BCA / B.Tech 19 min read

Types of IPv6 Addressing

Types of IPv6 Addressing in Hindi | Types of IPv6 Addressing:


  • IPv6 addressing types include options like unicast, multicast, and anycast, which are used for different types of communication in the network.
  • Each type of addressing has its own specific use, and it ensures that data is delivered to the right place, at the right time, and in the right way.
  • The available address space and advanced addressing techniques in IPv6 make it essential for the future of the internet.
  • Types of IPv6 Addressing play an important role in the sixth version of the Internet Protocol. IPv6 has been developed as a successor to IPv4 and provides more address space and better features in the networking world.
  • The IPv6 addressing system has several types of addressing methods that are used for different types of communication in the network.

In IPv6, mainly three types of addressing are used:

  • Unicast
  • Multicast
  • Anycast

All these addressing types have specific uses and are important for sending data to different parts of the network.

1. Unicast Addressing

In unicast addressing, data is sent from one source to one destination. It is used for one-to-one communication, where a data packet is sent to a specific device. Unicast addressing has several sub-types, which include the following:

a. Global Unicast Address

  • Description: A global unicast address is the most common type of address in IPv6, which is used on the internet. It is similar to a public IP address in IPv4 and is valid for communicating with any device on the internet.
  • Address format: A global unicast address starts with 2000::/3, which means that this address space is from 2000 to 3FFF.
  • Use: This addressing is used in large networks where communication with devices outside the network is required.

b. Link-Local Address

  • Description: A link-local address is used for local communication within a network. These addresses cannot be used outside that network and their use is limited only to the link to which the devices are connected.
  • Address format: Link-local addresses start with FE80::/10, which means that they are in the range from FE80 to FEBF.
  • Use: A link-local address is used for local communication between devices, router configuration, and automatic address assignment.

c. Stateless Address Autoconfiguration (SLAAC)

  • Description: SLAAC is a process by which devices on an IPv6 network can automatically configure their own addresses. The device creates its own link-local address and global unicast address.
  • Use: This technique is very useful for increasing automation in the network, as it does not require a DHCP server.

d. Solicited-Node Multicast Address

  • Description: This address is used to find other devices connected to the network under the Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) in an IPv6 network. A solicited-node multicast address is associated with each unicast address.
  • Use: It is used for Duplicate Address Detection and for communication with neighboring devices on the network.

2. Multicast Addressing

Multicast addressing is used to send data from one source to multiple devices in a group. This is called one-to-many communication. In IPv6, multicast addressing is used much more than in IPv4 because it makes efficient use of network resources.

a. Multicast Address Format

In IPv6, a multicast address starts with FF00::/8, where "FF" indicates the address as a multicast address. After this, flags and scope are determined, which tell in what range the multicast packet will be sent.

b. Important Scopes and Flags of Multicast

Scope: The scope of a multicast address is used to determine at what level the packet will be sent. Examples of scope:

  • 1: Node-Local, i.e., the packet will reach only the device that is sending it.
  • 2: Link-Local, i.e., the packet will be sent only on the same link (network segment).
  • 5 or 8: Site-Local or Organization-Local, where the packet will be spread only within a specific site or organization.
  • E: Global, i.e., the packet can be spread across the entire internet.

c. Areas of use

A multicast address is used in various networking applications, such as:

  • Networking Protocols: Multicast is used for communication between routers and devices in IPv6, especially in the Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) and router advertisements.
  • Wide Communication: A multicast address is used for live data transmission in large networks, such as video streaming, webinars, online gaming, etc.

3. Anycast Addressing

Anycast addressing is a special type of addressing where a single address is assigned to multiple devices, and the data packet is sent to the nearest or fastest available device. This is an example of one-to-nearest communication.

a. Features of an anycast address

  • Description: An anycast address can be assigned to a single IP address in multiple locations, and whenever a device sends data, the network chooses the nearest destination (shortest path).
  • Use: Anycast addressing is mainly used in services like network optimization, Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), and DNS servers, where data is sent to the nearest server.

b. Examples of use

  • DNS Server: DNS (Domain Name System) servers use anycast addressing so that users' DNS queries are answered by the nearest DNS server.
  • Content Delivery Network (CDN): Anycast is used in content delivery networks so that the user who is connecting from a location can receive content from the nearest server, which reduces latency.

Advantages of IPv6 Addressing in Hindi | Advantages of IPv6 Addressing:

IPv6 addressing has many new and advanced features that make it better than IPv4:

  • Vast Address Space: IPv6 has a 128-bit address space, which is much larger than the 32-bit address space of IPv4. This makes billions of new IP addresses available.
  • Automatic Configuration: IPv6 uses technology like SLAAC (Stateless Address Autoconfiguration), which allows devices to configure their own addresses.
  • Better Multicasting: In IPv6, multicast addressing has been specially designed to eliminate the need for broadcasting in the network, which makes the network more efficient.
  • Security: IPv6 has built-in IPsec (Internet Protocol Security), which makes networking communication secure.
  • Anycast Support: Anycast support in IPv6 is better than in IPv4, which increases network speed and performance.

In this Chapter

Types of IPv6 Addressing
Auto-Configuration and Anycast
Modified EUI-64 | What is Modified EUI-64?
Architecture of Mobile Computing
Wireless LAN in Hindi | What is Wireless LAN?
Wireless User Devices
MAC Protocol | What is MAC Protocol?
IEEE 802.11 | What is IEEE 802.11
Mobile IP | What is Mobile IP
Wireless TCP/IP
Unicast & Multicast Communication
Bluetooth | What is Bluetooth?
NS2 & NAM | What are NS2 and NAM?
Purpose & installation of NS2 & NAM
Background of NS2 & NAM
Architecture of NS2 & NAM
Interface of OTcl & C++
Trace Files & Formats
Protocol Support of NS2
Simulation Object of NS2 & NAM
Basic Syntax of NS2 & NAM
Node Creation of NS2 & NAM
Running NS2 & NAM
Finish Procedure NS2 & NAM
Invoking external commands within NS2
Nodes & Agents of NS2 & NAM
NS2 Commands
Creating Links in Wired Network
Setting Link Parameters
Sending Traffics Through NS2 Links
Routing Protocol Support of NS2
Scenarios in Wired Networks
Additional Parameters
Setting node positions
God object & topography
Protocol Support
Scenarios in Wireless Networks
What is the Internet? Difference Between Intranet and Extranet
Types of Internet
OSI Model and its Layers
Computer Network (CN) All Important Questions and Answers in English (MDSU)
BCA | Computer Network | 2025 Paper | MDSU Exam Paper
Importance of the Layer Model in Computer Networks
Network Classification
Network Topology
Network Switching & Components
Ethernet
Token Ring
Basic Networking Concepts & Cabling
What is a Computer in English?
Bridges in Computer Networks
Routers in Computer Networks
Gateways in Computer Networks
Public & Private Networks
FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access)
BCA | CN(Computer Network) Paper | 2023 MDSU Exam Paper
What is World Wide Web (WWW)
TDMA, SDMA, CDMA
Personal Communication System | What is PCS
IPv4 | What is IPv4?
Subnetting IPv4 Address
Casting in IPv4
Private IPv4 Addressing
IPv4 Address Scheme
IPv6 Addressing Scheme