Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification
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S. Deering, R. Hinden · 1998-12
Abstract
RFC 2460 specifies IPv6, the next-generation Internet Protocol, with a 128-bit address space, simplified fixed-length header, extension header chaining for optional functions, mandatory IPsec support, stateless address autoconfiguration (SLAAC), and built-in flow labeling for QoS. It obsoletes RFC 1883 and was itself later obsoleted by RFC 8200.
Why This RFC Matters
RFC 2460 was the foundational IPv6 specification that defined the 128-bit address space now solving the IPv4 exhaustion problem. Its design decisions—removing header fragmentation at routers, eliminating broadcast in favor of multicast, and mandating neighbor discovery—simplified router processing and improved scalability. Though superseded by RFC 8200, RFC 2460 shaped IPv6 deployment across two decades and remains a key reference for understanding IPv6's design philosophy.