IPv6 partially switched on – huge leap forward for adopters

In a major step toward adopting IPv6, ICANN has updated six of 13 root DNS servers with the ability to use IPv6 addresses. Meaning, systems trying to connect with IPv6 can get IPv6 DNS information without having to ask an IPv4 server and converting. This is major news for the adopters of IPv6 as the addressing method of the future (which by all means, it is).

In terms of everyday use of the internet, nothing has changed – you still have to go out of your way to use IPv6 at all. In addition to the frustration involved with trying to find a domain registrar who can handle the v6 DNS records, you still cannot access a certain percentage of websites due to the other 7 DNS servers.

Despite the limitations, this is a major leap forward for IPv6. In fact, it has in all likelyhood garunteed the future adoption of IPv6 by everyone. The next step towards making this happen is allowing IPv6 to match IPv4 in coverage, keeping all web sites accessible by both at all times. Once that is complete, IPv6 will just slip into regular use. And we await the day.