BY VANSH NEGGI

IPV6
Draw the IPV6 datagram format and explain the fields.

IPv6 Datagram Header Fields – Explained Simply

IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6) is the sixth version of the Internet Protocol, designed to uniquely
identify devices on a network and enable data transmission. It was developed to overcome IPv4
limitations, providing a larger address space, enhanced security, and better efficiency for modern
networks.

Below are the main fields of the IPv6 datagram header and their functions:

1. Version (4 bits)

 Identifies the IP version being used.

 IPv6 always has 6 in this field.

 Example: If this field has a value of 4, the packet will be rejected because it's not an IPv4
packet.

2. Traffic Class (8 bits)

 Similar to the Type of Service (TOS) field in IPv4.

 Used to prioritize traffic based on urgency.

 Helps with Quality of Service (QoS) for real-time applications like video streaming and
gaming.

 Example: A video call can be given higher priority than a normal email.

3. Flow Label (20 bits)

 Used to identify a sequence of packets belonging to the same communication flow.

 Helps routers handle traffic efficiently.

 Example: A live video stream can be assigned a flow label so that all packets of the stream
are processed similarly.

4. Payload Length (16 bits)

 Specifies the size of the actual data (payload) inside the packet, excluding the header.

 Maximum value: 65,535 bytes.

 If additional data is needed, an Extension Header is used.

5. Next Header (8 bits)

 Specifies which protocol the packet contains, such as:

o 6 for TCP (Transmission Control Protocol).

o 17 for UDP (User Datagram Protocol).

o 58 for ICMPv6 (Internet Control Message Protocol).

 Similar to the Protocol field in IPv4.

6. Hop Limit (8 bits)

 Similar to TTL (Time-To-Live) in IPv4.

 Every router decreases the hop limit by 1, and when it reaches 0, the packet is discarded.

7. Source Address (128 bits)

 Contains the IPv6 address of the sender (the device that sent the packet).

 Example: 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334.

8. Destination Address (128 bits)

 Contains the IPv6 address of the receiver (the device that will receive the packet).

 Example: 2001:0db8:abcd::1.

9. Data (Variable Length)

 This is the actual payload (the message or data being sent).

 It can contain application data like web pages, emails, video streams, or file transfers
BY VANSH NEGGI

IPV4 DATAGRAM HEADER

IPv4 Header Fields and Their Functions

IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4) is the fourth version of the Internet Protocol, used to uniquely
identify devices on a network and enable data transmission. It is the most widely used protocol in
networking today.

1️⃣ Version (4 bits)

 Indicates the IP version being used.

 IPv4 packets have a value of 4 in this field.

2️⃣ Header Length (4 bits)

 Defines the length of the header in 4-byte units.

 The minimum size is 20 bytes, and the maximum is 60 bytes (if options are included).

3️⃣ Type of Service (ToS) (8 bits)

 Used to prioritize packets based on the type of service.

 Helps in QoS (Quality of Service), like prioritizing voice calls over normal browsing.

4️⃣ Total Length (16 bits)

 Represents the entire packet size, including the header and data.

 The maximum packet size is 65,535 bytes.

5️⃣ Identification (16 bits)

 A unique number given to each packet.

 Helps in reassembling fragmented packets when a large packet is split into smaller ones.

6️⃣ Flags (3 bits)

 Controls fragmentation (breaking a packet into smaller parts).

o DF (Don’t Fragment) – Stops the packet from being split.

o MF (More Fragments) – Indicates that more packet parts are coming.

7️⃣ Fragment Offset (13 bits)

 Helps reassemble fragmented packets correctly.

 Shows the position of each fragment in the original packet.

8️⃣ Time to Live (TTL) (8 bits)

 Limits how long a packet can travel.

 Every time the packet crosses a router, TTL decreases by 1.

 If TTL reaches 0, the packet is discarded to prevent endless looping.

9️⃣ Protocol (8 bits)

 Indicates the protocol being used in the data section.

 Examples:

o TCP (6) – For reliable communication.

o UDP (17) – For fast but less reliable data transfer.

o ICMP (1) – Used for error messages (e.g., ping command).

🔟 Header Checksum (16 bits)

 Ensures the header is error-free.

 If an error is detected, the packet is discarded, and the sender must resend it.

1️⃣1️⃣ Source IP Address (32 bits)

 The IP address of the sender (where the packet is coming from).

1️⃣2️⃣ Destination IP Address (32 bits)

 The IP address of the receiver (where the packet is going).

1️⃣3️⃣ Options (0–40 bytes, Optional)

 Used for additional features like security, timestamping, or routing controls.

1️⃣4️⃣ Data (Variable Size)

 Contains the actual information (e.g., a webpage, video, or message).

 The size depends on the Total Length field.

Compare and contrast IPv4 and IPv6 header fields. Do they have any fields in
common. Explain.
BY VANSH NEGGI

Limitations of IPv4 in Terms of Address Space, Security, and Efficiency

1. Limited Address Space

o IPv4 uses a 32-bit addressing system, providing only 4.3 billion unique addresses.

o The rapid growth of internet-connected devices has led to address exhaustion.

o Solution in IPv6: IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, allowing an almost unlimited number
of IPs.

2. Lack of Built-in Security

o IPv4 does not have built-in security features like encryption or authentication.

o Security mechanisms like IPsec must be added manually.

o Solution in IPv6: IPv6 includes IPsec by default, improving security.

3. Inefficient Network Management

o IPv4 requires manual configuration or DHCP for IP assignment, increasing

o NAT (Network Address Translation) is needed to extend the address space, but it
complicates real-time communication.

o Solution in IPv6: IPv6 supports auto-configuration (SLAAC), eliminating the need for
DHCP and NAT.

Classful IP Addressing (IPv4)

Classes of IP Addressing

1. Class A (Large Networks)

o Network ID: 8 bits, Host ID: 24 bits

o Range: 0.0.0.0 – 127.255.255.255

o Used for: Large organizations and ISPs

o Subnet Mask: 255.x.x.x

2. Class B (Medium to Large Networks)

o Network ID: 16 bits, Host ID: 16 bits

o Range: 128.0.0.0 – 191.255.255.255

o Used for: Universities and large businesses

o Subnet Mask: 255.255.x.x

3. Class C (Small Networks)

o Network ID: 24 bits, Host ID: 8 bits

o Range: 192.0.0.0 – 223.255.255.255

o Used for: Small businesses and home networks

o Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.x

4. Class D (Multicasting)

o Range: 224.0.0.0 – 239.255.255.255

o Used for: Multicast groups (not normal devices)

o No subnet mask

5. Class E (Experimental)

o Range: 240.0.0.0 – 255.255.255.255

o Used for: Research and future use

o No subnet mask

Need for Classful Addressing

 Simplified IP allocation and routing

 Standardized network sizes for easier management

 Early internet expansion without complex subnetting

Limitations

 Wastes IP addresses due to fixed class sizes

 Inefficient address allocation for different network needs

 Replaced by CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) for better flexibility

Special IP Ranges

 169.254.0.0 – 169.254.255.255 → Link-local addresses

 127.0.0.0 – 127.255.255.255 → Loopback addresses

 0.0.0.0 → Default route