FE80::1

0EA

IPv6 Addressing
and Subnetting
Workbook
Version 1

Global Routing Prefix

Subnet ID

Interface ID

Hexadecimal
Student Name:

2001:0DB9:F000::

Types of IPv6 Addresses

Unspecified, Loopback, Embedded IPv4
Unspecified address is an all 0 address and cannot be assigned to an interface. It would be
typed as ::. This is only used as a source address to indicate the absence of an actual
address.
Loopback Address is all 0s except for the last bit, which is 1. It would be typed as ::1.
It operates the same as the IPv4 127.0.0.1 loopback address.
IPv4 Embedded addresses are IPv6 addresses with an IPv4 address embedded in
the low-order 32 bits. They are used to transition networks from IPv4 to IPv6.
Address Range:
0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/8 to 00FF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF/8

Global Unicast
Global Unicast addresses are used to uniquely identify a specific interface on a host and can
be used as a public address on the internet.
Address Range:
2000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/3 to 3FFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF/3

Unique local Unicast

Unique local Unicast addresses are roughly the same as IPv4 private addresses.
Address Range:
FC00:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/7 to FDFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF/7

Link-local Unicast
Link-local addresses are unicast addresses that are limited to a point to point connection
within a local network. Routers will not forward packets with a link-local address.
Address Range:
FE80:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/10 to FEBF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF/10

Multicast
Multicast addresses are used to send a single packet to multiple destinations
simultaneously.
Address Range:
FF00:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/8 to FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF/8
Produced by: Robb Jones
[email protected]
Frederick County Career & Technology Center
Cisco Networking Academy
Frederick County Public Schools
Frederick, Maryland, USA
Special Thanks to Melvin Baker and Jim Dorsch for taking the time to check this workbook for errors,
and to everyone who has sent in suggestions to improve the series.

Inside Cover

A Brief History of TCP/IP Versions

TCP version 1 through TCP version 3 were developed as test versions and not widely used.
Contrary to popular belief there was never an IPv1, IPv2, or IPv3. The version numbers were
kept intact to avoid confusion when the TCP protocol was split into TCP and IP.
1973 -

TCP version 1 was developed and documented in RFC 675.

At this time IP was part of TCP.

1977 -

TCP version 2 was developed and documented in March.

In August of 1977 it was decided that the TCP protocol was going in the
wrong direction.

1978 -

TCP and IP were split into two separate protocols.

Both TCP and IP were part of version 3.

1980 -

Early development of IPv4 defined in RFC 760.

1981 -

The current version of IPv4 is defined in RFC 791, 792 and 793.
It was the first widely used version of the Internet Protocol.

1983 -

On January 1, 1983, TCP/IP protocols became the only approved protocol

on the ARPANET, replacing the earlier NCP protocol. This was known as
flag day.

1984 -

The number of hosts on the internet breaks 1000.

1987 -

Hosts on the internet exceeds 10,000.

1989 -

Host accessing the internet surpasses 100,000.

1990 -

IPv5 relates to an experimental TCP/IP protocol called the Internet Stream

Protocol, Version 2, originally defined in RFC 1190. This protocol was a
peer of IPv4 and was designed to work with voice conversations and
conferences with delay and bandwidth guarantees. These packets were
assigned IP version 5 to differentiate them from normal IPv4 packets.
This protocol was never introduced to the public, and was always
considered experimental. To be sure there would be no confusion,
version 5 was skipped over in favor of version 6.

1992 -

The number of hosts on the internet breaks 1,000,000.

1995 -

IPv6, introduced as IP Next Generation, was presented in RFC 1883.

1997 -

The number of hosts using the internet exceeds 19,000,000.

1998 -

The more fully developed IPv6 obsoletes RFC 1883 with the updated RFC
2460.

IPv4 has been well established for years. IPv6 is still in flux as it undergoes growing pains with
changes and adjustments to the rules as it is being implemented.
1

IPv6
There are 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456 possible IPv6
addresses.
If you want to actually say the number it is three hundred and forty undecillion, two hundred and
eighty-two decillion, three hundred and sixty-six nonillion, nine hundred and twenty octillion,
nine hundred and thirty-eight septillion, four hundred and sixty-three sextillion, four hundred and
sixty-three quintillion, three hundred and seventy-four quadrillion, six hundred and seven trillion,
four hundred and thirty-one billion, seven hundred and sixty-eight million, two hundred and
eleven thousand, four hundred and fifty-six. (or you can have Windows Narrator say it for you.)
Multicast
FF00:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/8
to
FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF/8
Link-local Unicast
FE80:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/10
to
FEBF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF/10
Unique local Unicast
FC00:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/7
to
FDFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF/7

The unshaded areas are reserved

by the IETF for future use.

111

Unspecified, Loopback, Embedded IPv4

0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/8
to
00FF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF/8
Global Unicast
2000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/3
to
3FFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF/3

000

110

001

101

010

100

011

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) divided the available IPv6 addresses into
eight equal segments based on the three leading bits of the addresses (000, 001, 010, 011,
100, 101, 110, and 111). Only one eighth of the total available addresses have been reserved
for use as global unicast addresses. Four smaller subgroups have been made available for
unique local unicast, link-local unicast, multicast, and (unspecified, loopback, embedded IPv4).

IPv6 by the Numbers

340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456
42,535,295,865,117,307,932,921,825,928,971,026,432
415,383,748,682,786,210,282,439,706,337,607,680
7,119,157,000
58,347,322,398,253,923,924,200,534

Total number of IPv6 Addresses

1/8 or the reserved Global Unicast addresses
The five /12 ranges assigned to the RIRs
Estimated world population
Estimated number of IPv6 addresses per person
(Thats over 58 septillion addresses per person and
doesnt include the additional smaller blocks of
addresses assigned to the five RIRs by the IANA)

Total number
of IPv6 addresses

About
1%

340 undecillion

Special
Purpose
1%

AfriNIC
20%

ARIN
20%

001
111

LACNIC
19%

000

APNIC
20%

001

110

42.5 undecillion
101

010
100

011

RIPE NNC
20%

1/8th of the total

IPv6 addresses
reserved for
Global Unicast use

The Five RIRs

The Regional Internet Registry is an organization that manages
the allocation and registration of internet number resources world
wide. It has evolved over time to divide the world into five areas, or
RIRs.

415 Decillion
The five /12 blocks of
addresses assigned to
the five RIRs by the
IANA
There are some
additional smaller
blocks of addresses
assigned to the five
RIRs
There is a chart in the
Reference Section that has
all of these listed.

AfriNIC - African Network Information Centre

ARIN - American Registry for Internet Numbers
APNIC - Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre
LACNIC - Latin America and Caribbean Network Information Centre
RIPE NCC - Rseaux IP Europens Network Coordination Centre

To make IPv6 addresses a little less imposing, two rules were developed to
make them easier to work with. Rule 1: Omission of the Leading 0s, and Rule 2:
Omission of the all-0 Hextets.

Rule 1: Omission of the Leading 0s

Rule 1 allows you to remove all the leading 0s in each individual hextet.
Sample 1 Unspecified address
Preferred Format:
0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000
Leading 0s removed:
0:
0: 0:
0:
0: 0:
0:
0
or
0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0
Sample 2 - Loopback Address
Preferred Format:
0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001
Leading 0s removed:
0: 0:
0:
0:
0:
0: 0:
1
or
0:0:0:0:0:0:0:1
Sample 3 Global Unicast Address
Preferred Format:
2000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001
Leading 0s removed:
2000:
0: 0:
0:
0:
0: 0:
1
or
2000:0:0:0:0:0:0:1
Sample 4 Global Unicast Address
Preferred Format:
2001:00FE:ACAD:2013:0000:0000:00AA:0271
Leading 0s removed:
2001: FE:ACAD:2013:
0:
0: AA: 271
or
2001: FE:ACAD:2013:0:0:AA:271
Sample 5 Unique local Unicast Address
Preferred Format:
FC80:0000:0000:ACAD:0000:0000:0000:0001
Leading 0s removed:
FC80:
0: 0:ACAD:
0:
0:
0: 1
or
FC80:0:0:ACAD:0:0:0:1
Sample 6 Link-local Address
Preferred Format:
FE80:ACAD:0000:0197:0000:0000:0000:FF01
Leading 0s removed:
FE80:ACAD:
0: 197:
0:
0:
0:FF01
or
FE80:ACAD:0:197:0:0:0:FF01
Sample 7 Multicast Address
Preferred Format:
FF00:0000:0000:ACAD:0000:0000:FE00:0721
Leading 0s removed:
FF00:
0:
0:ACAD:
0:
0:FE00: 721
or
4
FF00:0:0:ACAD:0:0:FE00:721

Rule 1: Omission of the Leading 0s Problems

Using Rule 1 reduce the IPv6 addresses to their shortened form.
1. 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000
__________________________________________________________________
2. 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
3. 2000:0000:0000:0000:0000:ABCD:0000:0025
__________________________________________________________________
4. 3F00:0090:0000:0000:0000:0098:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
5. 2001:3756:0005:0000:ACAD:0000:0000:0025
__________________________________________________________________
6. 3FFF:FF00:0000:0000:ACAD:0000:0000:0127
__________________________________________________________________
7. 2001:0000:0000:ABCD:FFFF:0000:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
8. 3ABC:0001:ACAD:0000:0000:1234:0000:0005
__________________________________________________________________
9. FC00:0000:0000:0000:3E00:1275:0000:0034
__________________________________________________________________
10. FE95:FC6C:C540:0000:0000:0000:0000:9800
__________________________________________________________________
11. FF00:ACAD:0000:0000:1234:0000:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
5

Rule 2: Omission of the All-0 Hextets

Rule 2 uses a double colon :: to represent a single contiguous set of all zero hextexts. It can
only be used once in any IPv6 address.
Sample 1 Unspecified address
Preferred Format:
0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000
Contiguous 0s removed:
::
Sample 2 - Loopback Address
Preferred Format:
0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001
Contiguous 0s removed:
::0001
Sample 3 Global Unicast Address
Preferred Format:
2000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001
Contiguous 0s removed: 2000:
:0001
or
2000::0001
Sample 4 Global Unicast Address
Preferred Format:
2001:00FE:ACAD:2013:0000:0000:00AA:0271
Contiguous 0s removed: 2001:00FE:ACAD:2013:
:00AA:0271
or
2001:00FE:ACAD:2013::00AA:0271
Sample 5 Unique local Unicast Address
Preferred Format:
FC80:0000:0000:ACAD:0000:0000:0000:0001
Contiguous 0s removed: FC80:0000:0000:ACAD:
:0001
or
FC80:0000:0000:ACAD::0001
Sample 6 Link-local Address
Preferred Format:
FE80:ACAD:0000:0197:0000:0000:0000:FF01
Contiguous 0s removed: FE80:ACAD:0000:0197:
:FF01
or
FE80:ACAD:0000:0197::FF01
Sample 7 Multicast Address
Preferred Format:
FF00:0000:0000:ACAD:0000:0000:FE00:0721
Contiguous 0s removed: FF00:
:ACAD:0000:0000:FE00:0721
FF00:0000:0000:ACAD:
:FE00:0721
or
FF00::ACAD:0000:0000:FE00:0721 (Option #1)
FF00:0000:0000:ACAD::FE00:0721 (Option #2)

(Option #1)
(Option #2)

Rule 2: Omission of the All-0 Hextets Problems

Using Rule 2 reduce the IPv6 addresses to their shortened form.
1. 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000
__________________________________________________________________
2. 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
3. 2000:0000:0000:0000:0000:ABCD:0000:0025
__________________________________________________________________
4. 3F00:0090:0000:0000:0000:0098:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
5. 2001:3756:0005:0000:ACAD:0000:0000:0025
__________________________________________________________________
6. 3FFF:FF00:0000:0000:ACAD:0025:0000:0127
__________________________________________________________________
7. 2001:ACAD:0000:ABCD:FFFF:0000:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
8. 3ABC:0001:ACAD:0000:0000:1234:0000:0005
__________________________________________________________________
9. FC00:0000:0000:0000:3E00:1275:0000:0034
__________________________________________________________________
10. FE95:FC6C:C540:0000:0000:0000:0000:9800
__________________________________________________________________
11. FF00:ACAD:0000:0000:1234:0000:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
7

Combining Rule 1 and Rule 2

To reduce the size of IPv6 address even more you can combine Rule 1 with Rule 2.
Sample 1 Unspecified address
Preferred Format:
0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000
Combined reduction:
::
Sample 2 - Loopback Address
Preferred Format:
0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001
Combined reduction:
::1
Sample 3 Global Unicast Address
Preferred Format:
2000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001
Combined reduction:
2000:
:1
or
2000::1
Sample 4 Global Unicast Address
Preferred Format:
2001:00FE:ACAD:2013:0000:0000:00AA:0271
Combined reduction:
2001: FE:ACAD:2013:
: AA: 271
or
2001:FE:ACAD:2013::AA:271
Sample 5 Unique local Unicast Address
Preferred Format:
FC80:0000:0000:ACAD:0000:0000:0000:0001
Combined reduction:
FC80:
0:
0:ACAD:
: 1
or
FC80:0:0:ACAD::1
Sample 6 Link-local Address
Preferred Format:
FE80:ACAD:0000:0197:0000:0000:0000:FF01
Combined reduction:
FE80:ACAD:0
: 197:
:FF01
or
FE80:ACAD:0:197::FF01
Sample 7 Multicast Address
Preferred Format:
FF00:0000:0000:ACAD:0000:0000:FE00:0721
Combined reduction:
FF00:
:ACAD:
0:
0:FE00: 721
FF00:
0:
0:ACAD:
:FE00: 721
or
FF00::ACAD:0:0:FE00:721 (Option #1)
FF00:0:0:ACAD::FE00:721 (Option #2)

(Option #1)
(Option #2)

Combining Rule 1 and Rule 2 Problems

Using Rule 2 reduce the IPv6 addresses to their shortest form.
1. 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000
__________________________________________________________________
2. 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
3. 2000:0000:0000:0000:0000:ABCD:0000:0025
__________________________________________________________________
4. 3F00:0090:0000:0000:0000:0098:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
5. 2001:3756:0005:0000:ACAD:0000:0000:0025
__________________________________________________________________
6. 3FFF:FF00:0000:0000:ACAD:0025:0000:0127
__________________________________________________________________
7. 2001:ACAD:0000:ABCD:FFFF:0000:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
8. 3ABC:0001:ACAD:0000:0000:1234:0000:0005
__________________________________________________________________
9. FC00:0000:0000:0000:3E00:1275:0000:0034
__________________________________________________________________
10. FE95:FC6C:C540:0000:0000:0000:0000:9800
__________________________________________________________________
11. FF00:ACAD:0000:0000:1234:0000:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
9

Reverting Reduced Address Problems

The following addresses have been shorted using Rule1 and/or Rule 2. Expand them back to
their preferred format.
Sample: FF00:ACAD:ABCD:0:1234::1

FF00:ACAD:ABCD:0000:1234:0000:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
1. 2000::1
__________________________________________________________________
2. ::1
__________________________________________________________________
3. 2001:0:0:0:0:ABCD:0:127
__________________________________________________________________
4. 3E80:0070::0098:0000:0001
__________________________________________________________________
5. 2FFF:38:5:0:ACAD::5
__________________________________________________________________
6. 3FFF::ACAD:25:0:100
__________________________________________________________________
7. 2002:ACAD:0:1BCD:FFFF::4
__________________________________________________________________
8. 3FAA:0025:ACAD::ABCD:0000:0005
__________________________________________________________________
9. FFFF::4E00:1235:0:34
__________________________________________________________________
10. 3E01:6C:40::9800
__________________________________________________________________
10

IPv6 Address Categories

All IPv6 addresses fall into one of three categories

Unicast Unicast addresses identify a unique interface on an IPv6 device.

It is a one to one connection between a source and destination.
Examples of IPv6 Unicast addresses include:

Global Unicast Similar to a public IPv4 address

Can be used as a public address on the internet
Globally unique
Can be static or dynamic

Link-Local Only used on a local network link to uniquely identify a host

Not routable on the public internet
No router will forward a link-local address
Every IPv6 enabled networked device is required to have a link-local address
Multiple interfaces on the same device can have the same link-local address

Loopback - (::1/128)
Used by a host to ping itself to test the TCP/IP stack
It cannot be assigned to a physical interface

Unspecified Address - (::/128)

Is only used as a source address to indicate the absence of an actual address

Unique Local Unique local addresses are roughly the same as IPv4 private addresses

Embedded IPv4 Used to transition IPv4 networks into IPv6

Multicast Multicast addresses are used to send a single packet to multiple destinations simultaneously.

Anycast Anycast addresses are described as a one-to-nearest or one-to-one-of-many packet

delivery. For example, all routers in the same network will be assigned the same Anycast
address. A packet sent to that address will only be delivered to the closest router with that
address based on routing protocol metrics. Anycast addresses can be pulled from Global
Unicast, Site-Local, or Link-Local address ranges. The first address and the last 128
addresses in a /64 Global Unicast range are reserved as the Subnet-Router Anycast
Address.

There are no broadcast addresses in IPv6.

11

Global Unicast IPv6 Address

128 bits
64 bits

64 bits

48 bits

16 bits

Global Routing Prefix

Subnet ID

Interface ID

The first 3 bits will be 001 for a Global Unicast address.

The first hextet determines the type of address.

Global Routing Prefix This is assigned by the ISP to a customer or site.

The Global Routing Prefix is determined by the prefix-length notation. (example /48 or /64).
This is similar to the network portion of an IPv4 address.
Subnet ID This is similar to the subnet portion of an IPv4 address.
The difference is in IPv4 the subnet is borrowed from the host portion of the address.
In IPv6 the Subnet ID is a separate field (/48 to /64) and not necessarily part of the Interface ID.
Interface ID The Interface ID uniquely identifies a interface on the local subnet.

Subnet Prefix
The Subnet Prefix is the address space used by the Global Routing Prefix and the Subnet ID,
and can range from 0 to 128. The preferred Subnet Prefix length is /48 to /64 for customers or
sites.
Global Routing Prefix
Subnet Prefix

Subnet ID

Interface ID

/64

RFC 4291 recommends that the Interface-ID or host portion of your IPv6 address be 64 bits.
A minimum /64 prefix length is required to support Stateless Address Auto-configuration.

IPv6 Prefix Length vs IPv4 CIDR

In IPv4 the network portion of the IP address is indicated with a dotted-decimal subnet mask;
such as 255.255.255.0. It can also be identified with a CIDR (classless interdomain routing)
notation; such as /24.
IPv6 does not use either of these terms to indicate the network portion of an IPv6 address.
The network portion of the address is indicated with a Prefix Length at the end of the
address. While a /48 or /56 looks like a CIDR notation it is not a classless interdomain routing
notation. The prefix length indicates the number of nibbles or bits used in the network or
subnetwork portion of an IPv6 address.
12

Global Unicast Prefix Allocations

In 2001, RFC 3177 was written to provide recommendations for how IPv6 Global Unicast
addresses should be allocated to customers or Sites.
In particular, it recommends the assignment of /48 in the general case, /64
when it is known that one and only one subnet is needed and /128 when it
is absolutely known that one and only one device is connecting.
/128

One Device
/64

One Subnet
/48

Customer or Site

Global Routing Prefix

Subnet ID

Interface ID

A /48 prefix allows each customer or Site to have 1,208,925,819,614,629,174,706,176

addresses. These can be used as a single subnet, or up to 65,536 subnets with a /64 prefixlength.
The Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) adopted RTC 3177 recommendation in 2002, but
began reconsidering the policy in 2005. In March of 2011 RTC 6177 obsoleted RTC 3177
with a new recommendation.
The exact choice of how much address space to assign end sites is an
issue for the operational community.
This gives local ISPs more options when assigning IPv6 addresses to their customers or
Sites.
/64

Small / Home / SOHO Prefix (Single Subnet)

Small / Home / SOHO Prefix
/56

Medium End User Prefix

Large End User Prefix
ISP Prefix
RIR Prefix

/60

/48

/32

Notice that the /64 is still the

smallest recommended
subnet size.

/23

Global Routing Prefix / Subnet ID

Interface ID

Typical IPv6 Prefix Assignments:

PrefixLength
Subscribers
RIR
/23
Service Provider (*LIR) - /32
Large End User /48
Medium End User /56
Small / Home / SOHO - /60
Small / Home / SOHO - /64

*Local Internet registry

# of Subnets at /64
Total number of Possible Addresses
2,199,023,255,552 40,564,819,207,303,340,847,894,502,572,032
4,294,967,296
79,228,162,514,264,337,593,543,950,336
65,536
1,208,925,819,614,629,174,706,176
256
4,722,366,482,869,645,213,696
16
295,147,905,179,352,825,856
18,446,744,073,709,551,616
1

13

Subnetting on the Nibble Boundary

One of the design themes driving IPv6 was to keep subnetting as simple as possible. The
forth hextet is reserved for subnetting, giving network administrators multiple options for
developing a network plan. In order to keep IPv6 addressing as simple as possible it is a
Best Practice to subnet on the nibble boundary.
Every IPv6 address is comprised of 128 bits, which is represented with 32
hexadecimal numbers.
2001:ACAD:1234:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/48
Showing this address with 128 binary characters makes it difficult to read and almost
impossible for most people to work with.
0010000000000001:1010110010101101:0001001000110100:0000000000000000:
0000000000000000:0000000000000000:0000000000000000:0000000000000000
Each hexadecimal number in an IPv6 address represents 4 bits or a Nibble. An IPv6
address is composed of 32 hexadecimal numbers or 32 Nibbles.
2001:ACAD:1234:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/48
IPv6 can be subnetted just like IPv4 using individual binary bits. To keep subnetting as
simple as possible it is a Best Practice to borrow 4 bits, or one Nibble at a time.

Nibble Boundary Subnets

(Subnetting on the Nibble
Boundary)
Prefix
/48
/52
/56
/60
/64

# of /64 subnets
65,536
4096
256
16
1

It is a Best Practice to subnet

on the Nibble Boundary.

14

Subnets Based on
Individual Binary Bits
(Subnetting within a Nibble)
Prefix
# of /64
subnets
/48
/49
/50
/51
/52
/53
/54
/55
/56
/57
/58
/59
/60
/61
/62
/63
/64

65,536
32,768
16,384
8,192
4,096
2,048
1,024
512
256
128
64
32
16
8
4
2
1

Site ID and Sub-Site IDs

Subnetting on the nibble boundary allows you to easily set up proper route aggregation and
summarization to use for each subnet or location. It also allows for easier deployment of
firewalls based on location or network users. In order to do this you need to assign Site IDs
and Sub-Site IDs as necessary. The Site ID is the first address in the subnet you have
assigned to a specific location or user group. Sub-Site IDs come into play if you subnet a
location or user group into smaller subnets. The first address in each range becomes the
Sub-Site ID.
Subnetting on the Nibble boundary gives you these subnetting options.
/48
No Nibbles

/52
1 Nibble

/56
2 Nibbles

/60
3 Nibbles

/64
4 Nibbles

/48 - 1 Subnet
/52 - 16 Subnets

/52 - 1 Subnet

/56 - 256 Subnets

/56 - 16 Subnets

/56 - 1 Subnets

/60 - 4096 Subnets

/60 - 256 Subnets

/60 - 16 Subnets

/60 - 1 Subnets

/64 - 65,536 Subnets /64 - 4096 Subnets

/64 - 256 Subnets

/64 - 16 Subnets

/64 - 1 Subnet

As an example, your company has two offices, and within each office there are several groups you
want on separate subnets. The groups include: Infrastructure, Management, Marketing, Finance,
Research, Warehouse, and Sales.
Your ISP has assigned your company the IPv6 address 2001:ACAD:1234::/48. You will need one
Site ID for each office. A /52 Subnet Prefix will give you 16 subnets, or you could use a /56 Subnet
Prefix and have 256 subnets. For our purposes we ll use the /56 Subnet Prefix.
Our original IPv6 Range was: 2001:ACAD:1234::/48. Subnetting this address with a /56 Subnet
Prefix will take two nibbles from the Subnet ID and give you the following address ranges:
2001:ACAD:1234:0000::/56 Save this range for over all infrastructure needs.
2001:ACAD:1234:0100::/56 This becomes the Site ID for Office 1.
2001:ACAD:1234:0200::/56 This becomes the Site ID for Office 2.
2001:ACAD:1234:0300::/56
(Lots of subnets omitted )

2001:ACAD:1234:FF00::/56
Office 1 needs subnets for Infrastructure, Management, and Sales. Subnet the Site ID for Office 1
with a /60 Subnet Prefix.
2001:ACAD:1234:0100::/60 This becomes the Sub-Site ID for Infrastructure needs.
2001:ACAD:1234:0110::/60 This becomes the Sub-Site ID for Managment.
2001:ACAD:1234:0120::/60 This becomes the Sub-Site ID for Sales.
(Lots of subnets omitted )

2001:ACAD:1234:01F0::/60

15

Subnetting IPv6
48 bits

16 bits

64 bits

Global Routing Prefix

Subnet ID

Interface ID

Unlike IPv4 which requires you to borrow bits from the host portion, IPv6 has 16 bits or four
hexadecimal numbers built into the address specifically allocated for creating subnets. A /48
address will allow you to have a single subnet or up to 65,536 subnets.
Lets say that your ISP has assigned you the 2001:ACAD:1234::/48 IPv6 address.
Global Routing Prefix

Subnet
ID

Interface ID

2001:ACAD:1234:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000
Basic subnetting in IPv6 was designed to make subnetting a very simple process. Start at the
/64 bit and start counting up until youve used all the available bits in the subnet ID.
It really is that simple!
2001:ACAD:1234:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:0001:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:0002:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:0003:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:0004:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:0005:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:0006:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:0007:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:0008:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:0009:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:000A:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:000B:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:000C:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:000D:0000:0000:0000:000064
2001:ACAD:1234:000E:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:000F:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:0010:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:0011:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:0012:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:0013:0000:0000:0000:0000/64

1st subnet
2nd subnet
3rd subnet
4th subnet
5th subnet
6th subnet
7th subnet
8th subnet
9th subnet
10th subnet
11th subnet
12th subnet
13th subnet
14th subnet
15th subnet
16th subnet
17th subnet
18th subnet
19th subnet
20th subnet

(Lots of subnets omitted for space.)

2001:ACAD:1234:FFFC:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:FFFD:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:FFFE:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:FFFF:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
16

65,533rd subnet
65,534th subnet
65,535th subnet
65,536th subnet

Each subnet
contains over
18 quintillion
addresses.

A Medium End user might receive a /56 IPv6 address from their ISP.
Global Routing Prefix

Subnet
ID

Interface ID

2001:ACAD:1234:1200:0000:0000:0000:0000
2001:ACAD:1234:1200:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:1201:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:1202:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:1203:0000:0000:0000:0000/64

1st subnet
2nd subnet
3rd subnet
4th subnet

(Lots of subnets omitted for space.)

2001:ACAD:1234:12FD:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:12FE:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:12FF:0000:0000:0000:0000/64

Each subnet
contains over
18 quintillion
addresses.

254th subnet
255th subnet
256th subnet

A Small End user might receive a /60 IPv6 address from their ISP.
Global Routing Prefix

Subnet
ID

Interface ID

2001:ACAD:1234:1230:0000:0000:0000:0000
2001:ACAD:1234:1230:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:1231:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:1232:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:1233:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:1234:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:1235:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:1236:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:1237:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:1238:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:1239:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:123A:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:123B:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:123C:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:123D:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:123E:0000:0000:0000:0000/64
2001:ACAD:1234:123F:0000:0000:0000:0000/64

1st subnet
2nd subnet
3rd subnet
4th subnet
5th subnet
6th subnet
7th subnet
8th subnet
9th subnet
10th subnet
11th subnet
12th subnet
13th subnet
14th subnet
15th subnet
16th subnet

Each subnet
contains over
18 quintillion
addresses.

A Home or single Site might receive a /64 IPv6 address from their ISP.
Global Routing Prefix

Interface ID

2001:ACAD:1234:1234:0000:0000:0000:0000
2001:ACAD:1234:1234:0000:0000:0000:0000/64

1 subnet Over 18 quintillion addresses

17

Common Prefixs and Number of Subnets

Using the Subnet ID, the common Subnet Prefixs available from your ISP are /48,
/52, /56, /60, and /64. The ISP could assign a lower Prefix Length, but most business
will not need more than 65,536 subnets per Site.
The commonly available /64 subnets are:
/48
/52
/56
/60
/64

65,536 subnets
4096 subnets
256 subnets
16 subnets
1 subnet

Notice that the Subnet ID

always changes by four even
though were only using a single
hexadecimal character.
Each hexadecimal character
equals 4 binary numbers.
(/48, /52, /56, /60, /64)

Each /64 subnet contains over 18 quintillion addresses.

With IPv4 the main concern was using the fewest possible number of addresses
through creative subnetting.
The primary concern with IPv6 is making sure you have a prefix length that will cover
all the subnets your Site will require and allow for future growth.

Basic Subneting Problems

Sample Problem
Your ISP has given you the IPv6 address 2001:FE12:A231::/48.
How many /64 subnets are available with this address?
What are the first six /64 subnets?

2001:FE12:A231::/64
2001:FE12:A231:1::/64
2001:FE12:A231:2::/64
2001:FE12:A231:3::/64
2001:FE12:A231:4::/64
2001:FE12:A231:5::/64
18

65,536

Problem 1
Your ISP has given you the IPv6 address 2000:ACAD:1234:6600::/56.
How many /64 subnets are available with this address?
What are the first four /64 subnets?

What are the last two /64 subnets in this range?

Problem 2
Your ISP has given you the IPv6 address 3FFF:5801:DEAF::/48.
How many /64 subnets are available with this address?
What are the first four /64 subnets?

What are the last two /64 subnets in this range?

19

Problem 3
Your ISP has given you the IPv6 address 2001:ACAD:5678:1840::/60.
How many /64 subnets are available with this address?
Complete the /64 subnets in this range. (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)

2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:
2001:ACAD:5678:

20

Problem 4
Your ISP has given you the IPv6 address 3100:6523:AD14:8000::/52.
How many /64 subnets are available with this address?
What are the first four /64 subnets? (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)

3100:6523:AD14:
3100:6523:AD14:
3100:6523:AD14:
3100:6523:AD14:
What are the last two /64 subnets in this range?

3100:6523:AD14:
3100:6523:AD14:
Problem 5
Your ISP has given you the IPv6 address 2100:89:4500::/48.
How many /64 subnets are available with this address?
What are the first four /64 subnets? (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)

2100:89:4500:
2100:89:4500:
2100:89:4500:
2100:89:4500:
What are the last two /64 subnets in this range?

2100:89:4500:
2100:89:4500:
21

IPv6 Subnetting Best Practices

IPv6 was designed to make subnetting as simple as possible by using ridiculously
large blocks of addresses. Yes, its wasteful! Most experts agree that IPv6 will last for 100
years and IP will be replaced before we run out of IPv6 address space.
So until the rules and/or the consensus of the experts change, these are the common subnets
and best practices you will be working with. Information for subnets can be found in RFC &
RTC documents, plus some additional resources listed in the Reference section of this
workbook.

The common /64 subnets are:

You can negotiate with your ISP for a larger block
/48
65,536 subnets
/52
4096 subnets
/56
256 subnets
/60
16 subnets
/64
1 subnet

Specific Address Rules and Best Practices:

Point-To-Point Connections Best Practice: Use a /64 address range for these two addresses.
In rare cases this approach might present an issue with certain router setups where
addresses are bounced back and forth between routers. Reducing the number of
addresses in the range can also help avoid neighbor cache exhaustion attacks.
(RFC 6164 - section 5)
Acceptable options include:
/127 -is recommended in RFC 6164. You must disable the routers Subnet-Router
Anycast option to avoid issues with the all routers anycast address.
/126 -is discussed in RFC 2526. The /126 allows the all-zero reserved Anycast
address to be avoided.
/120 - allows all the reserved anycast address to be avoided.
/112 - allows you to avoid the reserved anycast address, and gives you the entire
four-digit hex value after the last colon.
Of all these options the /120 is probably the best choice since it avoids any
issues with the Anycast addresses.
It is recommended that you reserve the entire /64 network with each of the above
options.
22

/128 Single Address Subnets Best Practice: reserve the first subnet to use for infrastructure needs, such as
loopback addresses, etc..
Acceptable option:
Allocate a full /64 range of addresses for each loopback address, but assign it a /128
subnet Prefix.

Anycast addresses Best Practice: Dont use the very first address or the last 128 addresses in any /64
network. These can only be assigned to an interface as an Anycast address.
Anycast addresses can be pulled from Global Unicast, Site-Local or Link-Local
address ranges. Any address assigned to more than one interface on a subnet
becomes an Anycast address. Anycast addresses can only be used by network
devices, not a host. No anycast address can be used as the source address of an IPv6
packet.
The first address in every /64 subnet range is reserved for special use. The Interface ID
is all zeros. (Example: 2001:ACAD:1234:5678:0000:0000:0000:0000/64) This address is the
Subnet-Anycast Address. These addresses are typically used by different protocols
such as Mobile IPv6. (RFC 4291)
The last eight bits in every /64 subnet range are reserved for Anycast addresses.
These bits are 10000000 to 11111111. This means you can not assign any
addresses if the last hextet falls between FF80 and FFFF unless it is a Anycast
address. (RFC 2526)
If you try to apply the last 128 addresses to a router without setting them up as an
Anycast address you will get the following error message.
Router(config-if)#ipv6 address 2001:ACAD:1234:5678:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF/64
% 2001:DB8:1:1:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF/64 should not be configured on FastEthernet0/0, a reserved anycast

23

Developing an Address Plan

(or IPv6 Subnetting in the Real World)
There is no one right way for developing an IPv6 addressing plan, but the recommended
general guidelines include the following:

Step 1:

Decide how you are going to divide your network:

a. by location
b. by user groups
U N IV ERS ITY

Administration

Academic

Dormitory

Users Include:
Administration
Staff

Users Include:
Staff
Students

Users Include:
Staff
Students

Subnetting by Location:
To divide by location you would need four subnets. One for each building and
one for the overall network infrastructure needs. You also need to hold several
extra subnets in reserve for later growth.
Advantages:
This allows you to optimize your routing tables. All the networks within each
location will aggregate to a single route.
Subnetting by User Groups:
To subnet the network by user groups you would need four subnets. One for
Administration, Staff, and Students, plus one for overall network infrastructure
needs.You also need to hold several extra subnets in reserve for later growth.
Advantages:
Subnetting by user groups makes it much easier to implement a security policy.
Grouping by usage also helps track addresses for allocation and management.
Best Practice:
Subnetting by either location or user is acceptable. However, with the emphasis
on network security, most networks are better served by subnetting user groups.
It makes it much easier to maintain a higher level of security.

24

Step 2:

Determine how many primary and secondary subnets your Site will need.
a. Create the primary subnets first.
b. Then create secondary subnets.
Subnetting by Location:
Primary Subnets:
Quantity 4
With three buildings you will need four primary subnets. One for each
building and one for the overall infrastructure needs.
Secondary Subnets: Quantity 6
Administration will need two secondary subnets: Administration and Staff.
Academic will need two secondary subnets: Staff and Students.
Dormitory will need two secondary subnets: Staff and Students.
MDF (Network Infrastructure)
Main Distribution Facility

Primary
Subnets
Secondary
Subnets
Administration

Staff

Administration

Staff

Students

Students

Academic

Staff

Dormitory

Subnetting by User Groups:

Primary Subnets:
Quantity 4
With three user groups you will need four subnets. One for each group and
one for the overall infrastructure needs.

MDF (network Infrastructure)

Main Distribution Facility

Primary
Subnets

Administration

Staff

Administration
Building

Staff

Students Students

Academic
Building

Staff

Dormitory
Building
25

Step 3:

Based on the number of primary and secondary subnets needed assign the
address ranges. The ISP has assigned you 2001:ACAD:1234::/48.

Subnetting Options:
/48
No Nibbles

/52
1 Nibble

/56
2 Nibbles

/60
3 Nibbles

/64
4 Nibbles

/48 - 1 Subnet
/52 - 16 Subnets

/52 - 1 Subnet

/56 - 256 Subnets

/56 - 16 Subnets

/56 - 1 Subnets

/60 - 4096 Subnets /60 - 256 Subnets

/60 - 16 Subnets

/60 - 1 Subnets

/64 - 65,536 Subnets /64 - 4096 Subnets /64 - 256 Subnets

/64 - 16 Subnets

/64 - 1 Subnet

Subnetting by Location:
Primary Subnets:
Quantity 4
With three buildings you will need four primary subnets. One for each building
and one for the overall infrastructure needs.
Secondary Subnets: Quantity 6
Administration will need two secondary subnets: Administration and Staff.
Academic will need two secondary subnets: Staff and Students.
Dormitory will need two secondary subnets: Staff and Studewnts.
Take the addresses assigned to you by the ISP use one nibble and subnet it into
16 subnets using a /52 Subnet Prefix. This will give you the 4 primary subnets
required with several to spare for future growth.
2001:ACAD:1234::/48 becomes:
P
P
P
P
P

2001:ACAD:1234:::/52
Site ID for over all infrastructure needs.
2001:ACAD:1234::1000:/52
Site ID for the Administration Building.
2001:ACAD:1234::2000:/52
Site ID for the Academic Building.
2001:ACAD:1234::3000:/52
Site ID for the Dormitory.
2001:ACAD:1234::4000:/52
(Subnets omitted for space.)

2001:ACAD:1234::F000:/52
Site IDs and Sub-Site IDs will be the addresses found in the routing tables.

26

Take the second, third, and forth ranges and subnet them again by using the next
Nibble with a /56 Subnet Prefix. This will create 16 subnets for each location.
Administration Building Site ID 2001:ACAD:1234:1000::/52 becomes:
P

2001:ACAD:1234:1000::/52
Administration Building Site ID
S1 2001:ACAD:1234::1000:/56
Sub-Site ID for infrastructure needs.
Sub-Site ID for Administration
S1 2001:ACAD:1234::1100:/56
S1 2001:ACAD:1234::1200:/56
Sub-Site ID for Staff
Academic Building Site ID 2001:ACAD:1234:2000::/52 becomes:

2001:ACAD:1234:2000::/52
Academic Building Site ID
S1 2001:ACAD:1234:2000::/56
Sub-Site ID for infrastructure needs.
S1 2001:ACAD:1234:2100::/56
Sub-Site ID for Students
S1 2001:ACAD:1234:2200::/56
Sub-Site ID for Staff
Dormitory Building Site ID 2001:ACAD:1234:3000::/52 becomes:

2001:ACAD:1234:3000::/52
Dormitory Building Site ID
S1 2001:ACAD:1234:3000::/56
Sub-Site ID for infrastructure needs.
S1 2001:ACAD:1234:3100::/56
Sub-Site ID for Students
S1 2001:ACAD:1234:3200::/56
Sub-Site ID for Staff

Subnetting by User Group:

Primary Subnets:
Quantity 4
With three user groups you will need four primary subnets. One for each group
and one for the overall infrastructure needs. In this example no secondary
subnets are required.
Take the address assigned to you by the ISP use one nibble and subnet it into
16 subnets using a /52 Subnet Prefix. This will give you the 4 primary subnets
required with several to spare for future growth.
2001:ACAD:1234::/48 becomes:
P
P
P
P
P

2001:ACAD:1234::/52
2001:ACAD:1234:1000::/52
2001:ACAD:1234:2000::/52
2001:ACAD:1234:3000::/52
2001:ACAD:1234:4000::/52

Site ID for over all infrastructure needs.

Site ID for the Administration employees.
Site ID for the Staff.
Site ID for the Students.

(Subnets omitted for space.)

P

2001:ACAD:1234:F000::/52
27

IPv6 Subnetting Problems

Subnetting on the Nibble Boundary
Sample Problem 1
Using the minimum number of subnets required for the primary and secondary sites,
design two IPv6 address plans that meets the following requirements. Create one plan for user
groups and a second plan for location.
A coffee shop is opening three new stores and a central office/warehouse in your community
and needs an IPv6 network plan developed. Each store will need secure network access for
three groups: managers, the registers (which will monitor inventory and revenue), and wireless
access for guests. The central office/warehouse will need secure network access for several
departments: Managers, Finance, Human Relations.
The ISP has given the company 2000:FE23:0054::/48.

Central Office
Users Include:
Mangers
Finance
Human Relations

Store 1
Users Include:
Mangers
Registers
Wireless

Store 2
Users Include:
Mangers
Registers
Wireless

Store 3
Users Include:
Mangers
Registers
Wireless

Subnets Based on User Groups

ISP Address: 2000:FE23:0054::/48
P

Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

2000:FE23:0054::/52

Managers Site ID: __________________________________________________________

1 000::/52
2000:FE23:0054:1

2 000::/52
2000:FE23:0054:2
Finance Site ID: __________________________________________________________

3 000::/52
2000:FE23:0054:3
Human Relations Site ID: _____________________________________________________

4 000::/52
2000:FE23:0054:4
Registers Site ID: __________________________________________________________

5 000::/52
2000:FE23:0054:5
Wireless Site ID: ___________________________________________________________

28

Subnets Based on Location

ISP Address: 2000:FE23:0054::/48
P

2000:FE23:0054::/52
Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

1 000::/52
2000:FE23:0054:1
Central Office Site ID: ______________________________________________________

S1

10
2000:FE23:0054:10
1000::/56
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

11
2000:FE23:0054:11
1100::/56
Managers Sub-Site ID: ________________________________________________

S1

12
2000:FE23:0054:12
1200::/56
Finance Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________________

S1

13
2000:FE23:0054:13
1300::/56
Human Relations Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________

2 000::/52
2000:FE23:0054:2
Store 1 Site ID: ___________________________________________________________
S1

20
2000:FE23:0054:20
2000::/56
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

21
2000:FE23:0054:21
2100::/56
Managers Sub-Site ID: ________________________________________________

S1

22
2000:FE23:0054:22
2200::/56
Registers Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________________

S1

23
2000:FE23:0054:23
2300::/56
Wireless Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________________

3 000::/52
2000:FE23:0054:3
Store 2 Site ID: ____________________________________________________
S1

30
2000:FE23:0054:30
3000::/56
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

31
2000:FE23:0054:31
3100::/56
Managers Sub-Site ID: ________________________________________________

S1

32
2000:FE23:0054:32
3200::/56
Registers Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________________

S1

33
2000:FE23:0054:33
3300::/56
Wireless Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________________

4 000::/52
2000:FE23:0054:4
Store 3 Site ID: __________________________________________________________
S1

40
4000::/56
2000:FE23:0054:40
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

41
4100::/56
2000:FE23:0054:41
Managers Sub-Site ID: ________________________________________________

S1

42
4200::/56
2000:FE23:0054:42
Registers Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________________

S1

43
4300::/56
2000:FE23:0054:43
Wireless Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________________
29

IPv6 Subnetting Problems

Subnetting on the Nibble Boundary
Sample Problem 2
Using the minimum number of subnets required for the primary and secondary sites,
design two IPv6 address plans that meets the following requirements. Create one plan for user
groups and a second plan for location.
A Medical Building is opening in your community and needs an IPv6 network plan developed.
The ISP has given the company 2001:5378:8801::/48.

Medical Building

First Floor
Patient Check-in
Emergancy Room

Second Floor
Nurses Station
Ward A

Users Include:
Administrators
Staff
Guests

Users Include:
Staff
Guests

Subnets Based on User Groups

ISP Address: 2001:5378:8801::/48
P

Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

2001:5378:8801::/52

Administrators Site ID: ________________________________________________________

1 000::/52
2001:5378:8801:1

Staff Site ID: ______________________________________________________________

2 000::/52
2001:5378:8801:2

Guests Site ID: ____________________________________________________________

3 000::/52
2001:5378:8801:3

30

Subnets Based on Location

ISP Address: 2001:5378:8801::/48
P

2001:5378:8801::/52
Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

First Floor Site ID: _________________________________________________________

2001:5378:8801:1
1 000::/52

S1

S1

S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

10
2001:5378:8801:10
1000::/56

11
2001:5378:8801:11
1100::/56
Patient Check-in Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________
S2

110
2001:5378:8801:110
1100::/60
Administrators Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________

S2

111
2001:5378:8801:111
1110::/60
Staff Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

S2

112
1120::/60
2001:5378:8801:112
Guest Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

12
1200::/56
Emergency Room Sub-Site ID:2001:5378:8801:12
__________________________________________
S2

120
1200::/60
2001:5378:8801:120
Administrators Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________

S2

121
1210::/60
2001:5378:8801:121
Staff Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

S2

122
1220::/60
2001:5378:8801:122
Guest Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

2 000::/52
2001:5378:8801:2
Second Floor Site ID: _______________________________________________________
S1

20
2000::/56
2001:5378:8801:20
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

21
Nurses Station Sub-Site ID: _____________________________________________

S1

21
2100::/56
2001:5378:8801:21

210
2100::/60
2001:5378:8801:210

S2

210
Staff Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

S2

211
Guest Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

211
2001:5378:8801:211
2110::/60

22
2001:5378:8801:22
2200::/56

22
Ward A Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________________
S2

S2

220
2001:5378:8801:220
2200::/60

220
Staff Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

221
2001:5378:8801:221
2210::/60

221
Guest Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

31

IPv6 Subnetting Problems

Subnetting on the Nibble Boundary
Problem 1
Using the minimum number of subnets required for the primary and secondary sites design
two IPv6 address plans that meets the following requirements. Create one plan for location
and the second plan for user groups.
The XYZ Film company is setting up a new office and needs an IPv6 network plan developed.
The company will have the following departments:
The ISP has given the company 2001:EE00:2575::/48.
Administration Building

Production Building

Users Include:
Sales
Accounting
Distribution

Users Include:
Casting
Editing

Subnets Based on User Groups

ISP Address: 2001:EE00:2575::/48
P

Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

Sales Site ID: _____________________________________________________________

Accounting Site ID: ________________________________________________________

Distribution Site ID: _________________________________________________________

Casting Site ID: ________________________________________________________

Editing Site ID: _________________________________________________________

32

Subnets Based on Location

ISP Address: 2001:EE00:2575::/48
P

Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

Administration Site ID: ______________________________________________________

S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

Sales Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________________

S1

Accounting Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

S1

Distribution Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

Production Site ID: ______________________________________________________

S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

Casting Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________________

S1

Editing Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________________

33

IPv6 Subnetting Problems

Subnetting on the Nibble Boundary
Problem 2
Using the minimum number of subnets required for the primary and secondary sites design
two IPv6 address plans that meets the following requirements. Create one plan for user groups
and a second plan for location.
A new medical supply company is opening and needs an IPv6 network plan developed. The
company has three buildings and will include the following user groups:
The ISP has given the company 3F01:ABCD:8875::/48.
Building 1

Building 2

Users Include:
Management
Sales

Users Include:
Management
Human Resources

Building 3
Users Include:
Management
Warehouse

Subnets Based on User Groups

ISP Address: 3F01:ABCD:8875::/48
P

Infastructure Site ID: _________________________________________________________

Management Site ID: _________________________________________________________

Sales Site ID: _____________________________________________________________

Human Resources Site ID: _____________________________________________________

Warehouse Site ID: ________________________________________________________

34

Subnets Based on Location

ISP Address: 3F01:ABCD:8875::/48
P

Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

Building 1 Site ID: _________________________________________________________

S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

Management Sub-Site ID: _____________________________________________

S1

Sales Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________________

Building 2 Site ID: _________________________________________________________

S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

Management Sub-Site ID: _____________________________________________

S1

Human Resources Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________

Building 2 Site ID: _________________________________________________________

S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

Management Sub-Site ID: _____________________________________________

S1

Warehouse Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

35

IPv6 Subnetting Problems

Subnetting on the Nibble Boundary
Problem 3
Using the minimum number of subnets required for the primary and secondary sites design
two IPv6 address plans that meets the following requirements. Create one plan for user groups
and a second plan for location.
A paper supply company needs an IPv6 network plan developed. The company has two
buildings and will include the following user groups and sub-user groups:
The ISP has given the company 2001:CA21:9000::/48.
Building A

Building B

Management Groups
Human Resources
Sales:
Wholesale
Retail

Production Groups
Warehouse
Shipping:
Domestic
Worldwide

Subnets Based on User Groups

ISP Address: 2001:CA21:9000::/48 (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)
P

Infrastructure Site ID: ________________________________________________________

2001:CA21:9000:
Management Groups Site ID: 2001:CA21:9000:
________________________________________________
S1

2001:CA21:9000:
HR Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________________

S1

2001:CA21:9000:
Sales Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________________
S2

2001:CA21:9000:
Wholesale Sub- Site ID: ____________________________________________

S2

2001:CA21:9000:
Retail Sub- Site ID: ______________________________________________

2001:CA21:9000:
Production Groups Site ID: ___________________________________________________

36

S1

2001:CA21:9000:
Warehouse Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________________

S1

2001:CA21:9000:
Shipping Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________________
S2

2001:CA21:9000:
Domestic Sub-Site ID: ____________________________________________

S2

2001:CA21:9000:
Worldwide Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________

Subnets Based on Location

ISP Address: 2001:CA21:9000::/48 (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)
P

2001:CA21:9000:
Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

2001:CA21:9000:
Building A Site ID: _________________________________________________________

S1

2001:CA21:9000:
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

2001:CA21:9000:
HR Sub-Site ID: _____________________________________________________

S1

2001:CA21:9000:
Sales Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________________
S2

2001:CA21:9000:
Wholesale Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________

S2

2001:CA21:9000:
Retail Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________

2001:CA21:9000:
Building B Site ID: _________________________________________________________
S1

2001:CA21:9000:
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

2001:CA21:9000:
Warehouse Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

S1

Shipping Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________________

2001:CA21:9000:
S2

Domestic Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________

2001:CA21:9000:

S2

Worldwide Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________

2001:CA21:9000:

37

IPv6 Subnetting Problems

Subnetting on the Nibble Boundary
Problem 4
Using the minimum number of subnets required for the primary and secondary sites design
two IPv6 address plans that meets the following requirements. Create one plan for location
and the second plan for user groups.
A company is setting up a new server farm and needs an IPv6 network plan developed. The
Core Router and the direct connections with layer 3 switches will pull their IPv6 addresses from
the Infrastructure Site ID range.
The ISP has given the company 2000:ACAD:1145::/48.

Office A

Office B

Layer 3 Switch

Layer 3 Switch

Managment

Wireless

Managment

Production

Wireless

User Include:
Administration
Finance

User Include:
Guest
Access
Marketing

User Include: User Include: User Include:

Administration Administration Guest Access
Bookkeeping

Subnets Based on User Groups

P

ISP Address: 2000:ACAD:1145::/48 (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)

Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:

Administration Site ID: ________________________________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:

Finance Site ID: ___________________________________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:

Guest Access Site ID: ________________________________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:

Marketing Site ID: ___________________________________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:

Bookkeeping Site ID: _________________________________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:

38

Subnets Based on Location

ISP Address: 2000:ACAD:1145::/48 (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)
P

Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:

Office A Site ID: ___________________________________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:
S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:

S1

Management Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:

S1

S2

Administration Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:

S2

Finance Sub-Site ID: ____________________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:

Wireless Access Sub-Site ID: 2000:ACAD:1145:

___________________________________________
S2

2000:ACAD:1145:
Guest Access Sub-Site ID: ________________________________________

S2

2000:ACAD:1145:
Marketing Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:
Office B Site ID: ___________________________________________________________
S1

2000:ACAD:1145:
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

2000:ACAD:1145:
Management Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________
S2

S1

S1

2000:ACAD:1145:
Administration Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________

2000:ACAD:1145:
Production Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________
S2

2000:ACAD:1145:
Administration Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________

S2

2000:ACAD:1145:
Bookkeeping Sub-Site ID: ________________________________________

Wireless Access Sub-Site ID: 2000:ACAD:1145:

___________________________________________
S2

2000:ACAD:1145:
Guest Access Sub-Site ID: ________________________________________

39

IPv6 Subnetting Problems

Subnetting on the Nibble Boundary
Problem 5
Using the minimum number of subnets required for the primary and secondary sites design
two IPv6 address plans that meets the following requirements. Create one plan for user groups
and a second plan for location.
The company has multiple floors in a high rise building and will include the following user
groups and sub-user groups:
The ISP has given the company 3F01:AA07:3907::/48.
33rd Floor

34th Floor

Manufacturing Groups
Marketing
Inventory
Shipping

Admin Groups
Human Resources (HR):
Hiring
Benifits
Financial:
Purchasing
Sales

Subnets Based on User Groups

P

ISP Address: 3F01:AA07:3907::/48 (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)

3F01:AA07:3907:
Infrastructure Site ID: ________________________________________________________

1
Manufacturing Groups Site ID:3F01:AA07:3907:1
__________________________________________________

S1

3F01:AA07:3907:
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

S1

3F01:AA07:3907:
Marketing Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________________

S1

3F01:AA07:3907:
Inventory Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________________

S1

3F01:AA07:3907:
Shipping Sub- Site ID: _________________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:
Admin Groups Site ID: _______________________________________________________

40

S1

3F01:AA07:3907:
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

S1

3F01:AA07:3907:
HR Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________________
S2

3F01:AA07:3907:
Hiring Sub-Site ID: ________________________________________________

S2

3F01:AA07:3907:
Benfits Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

3F01:AA07:3907:
Financial Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________________
S2

3F01:AA07:3907:
Purchasing Sub-Site ID: ____________________________________________

S2

3F01:AA07:3907:
Sales Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

Subnets Based on Location

ISP Address: 3F01:AA07:3907::/48 (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)
P

Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:

33rd Floor Site ID: _________________________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:

S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:

S1

Manufacturing Groups Sub- Site ID: 3F01:AA07:3907:

_______________________________________
S2

Marketing Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:

S2

Inventory Sub-Site ID: ____________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:

S2

Shipping Sub- Site ID: ___________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:

34th Floor Site ID: _________________________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:
S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:

S1

Admin Groups Sub-Site ID: ____________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:
S2

S2

HR Sub-Site ID: ________________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:
S3

Hiring Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:

S3

Benefits Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:

Financial Sub-Site ID: ____________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:
S3

Purchasing Sub-Site ID: 3F01:AA07:3907:

_____________________________________

S3

Sales Sub-SiteID: _________________________________________

3F01:AA07:3907:
41

IPv6 Subnetting Problems

Subnetting on the Nibble Boundary
Problem 6
Using the minimum number of subnets required for the primary and secondary sites design
two IPv6 address plans that meets the following requirements. Create one plan for location
and the second plan for user groups.
This medium sized company will include the following user groups and sub-user groups:
The ISP has given the company 2001:0:17::/52
Management

Finance

Marketing Department

Users Include:
Laboratory
Administrators
Staff

Users Include:
Staff

Users Include:
Advertising:
Radio
TV
Web
Sales:
Retail
Wholesale

Subnets Based on User Groups

P

ISP Address: 2001:0:17::/52 (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)

Infrastructure Site ID: ________________________________________________________

2001:0:17:

Administrators Site ID: ________________________________________________________

2001:0:17:

Staff Site ID: ______________________________________________________________

2001:0:17:

Advertising Site ID: _________________________________________________________

2001:0:17:

S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

2001:0:17:

S1

Radio Sub-Site ID: ____________________________________________________

2001:0:17:

S1

TV Sub- Site ID: ______________________________________________________

2001:0:17:

S1

Web Sub- Site ID: ______________________________________________________

2001:0:17:

Sales Site ID: _____________________________________________________________

2001:0:17:

42

S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

2001:0:17:

S1

Retail Sub-Site ID: ____________________________________________________

2001:0:17:

S1

Wholesale Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________________

2001:0:17:

Subnets Based on Location

P

ISP Address: 2001:0:17::/52 (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)

2001:0:17:
Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

2001:0:17:
Management Site ID: _______________________________________________________

S1

2001:0:17:
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

Administrators Sub-Site ID: 2001:0:17:

_____________________________________________

S1

2001:0:17:
Staff Sub- Site ID: ____________________________________________________

2001:0:17:
Finance Site ID: ___________________________________________________________
S1

2001:0:17:
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

2001:0:17:
Staff Sub-Site ID: _____________________________________________________

2001:0:17:
Marketing Dept Site ID: _____________________________________________________
S1

2001:0:17:
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

2001:0:17:
Advertising Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

S1

S2

2001:0:17:
Radio Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S2

2001:0:17:
TV Sub-Site ID: ________________________________________________

S2

2001:0:17:
Web Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

2001:0:17:
Sales Sub-Site ID: ____________________________________________________
S2

2001:0:17:
Retail Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S2

2001:0:17:
Wholesale Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________

43

IPv6 Subnetting Problems

Subnetting on the Nibble Boundary
Problem 7
Using the minimum number of subnets required for the primary and secondary sites design
two IPv6 address plans that meets the following requirements. Create one plan for location
and the second plan for user groups.
This medium sized company is setting up a new IPv6 addressing plan which will include the
following user groups and sub-user groups:
The ISP has given the company 3F00:3589:0:5000:/52
Office A

Office B

Office C

Users Include:
Management
Human Relations (HR):
Record Keeping
Insurance

Users Include:
Management
Finance:
Sales

Users Include:
Management
Purchasing:
Inventory
Distribution

Subnets Based on User Groups

ISP Address: 3F00:3589:0:5000:/52 (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)
P

3F00:3589:0:
Infrastructure Site ID: ________________________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:
Management Site ID: ________________________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:
HR Site ID: _______________________________________________________________

S1

3F00:3589:0:
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

S1

Record Keeping Sub-Site ID: 3F00:3589:0:

_____________________________________________

S1

3F00:3589:0:
Insurance Site ID: ______________________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:
Finance Site ID: _____________________________________________________________
S1

3F00:3589:0:
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

S1

3F00:3589:0:
Sales Sub-Site ID: ____________________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:
Purchasing Sub-Site ID: _____________________________________________________

44

S1

3F00:3589:0:
Inventory Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________________

S1

3F00:3589:0:
Distribution Sub-Site ID: ________________________________________________

Subnets Based on Location

ISP Address: 3F00:3589:0:5000:/52 (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)
P

Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:

Office A Site ID: ___________________________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:

S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:

S1

Management Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:

S1

HR Sub- Site ID: _____________________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:
S2

Record Keeping Sub-Site ID:3F00:3589:0:

______________________________________

S2

Insurance Sub-Site ID: ___________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:

Office B Site ID: ___________________________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:
S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:

S1

Management Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:

S1

Finance Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:
S2

Sales Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:

Office C Site ID: ___________________________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:
S1

Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:

S1

Management Sub-Site ID: _____________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:

S1

Purchasing Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:
S2

Inventory Sub-Site ID: ____________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:

S2

Distribution Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________

3F00:3589:0:

45

IPv6 Subnetting Problems

Subnetting on the Nibble Boundary
Problem 8
Using the minimum number of subnets required for the primary and secondary sites design
two IPv6 address plans that meets the following requirements. Create one plan for location
and the second plan for user groups.
A Health Care facility is upgrading their network to IPv6 and will include the following user
groups and sub-user groups:
The ISP has given the company 2000:2531:FE00::/48.
Emergency

Admissions

Patient Wards

Users Include:
Nurses/Staff
Laboratory
Obstetrics
Pediactric

Users Include:
Nurses/Staff
Records

Users Include:
Ward A:
Nurses/Staff
Guest WIFI
Ward B:
Nurses/Staff
Guest WIFI

Subnets Based on User Groups

ISP Address: 2000:2531:FE00::/48 (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)
P

2000:2531:FE00:
Infrastructure Site ID: ________________________________________________________

2000:2531:FE00:
Nurses/Staff Site ID: ________________________________________________________

2000:2531:FE00:
Laboratory Site ID: ___________________________________________________________

2000:2531:FE00:
Obstetrics Site ID: __________________________________________________________

2000:2531:FE00:
Pediatric Site ID: __________________________________________________________

2000:2531:FE00:
Records Site ID: ___________________________________________________________

2000:2531:FE00:
Guest WIFI Site ID: _________________________________________________________

46

Subnets Based on Location

ISP Address: 2000:2531:FE00::/48 (The ISPs Global Routing Prefix is already printed for you.)
P

2000:2531:FE00:
Infrastructure Site ID: _______________________________________________________

2000:2531:FE00:
Emergency Site ID: ________________________________________________________

S1

2000:2531:FE00:
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

2000:2531:FE00:
Nurses/Staff Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

S1

2000:2531:FE00:
Laboratory Sub-Site ID: ________________________________________________

S1

2000:2531:FE00:
Obstetrics Sub-Site ID: ________________________________________________

S1

2000:2531:FE00:
Pediatric Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________________

2000:2531:FE00:
Admissions Site ID: ________________________________________________________
S1

2000:2531:FE00:
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

2000:2531:FE00:
Nurses/Staff Sub-Site ID: _______________________________________________

S1

2000:2531:FE00:
Records Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________________

2000:2531:FE00:
Patient Wards Site ID: ______________________________________________________
S1

2000:2531:FE00:
Infrastructure Sub-Site ID: ______________________________________________

S1

2000:2531:FE00:
Ward A Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________________

S1

S2

2000:2531:FE00:
Nurses/Staff Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________

S2

2000:2531:FE00:
Guest WIFI Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________

2000:2531:FE00:
Ward B Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________________
S2

2000:2531:FE00:
Nurses/Staff Sub-Site ID: _________________________________________

S2

2000:2531:FE00:
Guest WIFI Sub-Site ID: __________________________________________

47

Subnetting Within a Nibble

It is a Best Practice to subnet on the Nibble Boundary. However, subnetting within a Nibble is
an acceptable practice. It tends to make subnetting, implementation, and troubleshooting
more difficult.

Subnet ID Break Down

2001:ACAD:1234:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000/48
Hexadecimal
/48

/52 /56 /60 /64

D:1234:0000:0000:00
Number of /64
Subnets

65,536

256
4096

Binary
/48 /49 /50 /51 /52

1
16

/53 /54 /55 /56

/57 /58 /59 /60

/61 /62 /63 /64

0:0000 0000 0000 0000:00

65,536

16,384
32,768

48

4096

8,192

1,024
2,048

512

64

256
128

16
32

1
2

Number of
/64 Subnets

Subnetting Beyond the /64 Boundary

What happens if you need more subnets than the 16 bit Subnet Prefix will allow? Or your IPv4
address conservatism kicks in and you decide that using a /64 Global Routing Prefix with over 18
quintillion addresses for a single point-to-point serial connection is more than you can handle; there
are some options.
IPv6 was designed to be very flexible. The Subnet Prefix is the address space used by the Global
Routing Prefix and the Subnet ID, and can range from 0 to 128.

Standard /48 Subnet Prefix

Subnet Prefix

Global Routing Prefix

/64

Subnet ID

Interface ID

Point-To-Point /127 Subnet Prefix

Subnet Prefix

Global Routing Prefix

/127

Subnet ID
Interface
ID

Just as you could borrow host bits in IPv4, you can borrow Interface ID bits in IPv6. This
allows you to create more subnets with fewer addresses. Before you get too excited, there
are a few rules and best practices you need to take into account.
Borrowing bits from the Interface ID should only be done on network infrastructure
links. Loopback addresses, point-to-point links, addresses that are usually statically
assigned.
Any subnet that includes end devices needs to stay on a /64 or lower prefix. This would
be computers, tablets, smart phones, servers, printers, anything that might be on a
subnet that connects to the internet.
According to RFC 5375, a /64 prefix is required to support a number of benefits offered
by IPv6; such as:
Stateless Address Autoconfiguration
Neighbor Discovery (ND)
Secure Neighborship Discovery (SEND)
privacy extensions
parts of Mobile IPv6
PIM-SM with Embedded-RP
SHIM6 [SHIM6]
Plus a number of other features currently in development, or being proposed,
which will rely on a /64 prefix.
The bottom line is that IPv6 was designed to waste an unbelievable amount of addresses and its
OK. So while it is possible to subnet beyond the /64 subnet prefix it is not recommended.

49

Define the Following IPv6 Terms:

(Use the definitions/explanations from this workbook)

1. Global Routing Prefix -

2. Subnet ID -

3. Interface ID -

4. Subnet Prefix -

5. Nibble -

6. Unspecified address -

50

7. Loopback address -

8. Ipv4 Embedded address -

9. Global Unicast address -

10. Unique Local address -

11. Multicast address -

12. Unicast address -

13. Multicast address -

51

14. Anycast address -

15. Site ID -

16. Sub-Site ID -

17. Prefix Length -

52

What Type of IPv6 Address is this?

Base on the information supplied on the inside front cover of this workbook identify the following
IPv6 addresses as either: Unspecified, Loopback, Embedded IPv4, Global Unicast, Unique local
Unicast, Link-local Unicast, or Multicast.
1. 2000:ACAD:1234::/48

Global Unicast
__________________________________________________

Unspecified
2. 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000 __________________________________
3. FE80:ACAD:1234::\48 ____________________________________________________
4. FDFF:8771:3321::\48 _____________________________________________________
5. FFCD:984:1\48 __________________________________________________________
6. 3F98::\48 ______________________________________________________________
7. ::1 ____________________________________________________________________
9. 3000::0001\64 ___________________________________________________________
10. FEA1:8934:3021:8945:1234:ACAD:FE23:0001/64 _____________________________
11. 00AB:2307:4829::\56 ____________________________________________________
13. FF45:6543:ACAD::\60 ___________________________________________________
14. 2ABC:ACAD:AAAA:0000:0000:0000:0000:00001\64 ____________________________
15. FC12:0000:ACAD:1234:5678:9101:1121:3141/48 ______________________________
16. 2345:FE66:FECD:9999:2365::1\52 __________________________________________
17. :: ____________________________________________________________________
18. 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001 __________________________________
19. FFF8:0000:00001::0023\64 _______________________________________________
20. 0023:5935:F441::\48 _____________________________________________________
22. 2001:ABCD:1234:FFFF:ACAD::45\60 ________________________________________
23. 3211:FCAB:EEEE::\48 ___________________________________________________
24. FCCC:25:1::\48 _________________________________________________________
53

54

Reference Section

IANA IPv6 Gloabal Unicast Address Alocations to the RIRs

Prefix
2001:0000::/23
2001:0200::/23
2001:0400::/23
2001:0600::/23
2001:0800::/23
2001:0a00::/23
2001:0c00::/23
2001:0e00::/23
2001:1200::/23
2001:1400::/23
2001:1600::/23
2001:1800::/23
2001:1a00::/23
2001:1c00::/22
2001:2000::/20
2001:3000::/21
2001:3800::/22
2001:3c00::/22
2001:4000::/23
2001:4200::/23
2001:4400::/23
2001:4600::/23
2001:4800::/23
2001:4a00::/23
2001:4c00::/23
2001:5000::/20
2001:8000::/19
2001:a000::/20
2001:b000::/20
2002:0000::/16
2003:0000::/18
2400:0000::/12
2600:0000::/12
2610:0000::/23
2620:0000::/23
2800:0000::/12
2a00:0000::/12
2c00:0000::/12
2d00:0000::/8
2e00:0000::/7
3000:0000::/4
3ffe::/16
5f00::/8

56

Designation
IANA
APNIC
ARIN
RIPE NCC
RIPE NCC
RIPE NCC
APNIC
APNIC
LACNIC
RIPE NCC
RIPE NCC
ARIN
RIPE NCC
RIPE NCC
RIPE NCC
RIPE NCC
RIPE NCC
IANA
RIPE NCC
AFRINIC
APNIC
RIPE NCC
ARIN
RIPE NCC
RIPE NCC
RIPE NCC
APNIC
APNIC
APNIC
6to4
RIPE NCC
APNIC
ARIN
ARIN
ARIN
LACNIC
RIPE NCC
AFRINIC
IANA
IANA
IANA
IANA
IANA

Date
7/1/1999
7/1/1999
7/1/1999
7/1/1999
5/2/2002
11/2/2002
5/2/2002
1/1/2003
11/1/2002
2/1/2003
7/1/2003
4/1/2003
1/1/2004
5/4/2001
5/4/2001
5/4/2001
5/4/2001

Whois
whois.iana.org
whois.apnic.net
whois.arin.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.apnic.net
whois.apnic.net
whois.lacnic.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.arin.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.ripe.net

6/11/2004
6/1/2004
6/11/2004
8/17/2004
8/24/2004
10/15/2004
12/17/2004
9/10/2004
11/30/2004
11/30/2004
3/8/2006
2/1/2001
1/12/2005
10/3/2006
10/3/2006
11/17/2005
9/12/2006
10/3/2006
10/3/2006
10/3/2006
7/1/1999
7/1/1999
7/1/1999
2008-04
2008-04

whois.ripe.net
whois.afrinic.net
whois.apnic.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.arin.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.apnic.net
whois.apnic.net
whois.apnic.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.apnic.net
whois.arin.net
whois.arin.net
whois.arin.net
whois.lacnic.net
whois.ripe.net
whois.afrinic.net

Status
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
RESERVED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
ALLOCATED
RESERVED
RESERVED
RESERVED
RESERVED
RESERVED

Prefix-Length
/128
/127
/126
/125
/124
/123
/122
/121
/120
/119
/118
/117
/116
/115
/114
/113
/112
/111
/110
/109
/108
/107
/106
/105
/104
/103
/102
/101
/100
/99
/98
/97
/96
/95
/94
/93
/92
/91
/90
/89
/88
/87
/86
/85
/84
/83
/82
/81
/80
/79
/78
/77
/76
/75
/74
/73
/72
/71
/70
/69

Number of IPs
1
2
4
8
16
32
64
128
256
512
1,024
2,048
4,096
8,192
16,384
32,768
65,536
131,072
262,144
524,288
1,048,576
2,097,152
4,194,304
8,388,608
16,777,216
33,554,432
67,108,864
134,217,728
268,435,456
536,870,912
1,073,741,824
2,147,483,648
4,294,967,296
8,589,934,592
17,179,869,184
34,359,738,368
68,719,476,736
137,438,953,472
274,877,906,944
549,755,813,888
1,099,511,627,776
2,199,023,255,552
4,398,046,511,104
8,796,093,022,208
17,592,186,044,416
35,184,372,088,832
70,368,744,177,664
140,737,488,355,328
281,474,976,710,656
562,949,953,421,312
1,125,899,906,842,620
2,251,799,813,685,240
4,503,599,627,370,490
9,007,199,254,740,990
18,014,398,509,481,900
36,028,797,018,963,900
72,057,594,037,927,900
144,115,188,075,855,000
288,230,376,151,711,000
576,460,752,303,423,000

1,152,921,504,606,840,000
/68
2,305,843,009,213,690,000
/67
4,611,686,018,427,380,000
/66
9,223,372,036,854,770,000
/65
18,446,744,073,709,500,000
/64 - Residential
36,893,488,147,419,100,000
/63
73,786,976,294,838,200,000
/62
147,573,952,589,676,000,000
/61
295,147,905,179,352,000,000
/60 - Residential
590,295,810,358,705,000,000
/59
1,180,591,620,717,410,000,000
/58
2,361,183,241,434,820,000,000
/57
4,722,366,482,869,640,000,000
/56 - Medium
9,444,732,965,739,290,000,000
/55
18,889,465,931,478,500,000,000
/54
37,778,931,862,957,100,000,000
/53
75,557,863,725,914,300,000,000
/52
151,115,727,451,828,000,000,000
/51
302,231,454,903,657,000,000,000
/50
604,462,909,807,314,000,000,000
/49
1,208,925,819,614,620,000,000,000
/48 - Large
2,417,851,639,229,250,000,000,000
/47
4,835,703,278,458,510,000,000,000
/46
9,671,406,556,917,030,000,000,000
/45
19,342,813,113,834,000,000,000,000
/44
38,685,626,227,668,100,000,000,000
/43
77,371,252,455,336,200,000,000,000
/42
154,742,504,910,672,000,000,000,000
/41
309,485,009,821,345,000,000,000,000
/40
618,970,019,642,690,000,000,000,000
/39
1,237,940,039,285,380,000,000,000,000
/38
2,475,880,078,570,760,000,000,000,000
/37
4,951,760,157,141,520,000,000,000,000
/36
9,903,520,314,283,040,000,000,000,000
/35
19,807,040,628,566,000,000,000,000,000
/34
39,614,081,257,132,100,000,000,000,000
/33
/32 - Service LIR 79,228,162,514,264,300,000,000,000,000
158,456,325,028,528,000,000,000,000,000
/31
316,912,650,057,057,000,000,000,000,000
/30
633,825,300,114,114,000,000,000,000,000
/29
1,267,650,600,228,220,000,000,000,000,000
/28
2,535,301,200,456,450,000,000,000,000,000
/27
5,070,602,400,912,910,000,000,000,000,000
/26
10,141,204,801,825,800,000,000,000,000,000
/25
20,282,409,603,651,600,000,000,000,000,000
/24
40,564,819,207,303,300,000,000,000,000,000
/23 - ISP
81,129,638,414,606,600,000,000,000,000,000
/22
162,259,276,829,213,000,000,000,000,000,000
/21
324,518,553,658,426,000,000,000,000,000,000
/20
649,037,107,316,853,000,000,000,000,000,000
/19
1,298,074,214,633,700,000,000,000,000,000,000
/18
2,596,148,429,267,410,000,000,000,000,000,000
/17
5,192,296,858,534,820,000,000,000,000,000,000
/16
10,384,593,717,069,600,000,000,000,000,000,000
/15
20,769,187,434,139,300,000,000,000,000,000,000
/14
41,538,374,868,278,600,000,000,000,000,000,000
/13
83,076,749,736,557,200,000,000,000,000,000,000
/12
166,153,499,473,114,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
/11
332,306,998,946,228,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
/10
664,613,997,892,457,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
/9
1,329,227,995,784,910,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
/8

57

IPv6 Resources
Web Sites:
ARIN IPv6 Wiki
http://www.getipv6.info/display/IPv6/IPv6+Info+Home
Cisco Support Community
IPv6 Subnetting - Overview and Case Study
https://supportforums.cisco.com/docs/DOC-17232

Videos:
IPv6 for CCNAs with Anthony Sequeira
Video Series by the Cisco Learning Network - Parts 1, 2 & 3
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-20357

PDF Resources:
Preparing An IPv6 Address Plan, Version 2, 18 September 2013
https://www.ripe.net/lir-services/training/material/IPv6-for-LIRs-Training-Course/
IPv6_addr_plan4.pdf
Best Current Operational Practices - IPv6 Subnetting (v1)
http://www.ipbcop.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/BCOP-IPv6_Subnetting.pdf
6net An IPv6 Deployment Guide by The European 6NET Consortium
http://www.6net.org/book/deployment-guide.pdf
IPv6 Addressing At-A-Glance By Cisco
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/technologies/tk648/tk872/
technologies_white_paper0900aecd8026003d.pdf
IPv6 Implementation Guide, Cisco IOS Release 15.2M&T
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios-xml/ios/ipv6/configuration/15-2mt/ipv6-15-2mt-book.pdf

Printed Books:
IPv6 Fundamentals A Straightforward Approach to Understanding IPv6
By Rick Graziani
ISBN-13: 978-1-58714-313-7
Understanding IPv6 Third Edition
By Joseph Davies
ISBN: 978-0-7356-5914-8

58

Avalible subnets within the Subnet ID using the Nibble boundary.

/48
No Nibbles

/52
1 Nibble

/56
2 Nibbles

/60
3 Nibbles

/64
4 Nibbles

/48 - 1 Subnet
/52 - 16 Subnets

/52 - 1 Subnet

/56 - 256 Subnets

/56 - 16 Subnets

/56 - 1 Subnets

/60 - 4096 Subnets

/60 - 256 Subnets

/60 - 16 Subnets

/60 - 1 Subnets

/64 - 65,536 Subnets /64 - 4096 Subnets

/64 - 256 Subnets

/64 - 16 Subnets

/64 - 1 Subnet

Address Structure
IPv4 Octets
4 Octets

vs.

IPv6 Hextets
8 Hextets

172.50.0.1

2000:ACAD:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001

What is a Site?
A Site = one building
A home, apartment, or house = a Site
A campus with 10 buildings = 10 Sites
A single building with 15 businesses = 15 Sites

Conversion Chart
Decimal Hexadecimal
(Base 10)
(Base 16)
0
0
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
9
9
10
A
11
B
12
C
13
D
14
E
15
F

Binary
(Base 2)
0000
0001
0010
0011
0100
0101
0110
0111
1000
1001
1010
1011
1100
1101
1110
1111

Inside Cover