Every server on the internet needs an address, known as an IP address. Right now there are two versions in use: IPv4 and IPv6. If you're managing Bare Metal Servers, the version you use affects hosting cost, email delivery, SEO, and customer accessibility.
What Is IPv4?
IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) is the original addressing system, built in the early 1980s, using a 32-bit format. There are only about 4.3 billion possible addresses, which ran out years ago. This is why IPv4 addresses now have to be bought or leased, and this scarcity is reflected in hosting prices. Almost every dedicated server still ships with at least one IPv4 address because older software and corporate networks still depend on it.
What Is IPv6?
IPv6 uses a 128-bit format, meaning the number of possible addresses is enormous and exhaustion is not a concern. However, IPv6 adoption is still uneven, meaning some networks cannot reach IPv6-only servers.
Why the IP Version Matters
- Email deliverability: A dedicated IPv4 address with a clean history is the standard for sending email reliably.
- SEO and geo-targeting: Search engines use IPv4 ranges to determine where a server is physically based.
- Network segmentation: IPv6's huge address space makes it easier to assign internal addresses to containers or microservices without running out.
Do You Need IPv4, IPv6, or Both?
For almost every UK business running a dedicated server, the answer is dual stack — both IPv4 and IPv6 running side by side.
- Website or e-commerce store: Keep IPv4 for compatibility and SEO, and add IPv6.
- Email server: IPv4 is essential to protect sender reputation.
The Network Matters
An IP address is only as good as the network carrying it. Hosting your server in a premium London Data Centre with direct peering at major UK internet exchanges ensures traffic routes efficiently, reducing latency. To support high throughput, deploying NVMe Dedicated Servers alongside an optimized dual stack network guarantees maximum performance.
Read the original post: https://www.eservers.uk/blogs/ipv4-vs-ipv6-dedicated-servers-uk/
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