How have the IPv4 limitations been solved? (select all that apply) By implementing the IPv6 protocol By creating more IPv4 address By using DNS By using Network Address Translation
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answers are:
- By implementing the IPv6 protocol
- By using Network Address Translation
Explanation:
IPv4, the most widely used protocol for internet addressing, has some limitations, particularly with the number of available unique IP addresses. This is because IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, allowing for a total of 2^32 (approximately 4.3 billion) unique addresses, which is insufficient for the ever-growing number of devices connected to the internet.
Here’s how the limitations have been addressed:
- By implementing the IPv6 protocol:
IPv6 is the most direct solution to IPv4’s address limitations. IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, which allows for a vastly larger number of unique addresses—around 340 undecillion (3.4×10^38) addresses. This essentially eliminates the issue of address exhaustion and provides enough addresses to accommodate the growing number of internet-enabled devices. - By using Network Address Translation (NAT):
NAT allows multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IPv4 address. This method has been widely used to mitigate the shortage of available IPv4 addresses. Through NAT, private IP addresses (used within a local network) are mapped to a single public IP address, effectively increasing the number of devices that can access the internet using limited IPv4 addresses.
Not solutions:
- By creating more IPv4 addresses:
This is not a feasible solution because the IPv4 addressing system itself is limited by the 32-bit space. Expanding the number of available IPv4 addresses is not possible within the constraints of the protocol. - By using DNS (Domain Name System):
DNS helps with resolving human-readable domain names (e.g., www.example.com) to IP addresses but does not address the limitations of the IP addressing system itself. While it facilitates easier access to websites and devices, it doesn’t expand the address pool.
In summary, the two primary solutions to IPv4 limitations are implementing IPv6 and using NAT to extend the functionality of the existing IPv4 system.
