AWS image: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/new-aws-public-ipv4-address-charge-public-ip-insights/
Understanding the Dynamics of IPv4 and IPv6 in AWS
The transition from IPv4 to IPv6 is a landmark in internet technology history. IPv4, launched in the 1980s, provided about 4 billion addresses, which soon proved insufficient due to the rapid increase in internet-connected devices. IPv6 emerged in the late 1990s, introducing a 128-bit address system to vastly increase the number of available addresses, thereby enhancing internet functionality and security.
As IPv4's address space dwindles, AWS is increasingly navigating towards IPv6, tapping into its vast reserve of addresses. AWS has been at the forefront of this transition, offering IPv6 support for its key services since 2011 and adopting dual-stack approaches that allow services to operate with both IPv4 and IPv6.
However, the journey to full IPv6 integration is ongoing. Currently, about 30 AWS services support IPv6, but there are variations in their adoption of dual-stack and IPv6 for private endpoints. Moreover, in some regions, several essential services like Amazon API Gateway, AWS CodeCommit, and Amazon DynamoDB are still operating solely on IPv4. This highlights a gap in the transition process, underscoring the need for continued development and integration.
Navigating the IPv4 to IPv6 Transition in AWS Services
As the internet gradually shifts from IPv4 to IPv6, it is crucial to understand and adapt to the pricing dynamics of these protocols for efficient cloud operations. To help us manage it, in July of 2023, AWS added ‘Public IP Insights’, a free IPv4 check feature of VPC IP Address Manager (IPAM). IPAM helps assess the scope of your IPv4 usage, enabling a strategic rethink of network addressing. The added visibility into public IPv4 address utilization is a game-changer, paving the way for more informed decisions in the transition to IPv6. For more information follow the AWS documentation.
Leticia Albuquerque
Mark Olson
