35.1 Description

IPv6 includes the following features that are not available in IPv4:

• Extended address space

  In IPv6, the address space is extended to 128 bits from the 32-bit address space available in IPv4. Because the number of addresses that can be assigned to nodes is almost limitless in IPv6, the problem of address exhaustion in IPv4 is removed. In addition, longer addresses make possible a hierarchical allocation of addresses so that addresses can be assigned to more nodes.

• Simpler header format

  The IPv6 header fields are simpler than IPv4 header fields, reducing protocol processing overhead.

• Strengthening of extended and optional headers

  Transfer efficiency has improved, restrictions on the option length are looser, and options are easy to add.

• Flow labels

  Flow labels allow a specific flow of traffic to be identified.

The following subsections provide an overview of the IPv6 addressing used in the Switch.

<Structure of this section>

• 35.1.1 IPv6 address

• 35.1.2 Handling of IPv6 Addresses Used by the Switch

• 35.1.3 Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)

• 35.1.4 ICMPv6

• 35.1.5 NDP

• 35.1.6 RA

• 35.1.7 IPv6 important reminder for use