Network Working Group                       R. Hinden, Ipsilon Networks
Request for Comments: 1884                       S. Deering, Xerox PARC
Category: Standards Track                                       Editors
                                                          December 1995


                  IP Version 6 Addressing Architecture




Status of this Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.


Abstract

   This specification defines the addressing architecture of the IP
   Version 6 protocol [IPV6].  The document includes the IPv6 addressing
   model, text representations of IPv6 addresses, definition of IPv6
   unicast addresses, anycast addresses, and multicast addresses, and an
   IPv6 nodes required addresses.

























 
RFC 1884              IPv6 Addressing Architecture         December 1995


Table of Contents

   1. Introduction................................................3

   2. IPv6 Addressing.............................................3
      2.1 Addressing Model........................................4
      2.2 Text Representation of Addresses........................4
      2.3 Address Type Representation.............................5
      2.4 Unicast Addresses.......................................7
        2.4.1 Unicast Address Example.............................8
        2.4.2 The Unspecified Address.............................9
        2.4.3 The Loopback Address................................9
        2.4.4 IPv6 Addresses with Embedded IPv4 Addresses.........9
        2.4.5 NSAP Addresses......................................10
        2.4.6 IPX Addresses.......................................10
        2.4.7 Provider-Based Global Unicast Addresses.............10
        2.4.8 Local-use IPv6 Unicast Addresses....................11
      2.5 Anycast Addresses.......................................12
        2.5.1 Required Anycast Address............................13
      2.6 Multicast Addresses.....................................14
        2.6.1 Pre-Defined Multicast Addresses.....................15
      2.7 A Node's Required Addresses.............................17

   REFERENCES.....................................................18

   SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS........................................18

   DOCUMENT EDITOR'S ADDRESSES....................................18