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Figure 2.2. The IP header.<br />

• Version—This field defines which IP version created <strong>the</strong> datagram so that all<br />

parties involved with handling <strong>the</strong> datagram know its proper formatting.<br />

IPv4 is <strong>the</strong> current standard. This field will become more and more<br />

significant as IPv6 begins <strong>to</strong> be implemented in <strong>the</strong> next few years. The field<br />

is 4 bits in size.<br />

• IHL—The Internet Header Length (IHL) field describes <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>tal length of <strong>the</strong><br />

IP datagram header. The field has a maximum size of 4 bits.<br />

• ToS—The Type of Service (ToS) field is an 8-bit field that provides <strong>the</strong><br />

capability <strong>to</strong> define <strong>the</strong> preferred service treatment. The ToS field might not<br />

be used by every hardware or software platform.<br />

• Total Length—This field describes <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>tal size of <strong>the</strong> datagram, including<br />

both <strong>the</strong> IP header and <strong>the</strong> ULP data. The size of <strong>the</strong> field is 16 bits, which is<br />

expressed in octets (8 bits). There is no limitation on maximum or minimum<br />

datagram size. The size is limited by <strong>the</strong> specifications of <strong>the</strong> Layer 2<br />

transport medium (E<strong>the</strong>rnet, for example).<br />

• Identification—This value tells <strong>the</strong> destination host what part of <strong>the</strong> data<br />

fragment is contained in <strong>the</strong> datagram data payload. The ULP or IP can<br />

generate <strong>the</strong> value. The ID field is 16 bits long.<br />

• Flags—This 3-bit field indicates whe<strong>the</strong>r fragmentation is permitted. If <strong>the</strong><br />

"Don't Fragment" flag is on, fragmentation is not possible. If <strong>the</strong> "More<br />

Fragment" flag is on, fragmentation is used in conjunction with <strong>the</strong> packet ID<br />

<strong>to</strong> determine how <strong>to</strong> reassemble <strong>the</strong> datagram fragments.<br />

• Fragment Offset—This field is used <strong>to</strong> determine what part of <strong>the</strong> fragmented<br />

data contained in <strong>the</strong> datagram is being carried relative <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> original<br />

nonfragmented datagram. The first datagram fragment and a complete<br />

nonfragmented datagram have this set <strong>to</strong> off (zero). The maximum size for<br />

this field is 13 bits.<br />

• TTL—The Time <strong>to</strong> Live (TTL) field is IP's way of destroying undeliverable data.<br />

A datagram has a maximum life span of 4.25 minutes, after which <strong>the</strong> packet<br />

is discarded. When <strong>the</strong> datagram is sent, <strong>the</strong> hop counter is set <strong>to</strong> 255. This<br />

number is decreased by 1 for each router that handles <strong>the</strong> datagram. This<br />

field is 8 bits long.

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