5.1. Different network devices

On a node, there exist different network devices. They can be collected in classes

Physically bounded, like eth0, tr0
Virtually existing, like ppp0, tun0, tap0, sit0, isdn0, ippp0

5.1.1. Physically bounded

Physically bounded interfaces like Ethernet or Token-Ring are normal ones and need no special treatment.

5.1.2. Virtually bounded

Virtually bounded interfaces always need special support

5.1.2.1. IPv6-in-IPv4 tunnel interfaces

These interfaces are normally named sitx. The name sit is a shortcut for Simple Internet Transition. This device has the capability to encapsulate IPv6 packets into IPv4 ones and tunnel them to a foreign endpoint.

sit0 has a special meaning and cannot be used for dedicated tunnels.

5.1.2.2. PPP interfaces

PPP interfaces get their IPv6 capability from an IPv6 enabled PPP daemon.

5.1.2.3. ISDN HDLC interfaces

IPv6 capability for HDLC with encapsulation ip is already built-in in the kernel

5.1.2.4. ISDN PPP interfaces

ISDN PPP interfaces (ippp) aren't IPv6 enabled by kernel. Also there are also no plans to do that because in kernel 2.5.+ they will be replaced by a more generic ppp interface layer.

5.1.2.5. SLIP + PLIP

Like mentioned earlier, this interfaces don't support IPv6 transport (sending is OK, but dispatching on receiving don't work).

5.1.2.6. Ether-tap device

Ether-tap devices are IPv6-enabled and also stateless configured. For use, the module "ethertap" has to be loaded before.

5.1.2.7. tun devices

Currently not tested by me.

5.1.2.8. ATM

01/2002: Aren't currently supported by vanilla kernel, supported by USAGI extension

5.1.2.9. Others

Did I forget an interface?...