IPv6 Flashcards

Study Notes

IPv6 Address Structure

An IPv6 address consists of 128 bits, formatted into eight 16-bit segments represented in hexadecimal.
Example IPv6 address: 2001:0D02:0000:0000:0000:C003:0001:F00D.

Benefits of IPv6 over IPv4

Simplified header structure enhances processing efficiency.
Autoconfiguration allows devices to assign themselves addresses automatically.
Enhanced multicast support enables efficient data transmission to multiple devices.
Extension headers provide flexibility for additional features.
Flow labels improve handling of specific data streams.
Integrated security and mobility features increase robustness.
Improved address allocation aids in efficient use of address space.
Strict aggregation facilitates better network routing practices.

Unicast Address Types

An IPv6 unicast address identifies a single device with a one-to-one mapping.
Types of unicast addresses include:
- Global Unicast Address
- Link-Local Address
- Loopback Address (::1)
- Unspecified Address (::)

Global Unicast Address (GUA)

GUA is a globally unique, routable address.
Range specified by RFC 4291 is 2000::/3, allocated by IANA.

Link-Local Unicast Address

Confined to a single physical link and not routable beyond the subnet.
Typically begins with FE80.
Interface ID can be derived from a device's MAC address if not manually set.
Multiple link-local and global addresses can be associated with an interface.

Anycast Address

Represents a group of devices providing a common service.
Data sent to anycast address is delivered to the nearest device.
Assigning an anycast address involves appending "anycast" to a global unicast address configuration.

Multicast Address

Identifies a group of devices known as a multicast group.
Offers a one-to-many mapping, replacing broadcast addresses used in IPv4.
Multicast addresses use the reserved space FF00::0/8.

IPv6 Loopback Address

The loopback address is 0:0:0:0:0:0:0:1, commonly expressed as ::1.

Reducing IPv6 Address Size

Rule 1: Leading zeros in fields can be omitted; fewer than four hexadecimal digits assume leading zeros.
Rule 2: Consecutive fields of all zeros can be represented by a double colon, but can only appear once in the address.

EUI-64 Standard

Stretches MAC addresses from 48 to 64 bits by inserting 0xFFFE at the 24th bit.
Flips the U/L flag in the OUI portion to indicate universality.
Allows automated unique IPv6 address assignment using a 64-bit identifier based on the modified MAC.
Example conversion: 00-AA-11-17-FC-0F to 2001:0DB8:0:1:02AA:11FF:17FE:FC0F.

IPv6 Address Assignment Methods

An IPv6 host can receive an address through:
- Static assignment
- Stateless autoconfiguration
- Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol version 6 (DHCPv6)
Stateless autoconfiguration involves listening for local prefix advertisements from routers.

Description

Test your knowledge of IPv6 with these flashcards! Learn about the structure, benefits, and details of IPv6 addresses. Perfect for students and professionals looking to understand modern networking protocols.