Internet Protocol creates basic building blocks for connecting devices on a network, allowing them to find each other and share data. IPv6 is considered a necessary upgrade to the current IPv4 standard, which faces an IP address shortage outside North America.The shift to IPv6 is also seen as a chance to boost overall network security, a major priority for the military. Citing security concerns with older IPv4 technology, the Defense Department last year announced plans to make IPv6 a required standard for all network equipment purchases by 2008.
Corporations have been slower to jump on the bandwagon, given the costs of upgrading current networks and uncertainties over how the changes will play out in real-world deployments.
