 - IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6) is the latest level of the Internet Protocol (IP) and is now included as part of IP support in many products including the major computer operating systems. IPv6 has also been called "IPng" (IP Next Generation). Formally, IPv6 is a set of specifications from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). IPv6 was designed as an evolutionary set of improvements to the current IP Version 4. Network hosts and intermediate nodes with either IPv4 or IPv6 can handle packets formatted for either level of the Internet Protocol. Users and service providers can update to IPv6 independently without having to coordinate with each other.The most obvious improvement in IPv6 over the IPv4 is that IP addresses are lengthened from 32 bits to 128 bits. This extension anticipates considerable future growth of the Internet and provides relief for what was perceived as an impending shortage of network addresses. IPv6 describes rules for three types of addressing: unicast (one host to one other host), anycast (one host to the nearest of multiple hosts), and multicast (one host to multiple hosts). Additional advantages of IPv6 are: - Options are specified in an extension to the header that is examined only at the destination, thus speeding up overall network performance.
- The introduction of an "anycast" address provides the possibility of sending a message to the nearest of several possible gateway hosts with the idea that any one of them can manage the forwarding of the packet to others. Anycast messages can be used to update routing tables along the line.
- Packets can be identified as belonging to a particular "flow" so that packets thatare part of a multimedia presentation that needs to arrive in "real time" can be provided a higher quality-of-service relative to other customers.
- The IPv6 header now includes extensions that allow a packet to specify a mechanism for authenticating its origin, for ensuring data integrity, and for ensuring privacy.
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Getting started with IPv6 |
| To explore how IPv6 is used in the enterprise, here is an additional resource: |
| IPv6 migration: Find answers to your top IPv6 questions: Learn what IPv6 is, how it differs from IPv4, and how to begin making the transition. |
| CONTRIBUTORS: |
Harnish Patel |
| LAST UPDATED: |
05 Sep 2008
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