The Internet is Getting Too Heavy – 512k Crisis is Underway

Sometimes it takes something extreme to get people’s attentions. For years, IT experts have been issuing warnings of an impending 512k crisis and now the day of reckoning has finally come. On Tuesday, August 12, 2014, the Internet broke under its own weight. The reason? It finally hit its arbitrary limit of more than 512,000 routes.

What Caused the 512k Problem?

The root cause for the 512k problem is the fact that many Internet service providers failed to upgrade their routers from Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) before the older models hit their limit of 512,000 routes. This resulted in Internet service providers in the UK and the U.S. experiencing widespread Internet outages. Those most affected included AT&T, Time Warner, Verizon, BT, and Virgin.

Essentially, older routers are limited to store 512,000 entries, and the Internet’s routing table has outgrown that capacity. As the amount of IPv4 space becomes increasingly sparse, registrars and ISPs have started assigning smaller and smaller netblocks to customers, which resulted in a more and more fragmented topology. Since IPv4 routes most of the traffic on the Internet, the current depletion of the pool of unallocated IP addresses has caused what is being called “address exhaustion.”

What Can Be Done to Avoid the 512k Crisis?

The 512k crisis is already underway and it is expected to only get worse. But, the problem is manageable. In fact, Cisco has already published a guideline on how to fix the issue in their routers. Other vendors are also planning on having fixes available. However, these “fixes” are simply placing band-aids on an ever-growing problem. The Internet’s routing table is constantly growing and it won’t be long before the older routers face another capacity breakdown.

The only way to solve the 512k problem is to replace older technology with more advanced equipment capable of handling today’s Internet traffic. This means replacing older IPv4 routers with newer models capable of supporting IPv6.

Save the Internet! Upgrade Your Routers!

If your organization needs to upgrade its infrastructure in order to avoid 512k limit complications, then Liquid Technology can help. We offer fast and fair liquidation services that can help you manage your excess inventory of retired routers. We will come to your place of business, inspect your equipment, and remove it quickly and efficiently. If the equipment has resale value, then we can even broker the equipment for sale on your behalf on the secondary market. Any equipment with no resale value will be dismantled in a manner that allows for the safe extraction of the raw materials so they can be reused in other products with the remainder recycled in an environmentally-responsible way. All hazardous materials will be disposed of in accordance with EPA regulations.

Contact Liquid Technology today at 800-797-5478 to speak with one of our experienced Assessment Specialists. We can help you manage your old, unused routers and possibly even help you get a return on your investment.