Are We Running Out of Interwebs?

It may seem unthinkable, but when you do stop to think about it, it's an undeniable fact: There is a finite number of IP addresses.  What's more, those IPs are running out fast. In fact, ICANN, which oversees Internet domains, has already issued its last block of IPv4 addresses.

The solution?  IPv6.  Sounds like a new Subaru model, I know.

The issue was recently brought to my attention by Dynamic Internet (the Buzzonabudget hosting and data center of choice), who released this news earlier this month: 

New Hampshire data center finalizes IPv6 deployment

SALEM, NH - New Hampshire web hosting firm Dynamic Internet announced that it has completed initial IPv6 rollout and is now assigning IPv6 address space to its clients upon request.

Read on here: http://www.dynamicinternet.com/release_3_14_2011.html

Appears to be a geeky, arcane technical upgrade that matters only to geeky, arcane technical people, right? But it's a big deal. Such a big deal that the likes of Facebook, Yahoo, and Google are going to test it out, all together, at the same time, June 8, 2011. You may not even notice World IPv6 Day (although I bet Google will do something creative with their logo for it) but it'll be an important day in the future development of the Internet.

For further reading, I recommend this article: (The Internet is Running Out of Space) from the San Francisco Chronicle on March 22.

If you're one of those geeky, arcane technical people I mentioned above, check out this black-and-white plain-text wiki.  You'll love it.  http://test-ipv6.com/ipv6day.html

Me, I just "liked" the IPv6 Facebook page.