RFC 1972 (rfc1972) - Page 1 of 4
A Method for the Transmission of IPv6 Packets over Ethernet Networks
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group M. Crawford Request for Comments: 1972 Fermilab Category: Standards Track August 1996 A Method for the Transmission of IPv6 Packets over Ethernet Networks 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. Introduction This memo specifies the frame format for transmission of IPv6 [IPV6] packets and the method of forming IPv6 link-local addresses on Ethernet networks. It also specifies the content of the Source/Target Link-layer Address option used the the Router Solicitation, Router Advertisement, Neighbor Solicitation, and Neighbor Advertisement messages described in [DISC], when those messages are transmitted on an Ethernet. Maximum Transmission Unit The default MTU size for IPv6 packets on an Ethernet is 1500 octets. This size may be reduced by a Router Advertisement [DISC] containing an MTU option which specifies a smaller MTU, or by manual configuration of each node. If a Router Advertisement is received with an MTU option specifying an MTU larger than 1500, or larger than a manually configured value less than 1500, that MTU option must be ignored. Frame Format IPv6 packets are transmitted in standard Ethernet frames. The ethernet header contains the Destination and Source ethernet addresses and the ethernet type code, which must contain the value 86DD hexadecimal. The data field contains the IPv6 header followed immediately by the payload, and possibly padding octets to meet the minimum frame size for Ethernet. Crawford Standards Track
