On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:02:50 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Running out of IP addresses.
Similar to phone numbers needing an area code to meet the expanding
need.
Think we got a few years left before a software fix will address it.
When that fix goes in, there's a chance that all computers accessing
the net - which is most now - will crash.
The world will come to a standstill, except for the panic in the
streets.
I wonder if this happens in 2012. Probably. This is really an odd
confluence of events, eh wot?


A solution has been in place for some time: IPv6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPv6

Most internet hardware made in the last few years is fully IPv6
compliant, and private sub-nets like your home router are easily
upgradable if needed.