Allocating addresses.
WHAT THE TWO VERSIONS ARE
The original, whose free pool is exhausted The newer version, with effectively unlimited space
WHAT EXHAUSTION CAUSED
Addresses becoming a traded asset with real cost Widespread use of address translation Providers sharing addresses between customers
WHAT LARGE-SCALE TRANSLATION MEANS
Many customers sharing one public address.
WHAT THAT BREAKS
Incoming connections Address-based identification and blocking Some applications
WHY THAT MATTERS TO A HOSTING PROVIDER
Blocking an address may affect many unrelated users.
WHAT THE NEWER VERSION PROVIDES
Enough addresses for every device Simpler routing No need for translation
WHAT SLOWS ADOPTION
Existing equipment, existing configurations, and the absence of immediate commercial pressure.
WHAT TO DO AS A PROVIDER
Support both, which is the practical position for years to come.
WHAT AN ALLOCATION FROM A REGISTRY REQUIRES
Membership, justification of need, and ongoing fees.
WHAT INDEPENDENT ADDRESS SPACE PROVIDES
The ability to change providers without renumbering.
WHY THAT MATTERS
Renumbering a live network is painful and slow.
