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The `Next Header` of the IPv6 packet indicates the type of the header that follows the IPv6 packet. IANA_ maintains a list of all the assigned values of this header at https://www.iana.org/assignments/protocol-numbers/protocol-numbers.xhtml
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When an IPv6 router receives a packet that is larger than the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) on its outgoing interface, it drops the packet and returns an ICMPv6 message back to the source. Upon reception of this ICMPv6 message, the source will either adjust the size of the packets that it transmits or use IPv6 packet fragmentation. The exercises below show a few examples of the utilization of IPv6 fragmentation.
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Network engineers often rely on :manpage:`ping6(8)` to verify the reachability of a remote host or router. :manpage:`ping6(8)` sends ICMPv6 echo request messages and analyzes the received ICMPv6 echo responses. Each echo request message contains an identifier and a sequence number that is returned in the response.
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When the :manpage:`ping6(8)` is executed, it sends ICMPv6 echo request messages with increasing sequence numbers.
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The :manpage:`traceroute6(8)` software is very useful to debug network problems. It sends a series of UDP segments encapsulated inside IP packets with increasing values of the HopLimit. The first packet has a HotLimit and the first router on the path returns an ICMPv6 HopLimit exceeded message.
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When :manpage:`traceroute6(8)` sends UDP segments, it uses the UDP source port as a way to remember the target hop for this specific UDP segment.
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