Business Software Technology

Buy IPv4 Now, Avoid Storage Issues Later

Summary

IPv4 stands for “Internet Protocol version 4”, and it’s the foundation of internet language and operation. Any device that is capable of connecting to the web has it’s own unique, dedicated IP. For your smartphone or laptop, your IP is […]

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IPv4 stands for “Internet Protocol version 4”, and it’s the foundation of internet language and operation. Any device that is capable of connecting to the web has it’s own unique, dedicated IP. For your smartphone or laptop, your IP is connected to your personal information, and depending on your Internet service provider (ISP), each device will be assigned an IP that routes you through IPv4. If you host a website, its IP is a translation of the domain name it’s known by to the public.

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Because IPv4 addresses consist of 32 integers, ISPs have run out of access to new combinations for additional IP addresses within IPv4 guidelines. In order to offer additional IPs, ISPs are currently making the switch to IPv6, but this isn’t something that can happen overnight. In order to continue utilizing the internet and protecting your personal information, there are steps you can take to safely employ a static IP through IPv4 while the world makes the transition to IPv6 addresses.

IP Address Exhaustion

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When access to new IPv4 addresses run out, this is referred to as IP address exhaustion. The Internet of Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is responsible for the assignment of IP addresses, and in 2011, the organization ran out of allocation space for IPv4 addresses. This is because the average household in America has multiple internet-enabled devices. According to the Pew Research Center, “a third of all American households have at least three smartphones.” Any device that connects to the internet has an IP address linked to it, and because IPv4 addresses have a set number of integers in the combination, we’ve run out of possible combinations for new IP address allocations. Since 2015, ARIN has been accumulating requests for new IPv4 address blocks, requests which can’t currently be completed.

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In 2019, RIPE also exhausted its pool of available dedicated IP addresses. Due to the shortage of dedicated IP options, users in the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle East are unable to access new dynamic or static IP addresses. Any users in these areas must reuse IPs that have previously been attached to other domain names, users, and devices. This means these IPs have also been connected to the other users’ personal information in the past.

IP Address Solutions

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In the wake of IPv4 address exhaustion, resellers of static IP address allocations have arisen. The allocation of previously used dedicated IP addresses means that the personal information of past users must be securely removed during the data transfer process. In our hyper-connected world, you want to know that your personal information is safe and won’t be shared when your dedicated IP addresses from old devices are reused. You also what to know that when you receive a new IP address, it’s not connected to the personal information of its past owners. We don’t control what others do when they search the internet, so when you receive a new dedicated IP, you don’t want to have any negative online service activities or searches connected to it.

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If you’re looking to purchase IP address blocks, IPv4 Connect is a trusted marketplace that offers fully managed IP address transfers for buyers and sellers. IPv4 Connect works diligently to find suppliers of unrouted IP address blocks and they bring these clean, reputable IPv4 blocks to their marketplace. They are also able to clean IPs that have been blacklisted.

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IPv4 Connect has helpful resources for potential buyers on their site. If you’re looking to purchase an IPv4 address, IPv4 Connect wants to help you understand your Regional Internet Registry (RIR) guidelines to help streamline this process. Depending on where you live, the RIR requires you to have an account with either ARIN, APNIC, RIPE. When purchasing a dedicated IP for your business, both ARIN and APNIC require pre-approval for your company’s IP use cases, but this isn’t necessary for RIPE IP users. IPv4 Connect collects and protects your personal information for any pre-approval processes involved in IPv4 address block transfers. Applicants can be sure their personal information is secure during the entire process of buying a new dedicated IP from any verified resellers of IP blocks.