TCP/IPv6 Configuration and Management Manual (G06.29+, H06.03+, J06.03+)

Overview of NonStop TCP/IPv6
HP NonStop TCP/IPv6 Configuration and Management Manual—524523-012
2-17
Fundamentals of IPv6
The list identifies some IPv6 features and how they are implemented on NonStop
systems. (For more information about IPv6, see Appendix A, IPv6 Fundamentals.)

IPv6 Address
The IPv6 address is 128 bits in length (compared to the 32-bit IPv4 address) and
uses a new text-representation format. In addition, there are three types of IPv6
addresses: unicast and multicast. The unicast address typically consists of a 64-bit
address prefix and a 64-bit interface identifier, and identifies a physical network
interface. The multicast address consists of a 16-bit prefix that identifies the
address as multicast and defines the type (well-known or transient) and scope; the
other 112 bits identify the multicast group within the scope.
For more information about IPv6 addresses, see IP Address Notation on
page 8-13.

Neighbor Discovery Protocol
IPv6 nodes on the same link use the neighbor discovery protocol to discover each
other's presence, determine each other's link-local addresses, find routers, and
maintain reachability information about paths to active neighbors and remote
destinations. (For more information, see Stateless Address Autoconfiguration on
page A-11.)

Stateless address autoconfiguration
Each IPv6-enabled SUBNET can be configured to either auto configure its
addresses based on the information contained in neighbor discovery router
advertisement packets or not to support autoconfiguration on the SUBNET.
Stateless address autoconfiguration refers to a method whereby IPv6 hosts listen
for router advertisement packets from routers and learn IPv6 address prefixes.
(See Stateless Address Autoconfiguration
on page A-11.) The host creates IPv6
unicast addresses by combining the prefix with a datalink-specific interface
identifier derived from the datalink address (MAC address) of the interface. The
NonStop TCP/IPv6 subsystem performs this process automatically. (For more
information, see Stateless Address Autoconfiguration
on page A-11.)
To use autoconfiguration, when you add the SUBNET, you must have a router that
supports the neighbor discovery protocol available on the network and you must
2374 IPv6 Aggregatable Global Unicast Address Format.
2375 IPv6 Multicast Address.
2893 Transitions Mechanisms for IPv6 Hosts and Routers
Table 2-4. RFCs Supported by NonStop TCP/IPv6 (page 2 of 2)
RFC Number RFC Title