Advance Computer Network

IMRAN SHAIKH

Computer Engineering | Networking | 2023

 Chapter 2 Next Generation IP (10 marks)

IPv6 Addressing:

Representation, address space, address space allocation, Auto-

configuration, Renumbering.

Transition from IPv4 to IPv6:

Dual Stack, Tunneling, Header Translation.

IPv6 Protocol:

Packet format, Extension Header

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Representation
A computer normally stores the address in binary, but it is clear that humans cannot
easily handle 128 bits. Several notations have been proposed to represent IPv6 addresses
when humans handle them. The following shows two of these notations:

1. Binary
2. Colon Hexadecimal.

An IPv6 address is made of 128 bits divided into eight 16-bits blocks. Each block is then
converted into 4-digit Hexadecimal numbers separated by colon symbols.

Even after converting into Hexadecimal format, IPv6 address remains long. IPv6 provides
some rules to shorten the address. The rules are as follows:

The rules are as follows:

Rule.1: Discard leading Zero (es):

In Block 5, 0063, the leading two 0s can be omitted, such as (5th block):

2001:0000:3238:DFE1:63:0000:0000: FEFB
Rule.2: If two of more blocks contain consecutive zeroes, omit them all and
replace with double colon sign ::, such as (6th and 7th block):

2001:0000:3238:DFE1:63:: FEFB

Consecutive blocks of zeroes can be replaced only once by :: so if there are still
blocks
of zeroes in the address, they can be shrunk down to a single zero, such as (2nd
block):
2001:0:3238:DFE1:63:: FEFB.

IPv4 compatible representation:

An alternative form that is sometimes more convenient when dealing with a mixed
environment of IPv4 and IPv6 nodes is

x:x:x:x:x:x:d.d.d.d,

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Where the 'x's are the hexadecimal values of the six high-order 16-bit pieces of the
address, and the ’d’s are the decimal values of the four low-order 8-bit pieces of the
address (standard IPv4 representation).

Examples:

0:0:0:0:0:0:13.1.68.3
0:0:0:0:0:FFFF:129.144.52.38

Address Space
The address space of IPv6 contains 2 128 addresses. This address space is 2 96 times the

IPv4 address.

Address Space Allocation

The address space of IPv6 is divided into several blocks of varying size and each block is
allocated for a special purpose.

Fig. 2.1 IPv6 Address Space Allocation

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Types of IPv6 Addresses (Reference: https://www.nwkings.com/types-of-ipv6-addresses )
There are three types of IPv6 addresses

1. Unicast
a. Link Local Address.
b. Global Unicast Address.
c. Unique Local Address
d. Loopback Address
2. Multicast
3. Anycast

Link Local Address

Link-local addresses are designed for use on a single local link (local network). Link-
local addresses are automatically configured on all interfaces. The prefix used for a
link-local address is FE80::/10.

Link-local address is used in an Ethernet segment or within a LAN. Link Local

addresses are not routable.

Local Unicast Address

It is also called Unicast Local Address. It is routable except on the public Internet. It is
similar to the private IP in IPv4 address.
The prefix used for a local unicast address is FC00::/7.

Global Unicast Address

Global Unicast Address is equivalent to IPv4 public address used in global

communication. Global Unicast Addresses in IPv6 are globally identifiable and
uniquely addressable.

Since the leftmost three bits are reserved as "001" for Global unicast IPv6 addresses,
the range of Global Unicast Addresses available now are from 2000 to 3FFF, as
shown
below.

Fig. 2.4 IPv6 Global Unicast Address

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Loopback Address

The loopback address is 0:0:0:0:0:0:0:1. You can abbreviate the address as ::1. A
node to send a packet to itself uses the loopback address.

Multicast Address

A multicast address is used to deliver a package to a group of destinations.

Therefore, a single source is able to communicate with many other destination
hosts.

The prefix used for multicast address is FF00::/8.

Anycast Address

In other words, an Anycast address is assigned to more than one interface or a

group of interfaces.

In other words, an Anycast address is assigned to more than one interface or a

group of interfaces.

Therefore, assigning a unicast address to more than one interface makes a unicast
address an Anycast address. Anycast address delivers packets to its nearest
interface.

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Autoconfiguration
In IPv6 network the host can be configured by Network Administrator manually (static)
or DHCP server (Dynamic) or the host can be configured by itself. This process of self
configuration of a host is called Autoconfiguration.

1. The Link Local Address is first created by host for itself. This is done by following.
a. Take the 10 bit link local prefix (1111 1110 10)
b. Add 54 zeros to it.

c. Add 64-bit interface identifier which any host can generate from its MAC
Address (48 bit) as shown in following figure.

After this, we get 128-bit link local address.

2. The host then checks for the uniqueness of the link local address. If the link local
address is found to be unique, the host will store this address as its link local address
for private communication. But it still requires global unicast address.

Therefore router solicitation message is sent out by the host to a local router. If there
is router running on this network, then the host will receive router advertisement
message.

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 3. This message contains the global unicast prefix and subnet prefix. The host adds
these two pieces of information to its interface identifier and generates its global
unicast address. However if it is not possible of router to help the host with the
configuration, then router informs the host via router advertisement message. In
such situation, the host needs to use some other means of its configuration.

Renumbering
• To facilitate network renumbering, IPv6 allows routers to limit the time a
computer can retain a prefix. To do so, a router advertisement specifies two
time values for each prefix: a valid lifetime and a preferred lifetime.

• A host must listen for additional router advertisements. When the preferred
lifetime of a prefix expires, the prefix remains valid, but the host must use
another prefix for all communication when possible.

• When the valid lifetime expires, the host must stop using the prefix, even if
existing communication is in progress.

Transition from IPv4 to IPv6

Because of the huge number of systems on the Internet, Internet, the transition from IPv4
to IPv6 cannot happen suddenly. It takes a considerable amount of time before every
system in the Internet can move from IPv4 to IPv6. The transition must be smooth to
prevent any problems between IPv4 and IPv6 systems.

Three Transition from IPv4 to IPv6 strategies are

1. Dual Stack

2. Tunnelling

3. Header Translation

DUAL STACK

In this kind of strategy a station have a dual stack of protocols run IPv4 and IPv6
simultaneously.

To determine which version to use when sending a packet to a destination, the source host
queries the DNS. If the DNS returns an IPv4 address, the source host sends an IPv4 packet.
If the DNS returns an IPv6 address, the source host sends an IPv6 packet.

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 Fig. 2.5 Dual Stack

TUNNELLING

Tunnelling is a strategy used when two computers using IPv6 want to communicate with
each other and the packet must pass through a region that uses IPv4.

 To pass through this region, the packet must have an IPv4 address. So the IPv6
packet is encapsulated in an IPv4 packet when it enters the region.

 To make it clear that the IPv4 packet is carrying an IPv6 packet as data.

Fig. 2.6 Tunneling

HEADER TRANSLATION

The sender wants to use IPv6, but the receiver does not understand IPv6.

Tunnelling does not work in this situation because the packet must be in the IPv4 format
to be understood by the receiver.

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  In this case, the header format must be totally changed through header
translation. The header of the IPv6 packet is converted to an IPv4 header see
figure.

Fig. 2.7 Header Translation

IPV6 Packet Format

The Ipv6 packet format is shown in figure-2.8. Each packet is composed of a mandatory
base header followed by the payload.
The payload consists of two parts: optional extension headers and data from an upper
layer.
The base header occupies 40 bytes, whereas the extension headers and data from
upper layer contain up to 65,535 bytes of information.

Base Header

Payload

Fig. 2.8 IPv6 Packet Format

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IPV6 Header Fields Description

1 Version (4-bits): It represents the version of Internet Protocol, i.e. 0110.

2 Traffic Class (8-bits): These 8 bits are divided into two parts. The most significant 6 bits are
used for Type of Service to let the Router Known what services should be provided to this
packet. The least significant 2 bits are used for Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN).

3 Flow Label (20-bits): This label is used to maintain the sequential flow of the packets
belonging to a communication. The source labels the sequence to help the router identify
that a particular packet belongs to a specific flow of information. This field helps avoid re-
ordering of data packets. It is designed for streaming/real-time media.

4 Payload Length (16-bits): This field is used to tell the routers how much information a
particular packet contains in its payload. Payload is composed of Extension Headers and
Upper Layer data. With 16 bits, up to 65535 bytes can be indicated; but if the Extension
Headers contain Hop-by-Hop Extension Header, then the payload may exceed 65535 bytes
and this field is set to 0.

5 Next Header (8-bits): This field is used to indicate either the type of Extension Header, or if
the Extension Header is not present then it indicates the Upper Layer PDU. The values for
the type of Upper Layer PDU are same as IPv4’s.

6 Hop Limit (8-bits): This field is used to stop packet to loop in the network infinitely. This is
same as TTL in IPv4. The value of Hop Limit field is decremented by 1 as it passes a link
(router/hop). When the field reaches 0 the packet is discarded.

7 Source Address (128-bits): This field indicates the address of originator of the packet.

8 Destination Address (128-bits): This field provides the address of intended recipient of the
packet.

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Extension Headers in IPv6
In IPv6, the Fixed Header contains only that much information which is necessary, avoiding
those information which is either not required or is rarely used. All such information is put
between the Fixed Header and the Upper layer header in the form of Extension Headers.
Each Extension Header is identified by a distinct value.

When Extension Headers are used, IPv6 Fixed Header’s Next Header field points to the first
Extension Header. If there is one more Extension Header, then the first Extension Header’s
‘Next-Header’ field points to the second one, and so on. (refer figure IPv6 packet header
format)

Fig. 2.9 IPv6 Extension Headers

Hop-by-Hop EH

The hop-by-hop option is used when the source needs to pass information to all routers
visited by the datagram. For example, perhaps routers must be informed about certain
management, debugging, or control functions. Or, if the length of the datagram is more
than the usual 65,535 bytes, routers must have this information.

Source Routing EH

The source routing extension header combines the concepts of the strict source route and
the loose source route options of IPv4.

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Fragmentation EH

The concept of fragmentation is the same as that in IPv4. However, In IPv6, only the
original source can fragment. A source must use a path MTU discovery technique to find
the smallest MTU supported by any network on the path. The source then fragments
using this knowledge.

Authentication EH

This extension header information is used to validates the message sender and ensures
the integrity of data.

Encrypted Security Payload EH

The encrypted security payload (ESP) is an extension that provides confidentiality and
guards against eavesdropping.

Destination Option EH

The destination option is used when the source needs to pass information to the
destination only. Intermediate routers are not permitted access to this information.

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Features of IPv6
• Support billions of hosts.

• Allow fast processing at routers.

• fast header processing

• Provide security.

• Multicast support

• Mobility Support.

Comparison between IPv4 and IPv6

IPv4 IPv6
1 IPv4 Address is of 32 bit. IPv6 address is of 128 bit.
2 232 no. of addresses can be assigned. 2128 no of IP addresses can be assigned.
3 Address representation of IPv4 in Address Representation of IPv6 is in
decimal. hexadecimal.
4 It Supports Manual and DHCP address It supports Auto and renumbering
configuration. address configuration.
5 IPv4 has header of 20-60 bytes. IPv6 has header of 40 bytes fixed
6 In IPv4 Encryption and Authentication In IPv6 Encryption and Authentication
facility not provided are provided

7 In IPv4 checksum field is available. In IPv6 checksum field is not available.

8 In IPv4 Packet flow identification is not In IPv6 packet flow identification are
available Available and uses flow label field in
the header

9 Fragmentation performed by Source In IPv6 fragmentation performed only

and forwarding routers. by source.

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