IPv6 Compatibility

IPv6 is the next generation of the Internet Protocol, the system by which data is transferred across the Internet. The primary problem that IPv6 solves is the shortage of IP addresses, which are becoming scarce due to the number of systems connected to the Internet.

Thus IPv6 addresses are much longer than traditional IP (IPv4) addresses - an example of a currently-active IPv6 address is 2001:4860:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000. Contrast this to an IPv4 address such as 205.234.111.204.

Over the coming years the Internet will gradually move over to IPv6, with a transition period in which both IPv4 and IPv6 are in use.

Since the 2008 edition, VisualRoute has been IPv6 compatible. That means that it is able to trace IPv6 addresses.

If you wish to trace IPv6 addresses from your own desktop then you must be connected to an IPv6-enabled Internet service provider. You cannot trace IPv6 addresses if your Internet service provider supports only IPv4 traffic. Furthermore, to make use of your ISP's IPv6 features, your computer must have an IPv6 stack installed. Most modern operating systems such as Windows Vista have this pre installed.

Most home-grade ISPs currently do not offer IPv6 support, though this will change in the near future. In the meantime, the Business and Support editions of VisualRoute allow you to trace locations from Visualware's servers, some of which are IPv6 enabled. View the tracing from other locations section of this manual for further information on how to trace using Visualware's servers.