becarpenter-book6/2. IPv6 Basic Technology/2. IPv6 Basic Technology.md

# IPv6 Basic Technology

The main standard for IPv6 is [RFC 8200](https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8200). Many other relevant RFCs are cited in [IPv6 node requirements](https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/bcp220). Quotes from relevant RFCs are included in this chapter.

Some generic terms that should be used precisely are given in Section 2 of RFC 8200. In particular:

- Node: a device that implements IPv6

- Router: a node that forwards IPv6 packets not explicitly addressed to itself

- Host: any node that is not a router

To avoid confusion, note that a router may receive and send its own packets, and run IPv6 applications, just as a host does.

The rest of this chapter covers various basic aspects of IPv6. Some topics are very closely linked, especially address resolution and auto-configuration, so the reader is advised to read in sequence.

## [Packet Format](Packet%20Format.md)
## [Addresses](Addresses.md)
## [Layer 2 functions](Layer%202%20functions.md)
## [Address resolution](Address%20resolution.md)
## [Auto-configuration](Auto-configuration.md)
## [Managed configuration](Managed%20configuration.md)
## [DNS](DNS.md)
## [Routing](Routing.md)
## [Transport protocols](Transport%20protocols.md)
## [Extension headers and options](Extension%20headers%20and%20options.md)
## [Traffic class and flow label](Traffic%20class%20and%20flow%20label.md)
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