As more security systems become networked, the evolution from IPv4 to IPv6 directly impacts many installations. Alf Chang, a&s consultant and a former installer, examines the effects of the IPv6 protocol on physical security.
As more security systems become networked, the evolution from IPv4 to IPv6 directly impacts many installations. Alf Chang, a&s consultant and a former installer, examines the effects of the IPv6 protocol on physical security.
As the number of IP addresses runs out, IPv6 adds many more. The sixth version of the protocol upgrades IPv4, which was designed 30 years ago around four groups of numbers. In the late '90s, IPv6 was developed as a next-gen networking protocol. A sample IPv4 address would be “254.116.1.110,” while the format for an IPv6 address would be “2001:0db8:85 a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.” The benefits of IPv6 not only make up for the shortage of IPv4 addresses, but also improve online security, confidentiality and quality of service (QoS) requirements.
The advantages of IPv6 for video surveillance are multiple. First of all, it offers more addresses. IPv4 uses a 32-bit addressing range, while IPv6 uses a 128-bit address range. This allocates a staggering number of addresses to every possible device, including the latest tablets and smartphones. A plethora of unique device addresses allows more network video equipment to be viewed remotely, among other network benefits.
IPv6 has better security than IPv4, which was designed for closed networks. As networks now face the risk of remote hacks and data leaks, IPv6 protocols cover network security concerns for secure data transmission. Data is categorized by headers. Under the Next Header field, extension headers such as Authentication Headers and Encapsulating Security Payload Headers carry optional Internet layer information. They provide authentication and encryption to send data, eliminating the need for a dedicated device or software for network security.
Another plus of IPv6 is video packet transmission is more efficient, thanks to simplified headers. Although IP addresses could have quadrupled in length from 32-bit encryption to reach 128-bit encryption, the address length has only doubled and is fixed. The information in IPv6 packets is divided into a mandatory fixed header and optional extension headers, meaning the beginning of the address remains unchanged while subsequent packets simply change the extension headers. If bits come in, fixed IP addresses make sure they go to the same place in the network, simplifying the order of headers. This makes video data packets more efficient and speeds up image transmission.
The flexibility of IPv6 offers another advantage for video surveillance. IPv6 packets delete the header in IPv4, filing the following packets under the Next Header fields. This simplifies file names and expands the number of available file names. The Next Header system lets users update files to describe the footage, which is useful for data management in remote monitoring applications. IPv4 does not allow this functionality, making IPv6 highly useful.
Finally, IPv6 enables network transmission to be more efficient. Network video deployments of IPv6 allow addresses to be allocated to different levels. They can be aggregated into three types: Top Level, Next Level or Site Level Aggregator Identifier. Each level authorizes network space for lower-level applications, prioritizing data signals and simplifying file organization. Video transmission is therefore faster, thanks to improved efficiency.
Anycast or multicast functionality is supported in IPv6, allowing data transmissions to identify the shortest route and the nearest router. This cuts the time needed for network processing and distributes data loading, while reducing unnecessary network usage. While the above are not the only benefits of IPv6, they are the most advantageous ones for video surveillance. For more information, Table 2 compares and contrasts IPv4 with IPv6.