IPV6: How Many IP Addresses Can Dance on the Head of a Pin?

The whole point of the "atoms" is to show how Many IP addys there will be. Duh!

There's so many that by the time we run out it will be impossible to upgrade. Relocating 2^32 addresses, ok, hard but do-able. But upgrading 2^123.. even at that time with all the quantum computing, mind-augmentation and spaceships and so on.. will be fun :p

Guys relax, but first I must respond to the comment we are not likely to run out of IPs in the future. DO NOT MAKE ME BRING UP THE PAST 20 YEARS of Bill Gates making comments we will never need more then 20 megs of Hard drive space, we will never need more then 256 megs of RAM. Never ever make such statement sure enough it will come back to haunt you. Lets just say IP6 opens up a whole new level of connections for the future.

I think Ive got a better way of explaining how many IPv6 there is. There is so many I cannot even understand the explanation of how many there is.

You are all losing the point, the atom to IP 6, analogy is simply to show that there are an awful lot of addresses. it doesn't quite work out but who gives a sh#t.

Sorry, 3.175E49 is radius cubed. Radius id 3.166E16 which when squared and multiplied by 4 pi gives the surface area: 1.26E34.

Actually my atom count is correct. A volume of 1.33E50 gives a radius of 3.175E49, which yields a surface area of 1.26E34. Solve for Area in terms of Volume for a Sphere.

actually...he's not off by 20 on his atom count, he's off by 42 (base 13)

Morons! The whole point of ipv6 is to assign diffent ip addresses to your toaster and microwave. It has absolutely nothing to do with allocation blocks, atoms, network segments, the nervous system or the outcome of the superbowl. If it did have something to do with the atoms on the surface of the earth, I'm sure the government would tell us. Incidentally, you're off by 20 on your atom count...thought you should know.

Good explanation. I'm also a Computer History Museum docent, Although I never talk to this level of detail to tour groups, it is great background to make sure I do know what I talk about.

The latest press releases about micronization and fast computing developments are amazing. But the question should be: Is it the best way to fulfill the dream of robotics and super computing? In my opinion, the most important way of developing computers for humanity, stands in watching and learning from the best inventor: nature. Brain circuits and nerve system are working on analog scale which means endless digital base. We did not reach so high technology, yet, but a good step forward will be the move to higher level than the binary used today: base 4, base 8 or more, while the recommended one is base 10 (decimal) that is the most natural choice for human beings. Ten digital lines (or chip legs) are needed to set 1,000 decimal code, but only 3 lines in decimal (base 10) presentation. As a nerve line sending to the brain pain, stress or heat, so can a decimal based line bring more information than in existing binary mode. The computing ability and the amount of information processed in the new type of CPU will grow immensely. Even the evolution will be step by step (i.e. first to base 4 and later to higher levels) with a communication protocol allowing understanding of each other, so that the cleaver will know to "speak" and cooperate with older systems. The optical and optical-fiber computing and communication are ready to work on higher levels (10 colors in base 10 ? decimal system). New high density memory methods & devices will be developed and many other new coming features are ahead. The dreamer and the developer are invited to come through this portal: the inventors of a new generation of computers. Jacob Davidi Mail : davidi1304@gmail.com

Poor understanding of IPv6 addresses. Standard allocation block is a "/48". Each org requesting address space gets 2^^80 addresses, or 65K subnets of 2^^64 addresses each. There are enough of these gigantic /48 blocks for each human alive (6B) to get over 4000 of them. Even a single /48 is large enough for any possible organization. Last time I checked, most atoms did not have NICs, let alone TCP/IP software stacks. There will be PLENTY of addresses for all cell phones, MP3 players, TV and radio receivers, sensors and controls in smart buildings, etc.

The first byte does not have a reserved value unused in IPv4. Rather, the first 4 bits of an IPv6 header contain '6' rather than '4' to declare what sort of header and addresses will follow.

Clearly, some people have WAY too much time on their hands. Of course, I DID take the time to read it myself, perhaps putting me in the same category.(I must admit I enjoyed it.)

To be fair, 2^128 is a bit simplistic of representation of the IPv6 address space. To be a bit more accurate, if admittedly still simplistic, I prefer to think of it as 2^64 networks each of which contains the "appropriate" number of hosts for that network segment. Also, I don't like calling it "N addresses per atom" or "X addresses per person" - addresses carry no value unless they are connected to something, which requires routing/infrastructure, etc. To imply that everyone gets their "own" is a bit misleading ... Have a great day, and I'd be happy to help answer any additional IPv6 questions you may have ... /TJ trejrco@gmail.com

Not that it negates your point, but how, exactly, does one calculate the number of atoms on the surface of the earth?