RFC 2460 (rfc2460) - Page 1 of 39

Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification

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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
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