We’ve been looking for an analogy for two days to explain the size of the IPv6 pool compared to IPv4, but IPv6 space is so huge none of the comparisons are immediately comprehensible. See below for Jacob’s light years attempt.
However Kim Davies reckons he has come upon an analogy that works and, if the maths is correct, we may finally have a comprehensible explanation of the comparative sizes of the two pools. Before we start using it though, it seems only sensible to get others out there to check on the calculations. So the analogy and associated maths is below. Please review it and get back.
Volume of earth: 1.0832073 × 10^12 km³
=1.0832073 × 10^21 m³
=1.0832073 × 10^27 cm³
IPv6 space: =3.4028236 × 10^38
IPv4 space: =4.2949672 × 10^9
IPv6/IPv4 space =7.9228162 × 10^28
So, if all the IPv6 space was the size of earth, then you could fit IPv4 in 73.142 cubic centimetres.
An iPod is 2.4″×4.1″×0.55″ = 5.41 cubic inches = 88.68 cubic centimetres.
So, ball park, if all the IPv4 space would fit in an iPod, then all the IPv6 space is the size of the entire Earth.