We don't normally think about the technologies that underpin the internet that we use every day, but if they break, or reduce in performance, then big problems can result. BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is the technology that was affected due to the 512K ISP router capacity limit. This video explains what happened and how it was fixed.
512K Day: The Day The Internet (almost) Broke
- Thread starter Retro
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Numbers are mind boggling. The video talks of 512 thousand routes and I cannot relate these numbers to each other but our current IPv4 system of internet addressing has 4.3 billion addresses - bit less really as many are reserved and not used, eg our private 192.168 local addresses amongst others.
But here's the thing, IPv6 addresses are 128 bit and give 340 undecillion addresses (less some reserved), now a trillion seconds is 30+ thousand years and after a trillion is quadrillion, then quintillion, sextillion, septillion, octillion, nonillion, decillion,and undecillion. Each number multiplies by a further thousand.
Figures, like Monty's paradox, can be very confusing.
geffers
But here's the thing, IPv6 addresses are 128 bit and give 340 undecillion addresses (less some reserved), now a trillion seconds is 30+ thousand years and after a trillion is quadrillion, then quintillion, sextillion, septillion, octillion, nonillion, decillion,and undecillion. Each number multiplies by a further thousand.
Figures, like Monty's paradox, can be very confusing.
geffers
