Fewer than 10 percent of IPv4 addresses remain available for allocation, says the Number Resource Organization (NRO). The NRO is tasked with allocating IP addresses to ISPs and network operators, and represent the five Regional Internet Registries (RIR) on address-related issues.

In a sobering statement, NRO says, "With less than 10 percent of the entire IPv4 address range still available for allocation to RIRs, it is vital that the Internet community take considered and determined action to ensure the global adoption of IPv6."

IPv6 supports 2 to the power of 128 addresses, even trying to articulate the number in anything other than numeric notations is difficult; it has not stopped some from trying to say the IPv6 number though. At the end of the day, IPv6 is the solution that was created to succeed IPv4, and should have adequate space for a very long time indeed.

Unfortunately, deployment of IPv6 has progressed at a snail's pace, despite being available since the mid-1990s. One can always hope for a faster transition, though with nary a plan or a recognized organization to coordinate, one can only hope.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at Network World

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