The Features of IPv6

This is a summary of the features of the IPv6 protocol. The formats and types of IPv6 addresses are covered in detail. This includes, IPv6 unicast, multicast and anycast addresses. The different IPv6 address prefixes are explained. The IPv6 protocol header is described and IPv6 extension headers are introduced.

Topics

• IPv6 datagram header
• IPv6 addresses
• Address representation
• Multicast, unicast and anycast addresses
• The IPv6 datagram format
• IPv6 extension headers
• ICMPv6
• IPv6 multicast group management (MLD)

Autoconfiguration of IPv6

Automatic configuration of basic network parameters is a key feature of IPv6. It underpins many of the new features of IPv6 including neighbor discovery, router discovery, router renumbering and mobile IPv6.

Topics

• Stateless & Stateful
• DHCPv6
• IPv6 Link-Local Addresses
• Neighbor Discovery in IPv6
• IPv6 Router Discovery
• Router Renumbering in IPv6

Internetworking IPv6

This module looks at how IPv6 routes datagrams and how IPv6 routers work. Changes to routing in IPv6 are described. New features such as MTU discovery and router renumbering are covered, as well as changes from IPv4, such as IPv6 fragmentation.

Topics

• Routing Tables
• MTU discovery
• Neighbor reachability
• IPv6 Router renumbering
• IPv6 Fragmentation

IPv6 Dynamic Routing

Most medium and enterprise organisations make widespread use of dynamic routing to simplify the configuration of routing tables. This module looks at changes to dynamic routing protocols from those used in IPv4. A detailed look at key protocols including ICMPv6 redirects, RIPng, OSPFv3 and BGPv4. In addition this module also reviews support for multicast routing protocols in IPv6, including PIM and BGMP. The operation of each of these protocols is explained.

Topics

• Fundamentals of dynamic routing
• ICMPv6 Redirects
• RIPng
• OSPFv3
• BGPv4 & IPv6
• IPv6 Multicast Routing
• PIM—SM
• PIM—DM
• BGMP

Interfacing to the Lower Layers

IPv6 changes the way in which the network layer interfaces with lower layers, introducing new terminology and protocols. This chapters outlines these changes and covers specific details for each category of datalink protocols and the most widely used datalink protocols.

Topics

• Data-link and physical layer
• Point to point and IPv6
• DBMA networks and IPv6
• IEEE802 and IPv6

Transport Layer

IPv6 has introduced changes to the transport layer. This chapter describes these changes and covers how they will affect programmers and system administrators. Details of the operation of TCP and UDP are covered.

Topics

• Operation of TCP and UDP
• Ports and sockets
• Changes to TCP & UDP

IPv6 Transition Mechanisms I

There are a myriad of mechanisms in IPv6 designed to ease the transition from IPv4 to IPv6. This module introduces these mechanisms and looks in detail at those mechanisms that make use of tunnelling.

Note: This module should be taught with the module IPv6 Transistion Mechanisms II

Topics

• Overview of transition mechanisms
• Dual stacks
• Compatibility addresses
• 6over4
• Automatic and configured tunnelling
• 6to4
• ISATAP
• Teredo
• DSTM
• Tunnel brokers
• Tunnel setup protocol

IPv6 Transition Mechanisms II

This module looks at the transition mechanisms that are designed to convert from IPv6 to IPv4 and back. Each mechanism is looked at in detail. This includes Network Address Translation — Protocol Translator (NAT-PT).

Note: This module should be taught with the module IPv6 Transistion Mechanisms I

Topics

• Protocol translators
• SIIT
• Application layer gateways
• NAT-PT
• SOCKS
• Bump-in-the-stack (BIS)
• Bump-in-the-API (BIA)
• Transition mechanisms and DNS

IPv6 Security (IPSec)

IPv6 includes IPSec as standard. This module covers IPSec in detail and in particular its implementation in IPv6. It also covers all the necessary background in cryptographic techniques.

Topics

• Cryptographic techniques
• AH & ESP Headers
• Transport and tunnel modes
• Security associations
• ISAKMP & IKE

Mobile IPv6

Mobility is a key feature of IPv6. It is subtly different from mobile IP in IPv4. This module covers mobile IPv6 in detail and describes it's operation.

Topics

• Limitations of link layer mobility
• Mobile IPv4 vs Mobile IPv6
• Mobile IPv6 in operation
• Home agents
• Binding updates and the binding cache

IPv6 and Quality of Service

Many modern uses of the Internet such as Voice over IP (VoIP) and Video on Demand (VoD) require minimum levels of service in order to operate effectively. IPv6 includes QoS as standard and has additional QoS mechanisms not found in IPv4.

Topics

• Traffic class
• Flow label
• Differential services (DiffServ)
• Integrated services (IntServ)
• Traffic flows
• RSVP

DNS and IPv6

The Domain Name System (DNS) is key to the operation of the Internet. DNS has been enhanced to support IPv6. This module covers the changes made to DNS to support IPv6 and explains how IPv6 enabled DNS should be implemented.

Topics

• The domain name system
• Changes to DNS for IPv6
• AAAA records
• PTR records
• Reverse lookups in IPv6
• A6 & DNAME RRs
• ip6.arpa. & ip6.int.
• A6 chains
• IPv6 in BIND and MS DNS

Application Changes

The move to IPv6 affects some applications. This modules explains how applications are affected and describes the changes needed to support IPv6.

Topics

• Basic Internet commands
• Ping, telnet, FTP
• Mail Systems
• Web-Servers

The Programming Interface

The changes in IPv6 have resulted in modifications to the Application Programming Interface (API) used by programmers to communicate using IP. The API is known as the socket API. This module describes these changes and explains how code can be modified for IPv6.

Topics

• Sockets & Winsock APIs
• Perl, Java, C etc

IPv6 Network Management

IPv6 network management depends on changes to network administration tools and standards such as the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). This module describes these changes and shows how to carry out simple IPv6 troubleshooting.

Topics

• SNMP & IPv6
• The extended MIB for IPv6
• SNMP Security
• IPv6 Protocol Analysers
• Troubleshooting

Migrating to IPv6

This module reviews the current status of IPv6 in terms of technology and implementation worldwide. This module also looks at how and when companies should migrate to IPv6.

Topics

• What, when and how to migrate
• The current status of IPv6
• Operating systems and IPv6
• Business applications and IPv6
• Predictions