IPv6: The Next Generation Internet Protocol
A practical, hands-on guide to the new version of the Internet Protocol, written for network administrators and managers who will work with IPv6.
TABLE OF CONTENTS IPv6: The Next Generation Internet Protocol
Chapter 1: Components of a Protocol
1.1 IPV6 OVERVIEW
IP version 6 (IPv6) is the newest version of Internet Protocol that is the replacement for IP version 4 (Ipv4). To look at the newest enhancements that IPv6 offers, we shall begin by looking at the changes from IPv4 to IPv6.
This chapter looks at the header format that IPv6 uses and then adds dimension to its extensions, addressing, and routing capabilities. That functionality is further expanded upon by looking at the quality of service capabilities, security, and finally the transition mechanisms.
IPv4 is a fine protocol, but with the overwhelming expansion of the Internet, it is insufficient to keep up with the demand for addresses. This deficiency needed to be resolved; otherwise there would not be enough room for all of the various domain structures which exist on the Internet. IPv6 is the next generation protocol to alleviate the congestion that version 4 encounters.
The resolution is achieved by having more addressable nodes. IPv6 has 128 bits over its predecessor that has 32 bits. The expansion of this new protocol has an exponential advantage over the old one.
Expanded Addressing Capabilities
IPv6 increases the IP address size from 32 bits to 128 bits, which allows it to:
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Handle additional addressing levels
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Have more addressable nodes
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Use easier auto-configuration of addresses (now uses MAC addresses).
Multicast Routing
IPv4 is best used for unicast addressing: a single address bit pattern corresponds to a single host. Some other types of addressing are not supported as well. This is mainly...
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