivity services, and an improved end user experience when accessing content hosted in our data center”

Security is also more robust on IPv6 as IPsec,  a protocol suite for securing IP communications is already a built-in feature. This provides data confidentiality, integrity and authentication at the network layer. In addition, the colossal number of the IPv6 addresses can be a deterrent to Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, said to be the most destructive of all cyber crimes.

“Compared to IPv4, IPv6 is highly secure and far more robust. It’s scalable through an auto-configuration method and supports the plug-and-play option on network devices, allowing easy implementation and scalability”, Torres adds.

“IPv6 has enabled us to provide superior dedicated Internet connectivity services for our customers, as well as enhanced access to our cloud platform”, said Huergas. “We urge businesses to start moving their IT infrastructure to IPv6 as well, as this will soon become the standard Internet protocol used globally.”

On June 8, 2012, top websites and Internet service providers around the world, including Google, Facebook, and Yahoo! joined together with more than 1000 other participating websites in World IPv6 Day for a successful global-scale trial of the new Internet Protocol.