The Past, Present, and Future of the Internet Protocol


The term “Internet protocol” refers to the one protocol with the ability to share information across all types of existing networks. This protocol acts as the network layer communications protocol with the main goal to ensure relaying datagrams across all internet networks. Its main function is to route all traffic through internetworking to establish the World Wide Web, also known as the internetOpens in a new tab..

The main task of the internet protocol is to deliver packages of data from the source host to the destination host. It uses the IP addresses in the data package headers to establish this communication between hosts. If we take a walk down the memory lane, we can see that internet protocol (IP) was originally introduced by Bob Khan and Vint Cerf in 1974.

Back then, IP was nothing more than a connection-oriented service that later became the foundation for the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). The first IP version was Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) and is still the dominant IP on the web.

However, its successor, IPv6, has been growing in popularity since 2006. Let’s briefly review the history of IP, key developments, and more.

Where it started?

The story of the very first internet protocolOpens in a new tab. started somewhere around 1974 when the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers published a study named “A Protocol for Packet Network Intercommunication” by Bob Khan and Vint Cerf.

The paper’s authors introduced the concept of TCP that incorporated both datagram services and connection-oriented links between hots as an internetworking protocol for sharing and distributing data and resources using packet switching among network nodes.

IP versions 1 to 3 were all experiments, leading to the development of the Internet Experiment Note, an IP version before the modern version of IPv4. Between 1973 and 1978, IP had six different versions:

  • IEN 2 (1977) – the first version of the IP header that used 0 for the version field.
  • IEN 26 (1978) – IP header that used a 1-bit version field.
  • IEN 28 (1978) – IPv2.
  • IEN 41 (1978) – the first version of the IPv4 header.
  • IEN 44 (1978) – the second version of the IPv4 header.
  • IEN 54 (1978) – the first version of IPv4 standardized in RFC 760.

In 1989, the World Wide Web was created. The year 1990 introduced the very first search engine, Archie. In 1998, the web introduced Google Search. IPv6 became a new standard for the Internet Engineering Task Force in the same year. In 2017, IPv6 was officially ratified as a new internet standard.

Key events in the development

We can’t talk about internet protocols without reflecting on the Domain Name System (DNS). Every internet-enabled device has its own unique IP address that it uses to establish a connection with the internet.

The DNS database ensures the necessary connection for these addresses to allow the IP holders to reach the wanted destination (website) online. The internet relies on TCP/IP protocols to distribute data across the web. TCP/IP determines how data is distributed and received at the target destination. It also makes computer networks recoverable, secure, and reliable.

Another important internet protocol is the Simple Message Transfer Protocol (SMTP). It’s the standard protocol for exchanging email messages from one internet-enabled device to the other. Internet users wouldn’t be able to download and upload files from the web without the File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

FTP uses two communication channels to enable file distribution on the internet. One is used for data transfer, and the other is for communication purposes. Finally, we have HTTP and HTTPS. These modern transfer protocols allow internet users to establish a secure connection with the internet and visit websites safely.

Why it’s important?

An internet protocol makes communication between internet-connected devices a reality. Without it, connected devices wouldn’t be able to communicate with each other. IP is an established set of rules that determine how data is distributed between internet-enabled devices sharing the same network.

Each device has its own design, structure, and internet processes. IPs overcome these differences and allow connected devices to communicate with each other. Because of that, internet protocols are the very fabric of any modern digital communication on the web.

Differences between IPv4 and IPv6

To better understand the differences between IPv4 and IPv6, let’s first see what both protocols are. IPv4 is the most widely used internet protocol to identify devices on the web using an addressing system.

This IP uses a 32-bit address scheme to carry more than 90% of internet traffic. IPv6, on the other hand, is the updated version of IPv4 that was introduced as a solution to all the problems associated with the previous version. It supports 128-bit addressesOpens in a new tab..

Key differences between IPv4 and IPv6 are many but let’s name a few:

  • The main difference is that IPV4 uses 32-bit IP addresses, whereas IPv6 supports 128-bit IPs.
  • While IPv4 uses a number addressing method, IPv6 is alphanumeric.
  • IPv6 doesn’t support broadcast and Variable Length Subnet Mask (VLSM), and it doesn’t have checksum fields.
  • While IPv4 relies on the Address Resolution Protocol to map to MAC addresses, IPv6 uses the Neighbor Discovery Protocol.
  • IPv6 can be auto-configured to allow direct addressing.
  • IPv6 allows for multicasting and comes with larger packet headers.
  • IPv6 is slightly faster than IPv4.
  • IPv6 is more secure than IPv4 due to having internet protocol security (IPSec) built into its protocol.

When compared to IPv4, IPv6 provides higher levels of mobile capabilities and interoperability for a wide range of network devices. It provides more security and can handle data packets more securely, flexibly, scalably, and efficiently.

It also enables ISPs to make their routing tables more hierarchical to reduce their size and ensure a more stable connection by allowing them to use an IPv6 proxy to translate IPv4 to IPv6.

An IPv6 proxy is a software that intercepts online traffic and converts the protocols to ensure that ISPs can cope with the load regardless of what IPs the users use. Because of these advantages, the IPv6 protocol will provide the necessary address space needed for the future growth of the internet. If you are interested in more practicalities, click here for infoOpens in a new tab..

Conclusion

Since the internet is constantly growing, we need innovative solutions to help us cope with the ever-increasing load. The internet protocol is still the main element of the internet, enabling routing data around networks.

While IPv4 is still the most used internet protocol on the web, it has been slowly replaced by a newer and better version, IPv6, that offers 1,028 times as many unique addresses as IPv4.

Steve Todd

Steve Todd, founder of Open Sourced Workplace and is a recognized thought leader in workplace strategy and the future of work. With a passion for work from anywhere, Steve has successfully implemented transformative strategies that enhance productivity and employee satisfaction. Through Open Sourced Workplace, he fosters collaboration among HR, facilities management, technology, and real estate professionals, providing valuable insights and resources. As a speaker and contributor to various publications, Steve remains dedicated to staying at the forefront of workplace innovation, helping organizations thrive in today's dynamic work environment.

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