Use Microsoft Tcp/Ip Version 6 or not

"Will" wrote in message
...
I would like to know if there are benefits to use of Version 6 in a Lan
defined Realtek 8139
Ethernet/Cable direct connection. By direct I mean that I am the ony user.
I can uncheck
the normal Tcp/Ip protocol but then have no internet access. I see no
difference in
efficiency to having version 6 so wonder what it is for?

Thanks for an answer if ther is one.


Some marginal benefit.
Dancing turtles, for example.
( You will be able to access IPv6 only sites. )

Try http://www.kame.net/
( scroll to bottom of page for yoyur IPv6 address. )

If you have IPv6 working, you get a dancing turtle.
Otherwise, you get an obstinately static turtle.

In addition to having IPv6 installed on your PC,
you also need to have ipv6 routing from your PC.
In otherwords, the IPv6 traffic to/from your machine
needs to have a path to the Internet.

That can be achieved by either:
1) doing nothing and letting XP build an automatic tunnel via MS's routers
( defaulted to 6to4.ipv6.microsoft.com, but can be changed in the
registry ).
This works OK on direct Internet connections with no NAT ( domestic
router. )
If you use a NAT router, it won't work.
( Teredo is an option, but ugly. )

-or-

2) Havng your ISP assign you an IPv6 allocation, and building an v6 router
at your end, and tunneling between your ISP's IPv6 router and yours.
XP and Win server 2k3 can do this.
[ This is for the advanced class :-) ]

Also, you will need to have access to a DNS server that
resolves AAAA IPv6 addresses for the site names.
Does your ISP's ( usually woefully underpowered,overloaded,
and rather wobbly ) DNS server support that?
If not, you may be able to use your own or a 3-rd
party IPv6 capable DNS.
( I have long since run my own local DNS. )

If this all sounds a bit too much, then don't worry.
At the moment, most ISPs dont support IPv6.
( mine does, but it's an isp for geeky types. )
You need to tunnel to 3rd party tunnel endpoints.
Not mainstream yet.
You are not mising much.
( Unless you like dancing turtles. I think it's neat, but only because
it represents triumph in getting IPv6 routing working !! )

--
Best Regards,
Ron Lowe
MS-MVP Windows Networking