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Overview
IPv6 also named IP Next Generation (IPng) was designed
to take an evolutionary step from IPv4. (Note: IPv5 is a
short-lived experiment) The goal in mind is to modify and
improve on top of IPv4, keeping the working functions and discarding
the unworkable. The main changes include:
Expanding Routing and Addressing Capabilities:
increases the IP address size from 32 bits to 128
bits, to support great numbers of addresses, and simpler
auto-configuration of addresses.
"Anycast address" Has Been Defined:
The use of anycast addresses in the IPng source route allows
nodes to control the path which their traffic flows.
Header Format Simplication:
Some IPv4 header fields have been dropped or made optional,
to reduce the common-case processing cost of packet handling and
to keep the bandwidth cost of the IPng header as low as possible.
Improved Support for Options:
Less stringent limits on the length of options, and greater
flexibility for introducing new options in the future.
Quality-of Service Capabilities:
A new capability: enables the labeling of packets belonging to
particular traffic flows for which the sender requests special
handling.
Authentication and Privacy Capabilities:
Definition of extensions included to provide support for
authentication, data integrity, and confidentiality, included in all
implementations.
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