11/9/22, 10:43 PM IPv6 Multicast Addresses Explained

IPv6 Multicast Addresses Explained

This tutorial explains the structures and functions of the IPv6 multicast addresses in detail. Learn
what multicast addresses are and how they work in the IPv6 network.

A multicast group is the group of multiple nodes in the network. To identify group members, a
common group ID is assigned to all group members. In IPv6 networks, this common group ID is
known as the multicast address. In other words, a multicast address identifies a group of
multiple devices in the network. Data packets sent on a multicast address are received by all group
members.

IPv6 multicast addresses structure

The following image shows the structure of IPv6 multicast addresses.

The first 8 bits of IPv6 multicast addresses are always set to 11111111. Therefore, in hexadecimal
notation, an IPv6 multicast address always begins with FF. Beyond the first 8 bits, multicast
addresses include additional structure to identify flags, their scope, and the multicast group.

Flags
https://www.computernetworkingnotes.com/networking-tutorials/ipv6-multicast-addresses-explained.html 1/6
11/9/22, 10:43 PM IPv6 Multicast Addresses Explained

The flags field starts after the first field (fix 8 bits). The size of this field is 4 bits. The 9th bit is set to
0.
The next three bits are used to set three different types of flags. These flags are the R
(Rendezvous) flag, P (Prefix) flag, and T (Transient) flag. To set these flags, 10Th, 11th, and 12th
bits are used respectively.

The R flag indicates whether the multicast address contains an embedded rendezvous point
address. A multicast rendezvous point (RP) enables subscribers to link in the multicast group
temporarily before joining the group permanently. If the value of this field is set to 1, it indicates that
the multicast address is based on a unicast prefix, but the RP interface ID is also specified.

The P flag indicates whether the multicast address is based on a unicast address or not. If the
value of this flag is set to 0, the multicast address is not assigned based on the unicast address. If
the value of this flag is set to 1, the multicast address is based on the network prefix of the unicast
subnet address.

The T bit indicates whether the multicast address is transient or is a well-known address assigned
by IANA.

If the T flag is set to 0, it indicates that the multicast address is a well-known permanently assigned
multicast address. These addresses are assigned by the IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers
Authority).

If the T flag is set to 1, it indicates that the multicast address is transient. A transient multicast
address is a multicast address that is not permanently assigned.

The following table summarizes the flag values.

Flags Prefix Description

(Binary)

0000 FF00::/12 Permanently assigned 112-bit group ID scoped by 4-bit scope field

0001 FF10::/12 Temporarily assigned 112-bit group ID scoped by 4-bit scope field

0011 FF30::/12 Temporarily assigned unicast prefix-based multicast address

0111 FF70::/12 Temporarily assigned unicast prefix-based multicast address with

rendezvous point interface ID

https://www.computernetworkingnotes.com/networking-tutorials/ipv6-multicast-addresses-explained.html 2/6
11/9/22, 10:43 PM IPv6 Multicast Addresses Explained

Scope
The size of the scope field is 4 bits. It starts after the flag field. It indicates the scope of the IPv6
network for which the multicast traffic is intended to be delivered. Routers use multicast scope field
to determine whether multicast traffic can be forwarded or not.

Value Scope

0 Reserved

1 Interface-local scope

2 Link-local scope

3 Reserved

4 Admin-local scope

5 Site-local scope

8 Organization-local scope

E Global scope

F Reserved

Except the values listed in the table above, all values are currently unassigned.

Group ID
The group ID field starts after the scope field. The size of this field is 112 bits. This field contains
the value that is unique within the scope. This field provides a unique identity to the multicast group
represented by the multicast address.

There are two types of group ID: Permanently assigned group IDs and Transient group IDs.
Permanently assigned group IDs are independent of the scope. Transient group IDs are relevant
only to a specific scope.

The following table lists the defined multicast addresses for all nodes and routers in all scopes.

Multicast address Scope Devices

FF01::1 Interface-local multicast address All nodes

https://www.computernetworkingnotes.com/networking-tutorials/ipv6-multicast-addresses-explained.html 3/6
11/9/22, 10:43 PM IPv6 Multicast Addresses Explained

FF01::2 Interface-local multicast address All routers

FF02::1 Link-local multicast address All nodes (broadcast)

FF02::2 Link-local multicast address All nodes (multicast)

FF02::2 Link-local multicast address All routers

FF05::2 Site-local multicast address All routers

IPv6 does not define any broadcast address. All IPv4 broadcast addresses are replaced by the
link-local multicast address FF02::1. In other words, the addresses FF02::1 and FF02::2 are the
equivalent of the broadcast and multicast addresses of the IPv4.

Special IPv6 multicast address

By default, all nodes on an IPv6 link support two special types of multicast addresses. These
addresses are the node information query address and the solicited-node multicast address.

Node Information Query Address

Node information multicast query allows nodes to identify or resolve the IP address of a known
hostname. It works similar to DNS service but only limited to the local network and can be used
only for diagnostic and debugging purposes. In this mechanism, instead of querying a DNS server,
a query is issued to the node information query address.

The node which wants to resolve the IP address of a known hostname calculates a hash of the
hostname by using the 128-bit MD-5 algorithm. From the result, it takes the first 24 bits and
appends them to the FF02::2:FF00:0/104 prefix to create a node information query address. After
creating this address, the node sends a query message to this address.

When a node receives a message addressed to the information query address, it reverts the
process. It creates a hash of its own hostname and compares the first 24 bits of the hash with the
last 24 bits of the address of the received message. If it matches, the node replies with the
requested information.

The following image shows how the node information query address works.

https://www.computernetworkingnotes.com/networking-tutorials/ipv6-multicast-addresses-explained.html 4/6
11/9/22, 10:43 PM IPv6 Multicast Addresses Explained

Solicited Node Multicast Address

Solicited node multicast address allows an IPv6 enabled device to find other IPv6 enabled devices
on the link. It is used in the neighbor discovery protocol and duplicate address detection phase of
the address autoconfiguration process.

This address is formed by appending the low-order (rightmost) 24 bits of the solicited node’s
interface ID to the well-known FF02::1:FF00/104 prefix. For example, suppose a node wishes to
resolve the link-layer address of the device with IP address
2001:AB8:4B:4D:1:FA8:1A4B:95AD:2AB1. Using the lower order 24 bits, AD2AB1 in Hex, the
device would address its request to the FF02::1:FFAD:2AB1.

The following image shows how a unicast address converts into the solicited-node multicast
address.

https://www.computernetworkingnotes.com/networking-tutorials/ipv6-multicast-addresses-explained.html 5/6
11/9/22, 10:43 PM IPv6 Multicast Addresses Explained

That's all for this tutorial. If you like this tutorial, please share it with friends via your favorite social
networking sites and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

By ComputerNetworkingNotes
Updated on 2022-04-09 11:21:53 IST

ComputerNetworkingNotes

Networking Tutorials

IPv6 Multicast Addresses Explained

Ping command Explained with Examples ICMP Error messages and format explained
We do not accept any kind of Guest Post. Except Guest post submission,
for any other query (such
as adverting opportunity, product advertisement, feedback,
suggestion, error reporting and technical
issue) or simply just say to hello
mail us ComputerNetworkingNotes@gmail.com

Computer Networking Notes and Study Guides © 2022. All Rights Reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions

https://www.computernetworkingnotes.com/networking-tutorials/ipv6-multicast-addresses-explained.html 6/6