IPv6 packet header

IPv6 packet header

1. Version

   • 4-bit binary value set to 0110 that identifies this as a IPv6 packet

2. Traffic Class

   • 8-bit field equivalent to the DS field in IPv4

3. Flow Label

   • 20-bit field, all packets with the same flow label receive the same type of handling by routers

4. Payload Lenght

   • 16-bit field indicates the length of the data portion (payload)

5. Next Header

   • 8-bit field equivalent to the protocol field in IPv4

6. Hop limit

   • 8-bit field that replaces the IPv4 TTL field
     • This value is decremented by 1 each router that forwards the packet

7. Source IPv6 Address

   • 128-bit field that identifies the IPv6 of the sending host

8. Destination IPv6 Address

   • 128-bit field that identifies the Ipv6 of the receiving host