SAS 9.4 Language Reference, 6th Edition

Chapter 42

Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)

Overview of IPv6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779

IPv6 Address Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780

Examples of IPv6 Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780

Example of Full and Collapsed IPv6 Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780

Example of an IPv6 Address That Includes a Port Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780

Example of an IPv6 Address That Includes a URL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 781

Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 781

Overview of IPv6

SAS 9.2 introduced support for the next generation of Internet Protocol, IPv6, which is

the successor to the current Internet Protocol, IPv4. Rather than replacing IPv4 with

IPv6, SAS supports both protocols. There is a lengthy transition period during which the

two protocols coexist.

A primary reason for the new protocol is that the limited supply of 32-bit IPv4 address

spaces was being depleted. IPv6 uses a 128-bit address scheme. This scheme provides

more IP addresses than did IPv4.

IPv6 includes these benefits over IPv4:

• larger address space (128 bits rather than 32 bits)

• simplified header format

• automatic configuration

• more efficient routing

• improved quality of service and security

• compliance with regulatory requirements

• widespread use in global markets

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