What Is IPv6 Address ?

 IPv6  

IPv6 is a short form of Internet Protocol version 6. It was Designed by the IEFT to replace the current version internet protocol, IP version 4 (IPv4) It is also referred to as the next generation internet Protocol.

IPv6 Support large Number of hierarchical addresses that will be allow the internet to grow and provide new routing capabilities not built into IPv4.

Like IPv4, IPv6 associate an address with specific network connection, not with the specific computer. Thus address segment are similar to IPv4.

IPv6 permits multiple prefixes to be assigned to a given network, and allow a computer to have multiple, Simultaneous Address per Network.

 Fig: IPv6

Types Of IPv6 Address:

There are Three Types of IPv6 Addresses, Which are as Follows:-

(1). Unicast : The Destination address specific a single computer (Host or Router), The datagram should  be routed to the destination along a shortest path.

(2). Anycast : The Destination is a set of computers possibly at different location, that all share a single address, the datagram should be routed along a shortest path and delivered to exactly one number of the group. 

(3). Multicast : The Destination is a set of Computers, a Possibly at multiple locations. One copy of the datagram will be delivered to each member of the group using hardware multicast or broadcast if viable.

Features Or Changes In IPv6 : 

The Changes are  Introduced by IPv6 can be grouped into the Following :

(1). Large Address : The new address size is the most noticeable change. IPv6 quadruples the size of an IPv4 address from 32 Bits to 128 bits.The IPv6 address space is so large that it can not be exhausted in the foreseeable future.

(2). Extended Address Hierarchy: IPv6 uses the large address space to create additional level of addressing hierarchy. In particular, IPv6 can define a hierarchy of ISPs as well as a hierarchical structure with in a given site.

(3). Flexible Header Format : IPv6 uses an entirely new and incompatible datagram format.Unlike the IPv4 fixed format header, IPv6 defines a set of optional headers.

(4). Improved Options : Like IPv4, IPv6 allows a datagram to includes optional control information. IPv6 includes new options that provides addition facilities not available in IPv4.

(5). Provision For Protocol Extension : Perhaps the most significant change in IPv6 is a move away from a protocol that fully specifies all details to protocol that permits additional information features. 

The extension capabilities has the potential to allow the IEFT to adapt the protocol to change in underlying network hardware or to new applications.

(6). Support For Autoconfigure and Renumbering : IPv6 provides facilities that allow computers on a isolated network to assign themselves address and begin communicating without depending on a router or manual configuration.

(7). Support For Resources Allocation : IPv6 has two facilities that permits pre-allocation of network resources.

                1. Flow Abstraction.

                2. Different Service Specification.