Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification
RFC 2460
| Document | Type |
RFC - Draft Standard
(December 1998; Errata)
Obsoleted by RFC 8200
Obsoletes RFC 1883
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Last updated | 2013-03-02 | ||
| Stream | IETF | ||
| Formats | plain text html pdf htmlized bibtex | ||
| Stream | WG state | (None) | |
| Document shepherd | No shepherd assigned | ||
| IESG | IESG state | RFC 2460 (Draft Standard) | |
| Consensus Boilerplate | Unknown | ||
| Telechat date | |||
| Responsible AD | (None) | ||
| Send notices to | (None) | ||
Network Working Group S. Deering
Request for Comments: 2460 Cisco
Obsoletes: 1883 R. Hinden
Category: Standards Track Nokia
December 1998
Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6)
Specification
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1998). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
This document specifies version 6 of the Internet Protocol (IPv6),
also sometimes referred to as IP Next Generation or IPng.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................2
2. Terminology...................................................3
3. IPv6 Header Format............................................4
4. IPv6 Extension Headers........................................6
4.1 Extension Header Order...................................7
4.2 Options..................................................9
4.3 Hop-by-Hop Options Header...............................11
4.4 Routing Header..........................................12
4.5 Fragment Header.........................................18
4.6 Destination Options Header..............................23
4.7 No Next Header..........................................24
5. Packet Size Issues...........................................24
6. Flow Labels..................................................25
7. Traffic Classes..............................................25
8. Upper-Layer Protocol Issues..................................27
8.1 Upper-Layer Checksums...................................27
8.2 Maximum Packet Lifetime.................................28
8.3 Maximum Upper-Layer Payload Size........................28
8.4 Responding to Packets Carrying Routing Headers..........29
Deering & Hinden Standards Track [Page 1]
RFC 2460 IPv6 Specification December 1998
Appendix A. Semantics and Usage of the Flow Label Field.........30
Appendix B. Formatting Guidelines for Options...................32
Security Considerations.........................................35
Acknowledgments.................................................35
Authors' Addresses..............................................35
References......................................................35
Changes Since RFC-1883..........................................36
Full Copyright Statement........................................39
1. Introduction
IP version 6 (IPv6) is a new version of the Internet Protocol,
designed as the successor to IP version 4 (IPv4) [RFC-791]. The
changes from IPv4 to IPv6 fall primarily into the following
categories:
o Expanded Addressing Capabilities
IPv6 increases the IP address size from 32 bits to 128 bits, to
support more levels of addressing hierarchy, a much greater
number of addressable nodes, and simpler auto-configuration of
addresses. The scalability of multicast routing is improved by
adding a "scope" field to multicast addresses. And a new type
of address called an "anycast address" is defined, used to send
a packet to any one of a group of nodes.
o Header Format Simplification
Some IPv4 header fields have been dropped or made optional, to
reduce the common-case processing cost of packet handling and
to limit the bandwidth cost of the IPv6 header.
o Improved Support for Extensions and Options
Changes in the way IP header options are encoded allows for
more efficient forwarding, less stringent limits on the length
of options, and greater flexibility for introducing new options
in the future.
o Flow Labeling Capability
A new capability is added to enable the labeling of packets
belonging to particular traffic "flows" for which the sender
requests special handling, such as non-default quality of
service or "real-time" service.
Deering & Hinden Standards Track [Page 2]
RFC 2460 IPv6 Specification December 1998
o Authentication and Privacy Capabilities
Extensions to support authentication, data integrity, and
(optional) data confidentiality are specified for IPv6.
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