RFC 2473 (rfc2473) - Page 1 of 36
Generic Packet Tunneling in IPv6 Specification
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group A. Conta
Request for Comments: 2473 Lucent Technologies Inc.
Category: Standards Track S. Deering
Cisco Systems
December 1998
Generic Packet Tunneling in IPv6
Specification
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.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1998). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
This document defines the model and generic mechanisms for IPv6
encapsulation of Internet packets, such as IPv6 and IPv4. The model
and mechanisms can be applied to other protocol packets as well, such
as AppleTalk, IPX, CLNP, or others.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................2
2. Terminology...................................................2
3. IPv6 Tunneling................................................4
3.1 IPv6 Encapsulation.......................................6
3.2 IPv6 Packet Processing in Tunnels........................7
3.3 IPv6 Decapsulation.......................................7
3.4 IPv6 Tunnel Protocol Engine..............................8
4. Nested Encapsulation.........................................11
4.1 Limiting Nested Encapsulation..........................12
4.1.1 Tunnel Encapsulation Limit Option................13
4.1.2 Loopback Encapsulation...........................15
4.1.3 Routing Loop Nested Encapsulation................15
5. Tunnel IPv6 Header...........................................16
5.1 Tunnel IPv6 Extension Headers...........................17
6. IPv6 Tunnel State Variables..................................19
6.1 IPv6 Tunnel Entry-Point Node............................19
6.2 IPv6 Tunnel Exit-Point Node.............................19
Conta & Deering Standards Track
