IPv6 Addressing Strategies for IoT

In this paper, we analyze the suitability of different IPv6 addressing strategies for nodes, gateways, and various access network deployment scenarios in the Internet of Things. A vast number of things connected to the Internet need IPv6 addresses, as the IPv4 address space was effectively consumed before the introduction of the Internet of Things. We highlight how the heterogeneity of nodes and network technologies, extreme constraint and miniaturization, renumbering, and multihoming, present serious challenges toward IPv6 address allocation. By considering the topologies of various types of IoT networks, their intended uses as well as the types of IPv6 addresses that need to be deployed, we draw attention to allocation solutions as well as potential pitfalls.