IPv6 Features


IPv6 has added many new features, which together enhance the performance, security, and address space of the Internet protocol. The main features of IPv6 are

  • Extended address space ” The IP address size in IPv6 has increased to 128 bits compared to the 32-bit address in IPv4. As the number of available IPv4 addresses are becoming exhausted, IPv6 provides a vast increase in the number of addresses available.

  • Improved routing ” A simplified header in IPv6 reduces the routing complexity, increasing the performance of routers. Additionally, the inclusion of scope bits in multicast addresses improves routing by determining how far a multicast IP datagram is routed.

  • Simplified header format ” The number of fields in the IPv6 datagram header has been reduced, making the header section of the IPv6 datagram easier to inspect and hence, more efficient.

  • Autoconfiguration ” IPv6 includes the facility to assign IPv6 addresses automatically to interfaces and devices. Using IPv4, this is a manual process. Of course, the name -to-IPv6 address mapping still has to be done by the administrator, but a different file is used ” /etc/inet/ipnodes . Note that /etc/inet/ipnodes can also be used in a naming service, such as NIS+ (ipnodes table), NIS (ipnodes map) or any other supported naming service. The file can also hold both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.

  • Enhancements to header options ” Extension headers have been introduced in IPv6, which allow additional options to be specified, such as security authentication or special routing instructions, for example. They are not part of the IPv6 datagram header, so they can be added without affecting the router performance.

  • Enhanced security ” This feature is not yet implemented in Solaris 9, but will include an authentication header for authentication and an encapsulation security payload for privacy.

  • Quality of service ” IPv6 enables important data to be delivered more quickly with an enhanced priority. A "Flow Label" field in the IPv6 header enables the sender to request special handling of the data.

  • Anycast addresses ” IPv6 includes an extra address type, the anycast address. Similar to the multicast address where the communication is with a number of hosts that belong to the same group , an anycast address represents communication with a number of hosts belonging to the same group, but sends it to only the nearest member, not all the members .



Solaris 9 Network Administration Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram CX-310-044)
Solaris 9 Network Administrator Exam Cram 2 (Exam CX-310-044)
ISBN: 0789728702
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 174
Authors: John Philcox

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