IPv6

Microsoft supports industry-standard technologies including the new standard protocol for the Internet, Internet Protocol version 6 (also known as IPv6), which is the next step beyond IPv4, the current standard protocol for the Internet. These protocols provide IP addresses, the "phone numbers" for the Internet that are responsible for identifying computers and devices so they can communicate.

IPv4 provides around 4 billion IP addresses. IPv4 addresses are increasingly scarce as more and more devices connect to the Internet. IPv6 expands the address space on the Internet from 32 bits to 128 bits. This enables essentially an unlimited number of IP addresses and subsequently, an unlimited number of devices that can be directly connected to the global Internet. IPv6 is also designed to solve many of the problems of IPv4, including mobility, autoconfiguration, and overall extensibility.

Microsoft and other major technology companies have been working behind the scenes for years to deliver a smooth transition from IPv4 to IPv6, in effect an upgrade of the entire Internet, and we continue to lead in the development of this new standard. Microsoft has been developing IPv6 for many years, with IPv6 support built into Microsoft Windows, including Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Microsoft is committed to expanding the worldwide capabilities of the Internet through IPv6 and enabling a variety of valuable and exciting scenarios, including peer-to-peer and mobile applications.

World IPv6 Day is June 8, 2011

On June 8, Microsoft will join other members of the Internet Society (ISOC) in support of World IPv6 Day as part of a broad industry effort to test the next generation Internet Protocol (IPv6). We will providing IPv6 access to Bing.com, Xbox.com, and Microsoft.com for a one-day test of this vastly improved Internet Protocol.

You may be concerned that World IPv6 Day will degrade your experience. Current data indicates that 99.99% of users should experience no issue. But to make sure you're ready, we've prepared a based World IPv6 Day readiness check below. If the test reports that you may have an issue, a configuration change available on Knowledge Base will have Windows "ignore" IPv6 Day.