4 ms·
An IPv4 address on the wire is just a 32 Bit integer in big endian. The quad-dotted notation is the most common for IPv4 but you could also use hex or decimal.
by bauruine 3y ago
An IPv4 address on the wire is just a 32 Bit integer in big endian. The quad-dotted notation is the most common for IPv4 but you could also use hex or decimal. There was an article on HN just recently about that. I can't find it right now but try ping 0x7F000001 to get an idea. You don't even need a new protocol you could implement something like what three words or your 999.999.999 naming scheme locally and use it on the internet right now! No need to replace any routers or have anyone else upgrade.
- suprjami 3y agoIt's the human method of interacting with that integer which is the problem. Nobody is going to start saying IPv4 addresses as hex, people aren't used to base 16. "Just set your gateway to co.a8.0.fe" said nobody ever. A 128-bit dotted quad would be equally unwieldy. Again "The IPv6 local range is 252.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000/7" said nobody ever. Honestly 128 bits was too much. They should have just done 64 and stuck to dotted quad and ARP. That would probably have got more acceptance than what we have now.
- mixmastamyk 3y ago64bits in hex would be reasonably compact, 1.5x the length of a MAC address.
- ikiris 3y agoSure, we could even call those network subnets that way we've got plenty of space for all the internet and expansion since 32 wasn't enough, and have another 64 bits for host identifiers. This feels familiar somehow...