RFC 1972 (rfc1972) - Page 1 of 4
A Method for the Transmission of IPv6 Packets over Ethernet Networks
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group M. Crawford
Request for Comments: 1972 Fermilab
Category: Standards Track August 1996
A Method for the Transmission of IPv6 Packets over Ethernet Networks
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.
Introduction
This memo specifies the frame format for transmission of IPv6 [IPV6]
packets and the method of forming IPv6 link-local addresses on
Ethernet networks. It also specifies the content of the
Source/Target Link-layer Address option used the the Router
Solicitation, Router Advertisement, Neighbor Solicitation, and
Neighbor Advertisement messages described in [DISC], when those
messages are transmitted on an Ethernet.
Maximum Transmission Unit
The default MTU size for IPv6 packets on an Ethernet is 1500 octets.
This size may be reduced by a Router Advertisement [DISC] containing
an MTU option which specifies a smaller MTU, or by manual
configuration of each node. If a Router Advertisement is received
with an MTU option specifying an MTU larger than 1500, or larger than
a manually configured value less than 1500, that MTU option must be
ignored.
Frame Format
IPv6 packets are transmitted in standard Ethernet frames. The
ethernet header contains the Destination and Source ethernet
addresses and the ethernet type code, which must contain the value
86DD hexadecimal. The data field contains the IPv6 header followed
immediately by the payload, and possibly padding octets to meet the
minimum frame size for Ethernet.
Crawford Standards Track