Chapter 40
Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)
Overview of IPv6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 773
IPv6 Address Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774
Examples of IPv6 Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774
Example of Full and Collapsed IPv6 Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774
Example of an IPv6 Address That Includes a Port Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774
Example of an IPv6 Address That Includes a URL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 775
Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 775
Overview of IPv6
SAS 9.2 introduced support for the next generation of Internet Protocol, IPv6, which is
the successor to the current Internet Protocol, IPv4. Rather than replacing IPv4 with
IPv6, SAS supports both protocols. There is a lengthy transition period during which the
two protocols coexist.
A primary reason for the new protocol is that the limited supply of 32-bit IPv4 address
spaces was being depleted. IPv6 uses a 128-bit address scheme. This scheme provides
more IP addresses than did IPv4.
IPv6 includes these benefits over IPv4:
• larger address space (128 bits rather than 32 bits)
• simplified header format
• automatic configuration
• more efficient routing
• improved quality of service and security
• compliance with regulatory requirements
• widespread use in global markets
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