NOTE: Using software to mass-download the site degrades the server and is prohibited.
If you want to read The TCP/IP Guide offline, please consider licensing it. Thank you.

The Book is Here... and Now On Sale!

Read offline with no ads or diagram watermarks!
The TCP/IP Guide

Google
Web TCP/IP Guide






Table Of Contents  The TCP/IP Guide
 9  TCP/IP Lower-Layer (Interface, Internet and Transport) Protocols (OSI Layers 2, 3 and 4)
      9  TCP/IP Internet Layer (OSI Network Layer) Protocols
           9  Internet Protocol (IP/IPv4, IPng/IPv6) and IP-Related Protocols (IP NAT, IPSec, Mobile IP)
                9  Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) / IP Next Generation (IPng)
                     9  IPv6 Datagram Encapsulation and Formatting

Previous Topic/Section
IPv6 Datagram Encapsulation and Formatting
Previous Page
Pages in Current Topic/Section
1
2
Next Page
 IPv6 Datagram Main Header Format
Next Topic/Section

IPv6 Datagram Overview and General Structure
(Page 2 of 2)

IPv6 General Datagram Structure

As I mentioned above, IPv6 datagrams now includes a main header format (which has no official name in the standards, it's just “the header”) and zero or more extension headers. The overall structure therefore is as shown in Table 67 and Figure 104.


Table 67: IPv6 General Datagram Structure

Component

Number of Components Per Datagram

Size (bytes)

Description

Main Header

1

40

Contains the source and destination addresses, and important information required for every datagram.

Extension Headers

0 or more

Variable

Each contains one type of extra information to support various features, including fragmentation, source routing, security and options.

Data

1

Variable

The payload from the upper layer to be transmitted in the datagram.


Figure 104: IPv6 General Datagram Structure

 

Note that as with IPv4, large payloads may be fragmented prior to encapsulation, to ensure that the total size of the datagram doesn't exceed the maximum size permitted on an underlying network. However, the details of fragmentation in IPv6 are different than in IPv4.


Previous Topic/Section
IPv6 Datagram Encapsulation and Formatting
Previous Page
Pages in Current Topic/Section
1
2
Next Page
 IPv6 Datagram Main Header Format
Next Topic/Section

If you find The TCP/IP Guide useful, please consider making a small Paypal donation to help the site, using one of the buttons below. You can also donate a custom amount using the far right button (not less than $1 please, or PayPal gets most/all of your money!) In lieu of a larger donation, you may wish to consider purchasing a download license of The TCP/IP Guide. Thanks for your support!
Donate $2
Donate $5
Donate $10
Donate $20
Donate $30
Donate: $


Home - Table Of Contents - Contact Us

The TCP/IP Guide (http://www.TCPIPGuide.com)
Version 3.0 - Version Date: September 20, 2005

© Copyright 2001-2005 Charles M. Kozierok. All Rights Reserved.
Not responsible for any loss resulting from the use of this site.