What will happen to routers when/if IPv6 is fully implemented

[rz30]

Probably nothing, but we could all realistically have multiple public ips therefore for ex NAT would not be needed, and i would imagine that a switch could handle multiple ips via MAC address assignment, so could we do away with routers. This would be a massive hole in the network industry.

 

[Syngress]

NAT is handy as it gives a somewhat layer of protection. Also you will never be able to do away with routers; Imagine the broadcast domain you would have if you did!!

 

[Dist]

Probably nothing, but we could all realistically have multiple public ips therefore for ex NAT would not be needed, and i would imagine that a switch could handle multiple ips via MAC address assignment, so could we do away with routers. This would be a massive hole in the network industry.

Routers would still be needed. If the whole internet was just connected by switches then it would be one huge broadcast domain. A single broadcast from one computer would reach every single end device on the planet.

There are many functions which make routers valuable in an IPv6 network, so they wont ever be replaced by just switches.

 

[tolien]

As said, NAT isn't the only function a router performs.