No, in fact in IPv6 the work is taken away from the routers, for example the routers no longer perform fragmentation (fragmentation is only done by the source hosts), they also perform the work of sending and forwarding packets much faster.

IPv6 addressing introduces several changes compared to IPv4, including a larger header size due to 128-bit addresses and a simplified header structure.

At first glance, you might think that increased header size and longer addresses could lead to more processing by routers and possibly an increase in resource consumption.

However, reality is more complex and varies depending on several factors:

Header Simplification

IPv6 was designed to optimize packet processing. Its header has a fixed 40-byte format, more simplified compared to IPv4. Some of the reasons why IPv6 may be more efficient from a processing standpoint include:

• Fixed size header: It makes processing easier by routers because the header field does not change size, unlike IPv4, where headers can vary due to header options.
• Elimination of fragmentation at the source: IPv6 delegates responsibility for fragmentation to the sender, which means that intermediate routers do not need to manage packet fragmentation, reducing their workload.
• Fewer fields to process: IPv6 has removed fields that required calculations, such as the header checksum, which are now unnecessary or performed at higher layers.

Impact on Network Hardware

• Modern hardware: Modern routers are designed to handle IPv6 efficiently, with hardware that can process IPv6 packets at very high speeds, often in the hardware itself (ASIC-level processing), minimizing the impact on resource consumption.
• Design and implementation dependency: The performance impact also depends on how IPv6 has been implemented in the device's hardware and software. Older devices may experience more overhead when processing IPv6 due to limitations in their processing capabilities and design.

Resource consumption

• Load on software CPUs: On routers that rely more on software processing for packet routing, IPv6 could theoretically increase the load due to its longer addresses and the need to handle a greater number of routing tables and entries. However, this impact is becoming less with the advancement of technology and the optimization of routing software.
• Memory: The need to store larger routing tables for IPv6 can increase memory usage on some devices. However, efficiency in the design of routing algorithms and improvements in memory capacity have mitigated this potential impact.

In summary, although IPv6 introduces longer addresses and potentially larger routing tables, improvements in protocol design and advancements in network hardware have minimized the impact on router processing and resource consumption.

The transition to IPv6 is essential for the future of the Internet, ensuring its capacity for growth and efficiency in data communication in the long term.