Go on a Psychedelic Journey of the Internet's Growth and Evolution
Security researcher Barrett Lyon creates visualizations of the internet's network infrastructure, and in his latest work, he explores the rise of the IPv6 protocol.
Exploring the Rise of IPv6
The Internet Protocol (IP) is the underlying mechanism that governs network communication and routing on the internet. While most people may not pay much attention to it when browsing online, it plays a crucial role in everything we do on the internet. IPv4, the mainstream internet protocol, had technical limitations and couldn't support the growing global internet usage. This led to the development of IPv6, the next-generation network protocol.
Security researcher Barrett Lyon, known for his kaleidoscopic visualizations of the internet, decided to explore and map the growth of IPv6 alongside IPv4. Lyon's project, called Opte, has been capturing the visual representation of the internet since 2003. However, this is the first time the project has showcased the progression of both IPv4 and IPv6 networks.
Through his work, Lyon aims to showcase the rapid growth and adoption of IPv6. In the visualizations, it becomes evident that IPv6 is surpassing IPv4 in terms of robustness and prevalence. As Lyon explains, the IPv4 network that has been in use for 35 years will eventually become less essential as IPv6 continues to expand.
Insights from the Visualizations
Using Border Gateway Protocol routing tables and data from the University of Oregon's RouteViews Archive Project, Lyon generates the Opte visualizations. He was surprised to see the discrepancies in IPv6 adoption rates across different regions of the world, with the tech community in the European Union incorporating IPv6 more enthusiastically than that in the United States.
Lyon's visualizations also highlight the potential of IPv6 to support new technologies. As newer, highly networked technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) platforms come into play, IPv6 proves to be more compatible and efficient. IPv6's default support for larger networks makes it ideal for AI networks that require seamless communication between computers.
By observing the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 through Opte, Lyon suggests that this comparison not only reflects the current state of the internet but also hints at the need for new protocols to enable future technologies. He believes that even IPv6 may eventually be insufficient to meet the evolving needs of society, and more intricate protocols will be required to support features like space communications or large AI farms.
The Future of Internet Protocols
Lyon's work sparks thoughts about the future of internet protocols. He suggests that new protocols will need to be developed to enable technologies that haven't been conceptualized yet. As society continues to rely on the internet for various purposes, including space communications and AI advancements, the limitations of IPv6 may become apparent.
It is essential to understand that the growth and evolution of the internet are ongoing processes. Lyon's visualizations provide valuable insights into the current state of affairs and potential future developments, shedding light on the need for continuous innovation and adaptation in the realm of internet protocols.
