What feature is enhanced in IPv6 compared to IPv4?

The feature that is significantly enhanced in IPv6 compared to IPv4 is the larger address space availability. IPv4 uses a 32-bit address scheme, which allows for approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses. This became a limitation as the number of devices and users connected to the Internet grew exponentially.

IPv6 was developed to address this limitation by employing a 128-bit address scheme, which expands the potential address space to a staggering 340 undecillion (that’s 340 followed by 36 zeros) addresses. This vast increase not only supports the growing number of devices requiring internet connectivity but also facilitates features like stateless address autoconfiguration (SLAAC) and simplifies address management.

The other options do not align with the enhancements introduced by IPv6. Configuration complexity is generally simplified in IPv6 due to its support for automatic configuration and the removal of the need for NAT (Network Address Translation). Performance in local networks isn't inherently better with IPv6; rather, improvements depend more on the specific implementation and use-case. Lastly, IPv6 does not necessarily require more expensive equipment; in many cases, existing infrastructure can be upgraded to handle IPv6 traffic without incurring significant costs.