IPv6 Node Requirements
RFC 4294

• Status
• IESG evaluation record
• IESG writeups
• Email expansions
• History

• Versions
• 11

Network Working Group                                   J. Loughney, Ed.
Request for Comments: 4294                                         Nokia
Category: Informational                                       April 2006

                         IPv6 Node Requirements

Status of This Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  It does
   not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2006).

Abstract

   This document defines requirements for IPv6 nodes.  It is expected
   that IPv6 will be deployed in a wide range of devices and situations.
   Specifying the requirements for IPv6 nodes allows IPv6 to function
   well and interoperate in a large number of situations and
   deployments.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................2
      1.1. Requirement Language .......................................3
      1.2. Scope of This Document .....................................3
      1.3. Description of IPv6 Nodes ..................................3
   2. Abbreviations Used in This Document .............................3
   3. Sub-IP Layer ....................................................4
      3.1. Transmission of IPv6 Packets over Ethernet Networks
           - RFC 2464 .................................................4
      3.2. IP version 6 over PPP - RFC 2472 ...........................4
      3.3. IPv6 over ATM Networks - RFC 2492 ..........................4
   4. IP Layer ........................................................5
      4.1. Internet Protocol Version 6 - RFC 2460 .....................5
      4.2. Neighbor Discovery for IPv6 - RFC 2461 .....................5
      4.3. Path MTU Discovery and Packet Size .........................6
      4.4. ICMP for the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) -
           RFC 2463 ...................................................7
      4.5. Addressing .................................................7
      4.6. Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD) for IPv6 - RFC 2710 .....8
   5. DNS and DHCP ....................................................8
      5.1. DNS ........................................................8

Loughney                     Informational                      [Page 1]
RFC 4294                 IPv6 Node Requirements               April 2006

      5.2. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6
           (DHCPv6) - RFC 3315 ........................................9
   6. IPv4 Support and Transition ....................................10
      6.1. Transition Mechanisms .....................................10
   7. Mobile IP ......................................................10
   8. Security .......................................................10
      8.1. Basic Architecture ........................................10
      8.2. Security Protocols ........................................11
      8.3. Transforms and Algorithms .................................11
      8.4. Key Management Methods ....................................12
   9. Router-Specific Functionality ..................................12
      9.1. General ...................................................12
   10. Network Management ............................................12
      10.1. Management Information Base Modules (MIBs) ...............12
   11. Security Considerations .......................................13
   12. References ....................................................13
      12.1. Normative References .....................................13
      12.2. Informative References ...................................16
   13. Authors and Acknowledgements ..................................18

1.  Introduction

   The goal of this document is to define the common functionality
   required from both IPv6 hosts and routers.  Many IPv6 nodes will
   implement optional or additional features, but this document
   summarizes requirements from other published Standards Track
   documents in one place.

   This document tries to avoid discussion of protocol details, and
   references RFCs for this purpose.  This document is informational in
   nature and does not update Standards Track RFCs.

   Although the document points to different specifications, it should
   be noted that in most cases, the granularity of requirements are
   smaller than a single specification, as many specifications define
   multiple, independent pieces, some of which may not be mandatory.

   As it is not always possible for an implementer to know the exact
   usage of IPv6 in a node, an overriding requirement for IPv6 nodes is
   that they should adhere to Jon Postel's Robustness Principle:

      Be conservative in what you do, be liberal in what you accept from
      others [RFC-793].

Loughney                     Informational                      [Page 2]
RFC 4294                 IPv6 Node Requirements               April 2006