Guide on IPv6 Addressing
Importance of IPv6 Addressing:
IPv6 addressing is incredibly important due to the exponential growth of the internet. The previous IP addressing protocol, IPv4, does not provide enough address capabilities for the millions of devices now online. IPv6 offers 128-bit address capabilities, greatly increasing the number of available addresses. Furthermore, IPv6 improves upon IPv4 by offering better security, multicasting and simpler header format.
What is IPv6 Addressing?:
IPv6 addressing is the most recent version of the Internet Protocol (IP), which provides an identification and location system for computers on networks across the internet. IPv6 addresses have a size of 128 bits and are written in hexadecimal, separated by colons.
How IPv6 Addresses Work:
IPv6 addresses are divided into two sections: the network prefix and the interface identifier. The network prefix identifies the specific network and the identifier is unique to each device.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on IPv6 Addressing:
When approaching exam questions regarding IPv6, remember these key points:
- IPv6 addresses are 128 bits in length and are written in hexadecimal.
- The structure of an IPv6 address is divided into a network prefix and an interface identifier. Understand how to decode them.
- There is a replacement of IPv4 protocols with IPv6, so understand the associated benefits and challenges of this transition.
- Understand the different types of IPv6 addresses, such as unicast, multicast, and anycast.