1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1343
1344
1345
1346
1347
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383
1384
1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391
1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418
1419
1420
1421
1422
1423
1424
1425
1426
1427
1428
1429
1430
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445
1446
1447
1448
1449
1450
1451
1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
1478
1479
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484
1485
1486
1487
1488
1489
1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496
1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505
1506
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
1543
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
1556
1557
1558
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1564
1565
1566
1567
1568
1569
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575
1576
1577
1578
1579
1580
1581
1582
1583
1584
1585
1586
1587
1588
1589
1590
1591
1592
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622
1623
1624
1625
1626
1627
1628
1629
1630
1631
1632
1633
1634
1635
1636
1637
1638
1639
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644
1645
1646
1647
1648
1649
1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
1657
1658
1659
1660
1661
1662
1663
1664
1665
1666
1667
1668
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673
1674
1675
1676
1677
1678
1679
1680
1681
1682
1683
1684
1685
1686
1687
1688
1689
1690
1691
1692
1693
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
1700
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1710
1711
1712
1713
1714
1715
1716
1717
1718
1719
1720
1721
1722
1723
1724
1725
1726
1727
1728
1729
1730
1731
1732
1733
1734
1735
1736
1737
1738
1739
1740
1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758
1759
1760
1761
1762
1763
1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
2037
2038
2039
2040
2041
2042
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2048
2049
2050
2051
2052
2053
2054
2055
2056
2057
2058
2059
2060
2061
2062
2063
2064
2065
2066
2067
2068
2069
2070
2071
2072
2073
2074
2075
2076
2077
2078
2079
2080
2081
2082
2083
2084
2085
2086
2087
2088
2089
2090
2091
2092
2093
2094
2095
2096
2097
2098
2099
2100
2101
2102
2103
2104
2105
2106
2107
2108
2109
2110
2111
2112
2113
2114
2115
2116
2117
2118
2119
2120
2121
2122
2123
2124
2125
2126
2127
2128
2129
2130
2131
2132
2133
2134
2135
2136
2137
2138
2139
2140
2141
2142
2143
2144
2145
2146
2147
2148
2149
2150
2151
2152
2153
2154
2155
2156
2157
2158
2159
2160
2161
2162
2163
2164
2165
2166
2167
2168
2169
2170
2171
2172
2173
2174
2175
2176
2177
2178
2179
2180
2181
2182
2183
2184
2185
2186
2187
2188
2189
2190
2191
2192
2193
2194
2195
2196
2197
2198
2199
2200
2201
2202
2203
2204
2205
2206
2207
2208
2209
2210
2211
2212
2213
2214
2215
2216
2217
2218
2219
2220
2221
2222
2223
2224
2225
2226
2227
2228
2229
2230
2231
2232
2233
2234
2235
2236
2237
2238
2239
2240
2241
2242
2243
2244
2245
2246
2247
2248
2249
2250
2251
2252
2253
2254
2255
2256
2257
2258
2259
2260
2261
2262
2263
2264
2265
2266
2267
2268
2269
2270
2271
2272
2273
2274
2275
2276
2277
2278
2279
2280
2281
2282
2283
2284
2285
2286
2287
2288
2289
2290
2291
2292
2293
2294
2295
2296
2297
2298
2299
2300
2301
2302
2303
2304
2305
2306
2307
2308
2309
2310
2311
2312
2313
2314
2315
2316
2317
2318
2319
2320
2321
2322
2323
2324
2325
2326
2327
2328
2329
2330
2331
2332
2333
2334
2335
2336
2337
2338
2339
2340
2341
2342
2343
2344
2345
2346
2347
2348
2349
2350
2351
2352
2353
2354
2355
2356
2357
2358
2359
2360
2361
2362
2363
2364
2365
2366
2367
2368
2369
2370
2371
2372
2373
2374
2375
2376
2377
2378
2379
2380
2381
2382
2383
2384
2385
2386
2387
2388
2389
2390
2391
2392
2393
2394
2395
2396
2397
2398
2399
2400
2401
2402
2403
2404
2405
2406
2407
2408
2409
2410
2411
2412
2413
2414
2415
2416
2417
2418
2419
2420
2421
2422
2423
2424
2425
2426
2427
2428
2429
2430
2431
2432
2433
2434
2435
2436
2437
2438
2439
2440
2441
2442
2443
2444
2445
2446
2447
2448
2449
2450
2451
2452
2453
2454
2455
2456
2457
2458
2459
2460
2461
2462
2463
2464
2465
2466
2467
2468
2469
2470
2471
2472
2473
2474
2475
2476
2477
2478
2479
2480
2481
2482
2483
2484
2485
2486
2487
2488
2489
2490
2491
2492
2493
2494
2495
2496
2497
2498
2499
2500
2501
2502
2503
2504
2505
2506
2507
2508
2509
2510
2511
2512
2513
2514
2515
2516
2517
2518
2519
2520
2521
2522
2523
2524
2525
2526
2527
2528
2529
2530
2531
2532
2533
2534
2535
2536
2537
2538
2539
2540
2541
2542
2543
2544
2545
2546
2547
2548
2549
2550
2551
2552
2553
2554
2555
2556
2557
2558
2559
2560
2561
2562
2563
2564
2565
2566
2567
2568
2569
2570
2571
2572
2573
2574
2575
2576
2577
2578
2579
2580
2581
2582
2583
2584
2585
2586
2587
2588
2589
2590
2591
2592
2593
2594
2595
2596
2597
2598
2599
2600
2601
2602
2603
2604
2605
2606
2607
2608
2609
2610
2611
2612
2613
2614
2615
2616
2617
2618
2619
2620
2621
2622
2623
2624
2625
2626
2627
2628
2629
2630
2631
2632
2633
2634
2635
2636
2637
2638
2639
2640
2641
2642
2643
2644
2645
2646
2647
2648
2649
2650
2651
2652
2653
2654
2655
2656
2657
2658
2659
2660
2661
2662
2663
2664
2665
2666
2667
2668
2669
2670
2671
2672
2673
2674
2675
2676
2677
2678
2679
2680
2681
2682
2683
2684
2685
2686
2687
2688
2689
2690
2691
2692
2693
2694
2695
2696
2697
2698
2699
2700
2701
2702
2703
2704
2705
2706
2707
|
RFC: 760
IEN: 128
DOD STANDARD
INTERNET PROTOCOL
January 1980
prepared for
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Information Processing Techniques Office
1400 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22209
by
Information Sciences Institute
University of Southern California
4676 Admiralty Way
Marina del Rey, California 90291
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE ........................................................ iii
1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................... 1
1.1 Motivation .................................................... 1
1.2 Scope ......................................................... 1
1.3 Interfaces .................................................... 1
1.4 Operation ..................................................... 2
2. OVERVIEW ......................................................... 5
2.1 Relation to Other Protocols ................................... 5
2.2 Model of Operation ............................................ 5
2.3 Function Description .......................................... 7
3. SPECIFICATION ................................................... 11
3.1 Internet Header Format ....................................... 11
3.2 Discussion ................................................... 21
3.3 Examples & Scenarios ......................................... 30
3.4 Interfaces ................................................... 34
GLOSSARY ............................................................ 37
REFERENCES .......................................................... 41
[Page i]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
[Page ii]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
PREFACE
This document specifies the DoD Standard Internet Protocol. This
document is based on five earlier editions of the ARPA Internet Protocol
Specification, and the present text draws heavily from them. There have
been many contributors to this work both in terms of concepts and in
terms of text. This edition revises the details security,
compartmentation, and precedence features of the internet protocol.
Jon Postel
Editor
[Page iii]
^L
January 1980
RFC: 760
IEN: 128
Replaces: IENs 123, 111,
80, 54, 44, 41, 28, 26
DOD STANDARD
INTERNET PROTOCOL
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Motivation
The Internet Protocol is designed for use in interconnected systems of
packet-switched computer communication networks. Such a system has
been called a "catenet" [1]. The internet protocol provides for
transmitting blocks of data called datagrams from sources to
destinations, where sources and destinations are hosts identified by
fixed length addresses. The internet protocol also provides for
fragmentation and reassembly of long datagrams, if necessary, for
transmission through "small packet" networks.
1.2. Scope
The internet protocol is specifically limited in scope to provide the
functions necessary to deliver a package of bits (an internet
datagram) from a source to a destination over an interconnected system
of networks. There are no mechanisms to promote data reliability,
flow control, sequencing, or other services commonly found in
host-to-host protocols.
1.3. Interfaces
This protocol is called on by host-to-host protocols in an internet
environment. This protocol calls on local network protocols to carry
the internet datagram to the next gateway or destination host.
For example, a TCP module would call on the internet module to take a
TCP segment (including the TCP header and user data) as the data
portion of an internet datagram. The TCP module would provide the
addresses and other parameters in the internet header to the internet
module as arguments of the call. The internet module would then
create an internet datagram and call on the local network interface to
transmit the internet datagram.
In the ARPANET case, for example, the internet module would call on a
local net module which would add the 1822 leader [2] to the internet
datagram creating an ARPANET message to transmit to the IMP. The
ARPANET address would be derived from the internet address by the
local network interface and would be the address of some host in the
ARPANET, that host might be a gateway to other networks.
[Page 1]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Introduction
1.4. Operation
The internet protocol implements two basic functions: addressing and
fragmentation.
The internet modules use the addresses carried in the internet header
to transmit internet datagrams toward their destinations. The
selection of a path for transmission is called routing.
The internet modules use fields in the internet header to fragment and
reassemble internet datagrams when necessary for transmission through
"small packet" networks.
The model of operation is that an internet module resides in each host
engaged in internet communication and in each gateway that
interconnects networks. These modules share common rules for
interpreting address fields and for fragmenting and assembling
internet datagrams. In addition, these modules (especially in
gateways) may have procedures for making routing decisions and other
functions.
The internet protocol treats each internet datagram as an independent
entity unrelated to any other internet datagram. There are no
connections or logical circuits (virtual or otherwise).
The internet protocol uses four key mechanisms in providing its
service: Type of Service, Time to Live, Options, and Header Checksum.
The Type of Service is used to indicate the quality of the service
desired; this may be thought of as selecting among Interactive, Bulk,
or Real Time, for example. The type of service is an abstract or
generalized set of parameters which characterize the service choices
provided in the networks that make up the internet. This type of
service indication is to be used by gateways to select the actual
transmission parameters for a particular network, the network to be
used for the next hop, or the next gateway when routing an internet
datagram.
The Time to Live is an indication of the lifetime of an internet
datagram. It is set by the sender of the datagram and reduced at the
points along the route where it is processed. If the time to live
reaches zero before the internet datagram reaches its destination, the
internet datagram is destroyed. The time to live can be thought of as
a self destruct time limit.
The Options provide for control functions needed or useful in some
situations but unnecessary for the most common communications. The
[Page 2]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Introduction
options include provisions for timestamps, error reports, and special
routing.
The Header Checksum provides a verification that the information used
in processing internet datagram has been transmitted correctly. The
data may contain errors. If the header checksum fails, the internet
datagram is discarded at once by the entity which detects the error.
The internet protocol does not provide a reliable communication
facility. There are no acknowledgments either end-to-end or
hop-by-hop. There is no error control for data, only a header
checksum. There are no retransmissions. There is no flow control.
[Page 3]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
[Page 4]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
2. OVERVIEW
2.1. Relation to Other Protocols
The following diagram illustrates the place of the internet protocol
in the protocol hierarchy:
+------+ +-----+ +-----+ +-----+
|Telnet| | FTP | |Voice| ... | |
+------+ +-----+ +-----+ +-----+
| | | |
+-----+ +-----+ +-----+
| TCP | | RTP | ... | |
+-----+ +-----+ +-----+
| | |
+-------------------------------+
| Internet Protocol |
+-------------------------------+
|
+---------------------------+
| Local Network Protocol |
+---------------------------+
|
Protocol Relationships
Figure 1.
Internet protocol interfaces on one side to the higher level
host-to-host protocols and on the other side to the local network
protocol.
2.2. Model of Operation
The model of operation for transmitting a datagram from one
application program to another is illustrated by the following
scenario:
We suppose that this transmission will involve one intermediate
gateway.
The sending application program prepares its data and calls on its
local internet module to send that data as a datagram and passes the
destination address and other parameters as arguments of the call.
The internet module prepares a datagram header and attaches the data
[Page 5]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Overview
to it. The internet module determines a local network address for
this internet address, in this case it is the address of a gateway.
It sends this datagram and the local network address to the local
network interface.
The local network interface creates a local network header, and
attaches the datagram to it, then sends the result via the local
network.
The datagram arrives at a gateway host wrapped in the local network
header, the local network interface strips off this header, and
turns the datagram over to the internet module. The internet module
determines from the internet address that the datagram should be
forwarded to another host in a second network. The internet module
determines a local net address for the destination host. It calls
on the local network interface for that network to send the
datagram.
This local network interface creates a local network header and
attaches the datagram sending the result to the destination host.
At this destination host the datagram is stripped of the local net
header by the local network interface and handed to the internet
module.
The internet module determines that the datagram is for an
application program in this host. It passes the data to the
application program in response to a system call, passing the source
address and other parameters as results of the call.
Application Application
Program Program
\ /
Internet Module Internet Module Internet Module
\ / \ /
LNI-1 LNI-1 LNI-2 LNI-2
\ / \ /
Local Network 1 Local Network 2
Transmission Path
Figure 2
[Page 6]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Overview
2.3. Function Description
The function or purpose of Internet Protocol is to move datagrams
through an interconnected set of networks. This is done by passing
the datagrams from one internet module to another until the
destination is reached. The internet modules reside in hosts and
gateways in the internet system. The datagrams are routed from one
internet module to another through individual networks based on the
interpretation of an internet address. Thus, one important mechanism
of the internet protocol is the internet address.
In the routing of messages from one internet module to another,
datagrams may need to traverse a network whose maximum packet size is
smaller than the size of the datagram. To overcome this difficulty, a
fragmentation mechanism is provided in the internet protocol.
Addressing
A distinction is made between names, addresses, and routes [3]. A
name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A
route indicates how to get there. The internet protocol deals
primarily with addresses. It is the task of higher level (i.e.,
host-to-host or application) protocols to make the mapping from
names to addresses. The internet module maps internet addresses to
local net addresses. It is the task of lower level (i.e., local net
or gateways) procedures to make the mapping from local net
addresses to routes.
Addresses are fixed length of four octets (32 bits). An address
begins with a one octet network number, followed by a three octet
local address. This three octet field is called the "rest" field.
Care must be taken in mapping internet addresses to local net
addresses; a single physical host must be able to act as if it were
several distinct hosts to the extent of using several distinct
internet addresses. A host should also be able to have several
physical interfaces (multi-homing).
That is, a host should be allowed several physical interfaces to the
network with each having several logical internet addresses.
Examples of address mappings may be found in reference [4].
Fragmentation
Fragmentation of an internet datagram may be necessary when it
originates in a local net that allows a large packet size and must
[Page 7]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Overview
traverse a local net that limits packets to a smaller size to reach
its destination.
An internet datagram can be marked "don't fragment." Any internet
datagram so marked is not to be internet fragmented under any
circumstances. If internet datagram marked don't fragment cannot be
delivered to its destination without fragmenting it, it is to be
discarded instead.
Fragmentation, transmission and reassembly across a local network
which is invisible to the internet protocol module is called
intranet fragmentation and may be used [5].
The internet fragmentation and reassembly procedure needs to be able
to break a datagram into an almost arbitrary number of pieces that
can be later reassembled. The receiver of the fragments uses the
identification field to ensure that fragments of different datagrams
are not mixed. The fragment offset field tells the receiver the
position of a fragment in the original datagram. The fragment
offset and length determine the portion of the original datagram
covered by this fragment. The more-fragments flag indicates (by
being reset) the last fragment. These fields provide sufficient
information to reassemble datagrams.
The identification field is used to distinguish the fragments of one
datagram from those of another. The originating protocol module of
an internet datagram sets the identification field to a value that
must be unique for that source-destination pair and protocol for the
time the datagram will be active in the internet system. The
originating protocol module of a complete datagram sets the
more-fragments flag to zero and the fragment offset to zero.
To fragment a long internet datagram, an internet protocol module
(for example, in a gateway), creates two new internet datagrams and
copies the contents of the internet header fields from the long
datagram into both new internet headers. The data of the long
datagram is divided into two portions on a 8 octet (64 bit) boundary
(the second portion might not be an integral multiple of 8 octets,
but the first must be). Call the number of 8 octet blocks in the
first portion NFB (for Number of Fragment Blocks). The first
portion of the data is placed in the first new internet datagram,
and the total length field is set to the length of the first
datagram. The more-fragments flag is set to one. The second
portion of the data is placed in the second new internet datagram,
and the total length field is set to the length of the second
datagram. The more-fragments flag carries the same value as the
long datagram. The fragment offset field of the second new internet
[Page 8]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Overview
datagram is set to the value of that field in the long datagram plus
NFB.
This procedure can be generalized for an n-way split, rather than
the two-way split described.
To assemble the fragments of an internet datagram, an internet
protocol module (for example at a destination host) combines
internet datagram that all have the same value for the four fields:
identification, source, destination, and protocol. The combination
is done by placing the data portion of each fragment in the relative
position indicated by the fragment offset in that fragment's
internet header. The first fragment will have the fragment offset
zero, and the last fragment will have the more-fragments flag reset
to zero.
[Page 9]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
[Page 10]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
3. SPECIFICATION
3.1. Internet Header Format
A summary of the contents of the internet header follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|Version| IHL |Type of Service| Total Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Identification |Flags| Fragment Offset |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Time to Live | Protocol | Header Checksum |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Source Address |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Destination Address |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Options | Padding |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Example Internet Datagram Header
Figure 3.
Note that each tick mark represents one bit position.
Version: 4 bits
The Version field indicates the format of the internet header. This
document describes version 4.
IHL: 4 bits
Internet Header Length is the length of the internet header in 32
bit words, and thus points to the beginning of the data. Note that
the minimum value for a correct header is 5.
[Page 11]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
Type of Service: 8 bits
The Type of Service provides an indication of the abstract
parameters of the quality of service desired. These parameters are
to be used to guide the selection of the actual service parameters
when transmitting a datagram through a particular network. Several
networks offer service precedence, which somehow treats high
precedence traffic as more important than other traffic. A few
networks offer a Stream service, whereby one can achieve a smoother
service at some cost. Typically this involves the reservation of
resources within the network. Another choice involves a low-delay
vs. high-reliability trade off. Typically networks invoke more
complex (and delay producing) mechanisms as the need for reliability
increases.
Bits 0-2: Precedence.
Bit 3: Stream or Datagram.
Bits 4-5: Reliability.
Bit 6: Speed over Reliability.
Bits 7: Speed.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | |
| PRECEDENCE | STRM|RELIABILITY| S/R |SPEED|
| | | | | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
PRECEDENCE STRM RELIABILITY S/R SPEED
111-Flash Override 1-STREAM 11-highest 1-speed 1-high
110-Flash 0-DTGRM 10-higher 0-rlblt 0-low
11X-Immediate 01-lower
01X-Priority 00-lowest
00X-Routine
The type of service is used to specify the treatment of the datagram
during its transmission through the internet system. In the
discussion (section 3.2) below, a chart shows the relationship of
the internet type of service to the actual service provided on the
ARPANET, the SATNET, and the PRNET.
Total Length: 16 bits
Total Length is the length of the datagram, measured in octets,
including internet header and data. This field allows the length of
a datagram to be up to 65,535 octets. Such long datagrams are
impractical for most hosts and networks. All hosts must be prepared
to accept datagrams of up to 576 octets (whether they arrive whole
[Page 12]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
or in fragments). It is recommended that hosts only send datagrams
larger than 576 octets if they have assurance that the destination
is prepared to accept the larger datagrams.
The number 576 is selected to allow a reasonable sized data block to
be transmitted in addition to the required header information. For
example, this size allows a data block of 512 octets plus 64 header
octets to fit in a datagram. The maximal internet header is 60
octets, and a typical internet header is 20 octets, allowing a
margin for headers of higher level protocols.
Identification: 16 bits
An identifying value assigned by the sender to aid in assembling the
fragments of a datagram.
Flags: 3 bits
Various Control Flags.
Bit 0: reserved, must be zero
Bit 1: Don't Fragment This Datagram (DF).
Bit 2: More Fragments Flag (MF).
0 1 2
+---+---+---+
| | D | M |
| 0 | F | F |
+---+---+---+
Fragment Offset: 13 bits
This field indicates where in the datagram this fragment belongs.
The fragment offset is measured in units of 8 octets (64 bits). The
first fragment has offset zero.
Time to Live: 8 bits
This field indicates the maximum time the datagram is allowed to
remain the internet system. If this field contains the value zero,
then the datagram should be destroyed. This field is modified in
internet header processing. The time is measured in units of
seconds. The intention is to cause undeliverable datagrams to be
discarded.
[Page 13]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
Protocol: 8 bits
This field indicates the next level protocol used in the data
portion of the internet datagram. The values for various protocols
are specified in reference [6].
Header Checksum: 16 bits
A checksum on the header only. Since some header fields may change
(e.g., time to live), this is recomputed and verified at each point
that the internet header is processed.
The checksum algorithm is:
The checksum field is the 16 bit one's complement of the one's
complement sum of all 16 bit words in the header. For purposes of
computing the checksum, the value of the checksum field is zero.
This is a simple to compute checksum and experimental evidence
indicates it is adequate, but it is provisional and may be replaced
by a CRC procedure, depending on further experience.
Source Address: 32 bits
The source address. The first octet is the Source Network, and the
following three octets are the Source Local Address.
Destination Address: 32 bits
The destination address. The first octet is the Destination
Network, and the following three octets are the Destination Local
Address.
[Page 14]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
Options: variable
The option field is variable in length. There may be zero or more
options. There are two cases for the format of an option:
Case 1: A single octet of option-type.
Case 2: An option-type octet, an option-length octet, and the
actual option-data octets.
The option-length octet counts the option-type octet and the
option-length octet as well as the option-data octets.
The option-type octet is viewed as having 3 fields:
1 bit reserved, must be zero
2 bits option class,
5 bits option number.
The option classes are:
0 = control
1 = internet error
2 = experimental debugging and measurement
3 = reserved for future use
[Page 15]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
The following internet options are defined:
CLASS NUMBER LENGTH DESCRIPTION
----- ------ ------ -----------
0 0 - End of Option list. This option occupies only
1 octet; it has no length octet.
0 1 - No Operation. This option occupies only 1
octet; it has no length octet.
0 2 4 Security. Used to carry Security, and user
group (TCC) information compatible with DOD
requirements.
0 3 var. Source Routing. Used to route the internet
datagram based on information supplied by the
source.
0 7 var. Return Route. Used to record the route an
internet datagram takes.
0 8 4 Stream ID. Used to carry the stream
identifier.
1 1 var. General Error Report. Used to report errors
in internet datagram processing.
2 4 6 Internet Timestamp.
2 5 6 Satellite Timestamp.
Specific Option Definitions
End of Option List
+--------+
|00000000|
+--------+
Type=0
This option indicates the end of the option list. This might
not coincide with the end of the internet header according to
the internet header length. This is used at the end of all
options, not the end of each option, and need only be used if
the end of the options would not otherwise coincide with the end
of the internet header.
May be copied, introduced, or deleted on fragmentation.
[Page 16]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
No Operation
+--------+
|00000001|
+--------+
Type=1
This option may be used between options, for example, to align
the beginning of a subsequent option on a 32 bit boundary.
May be copied, introduced, or deleted on fragmentation.
Security
This option provides a way for DOD hosts to send security and
TCC (closed user groups) parameters through networks whose
transport leader does not contain fields for this information.
The format for this option is as follows:
+--------+--------+---------+--------+
|00000010|00000100|000000SS | TCC |
+--------+--------+---------+--------+
Type=2 Length=4
Security: 2 bits
Specifies one of 4 levels of security
11-top secret
10-secret
01-confidential
00-unclassified
Transmission Control Code: 8 bits
Provides a means to compartmentalize traffic and define
controlled communities of interest among subscribers.
Note that this option does not require processing by the
internet module but does require that this information be passed
to higher level protocol modules. The security and TCC
information might be used to supply class level and compartment
information for transmitting datagrams into or through
AUTODIN II.
Must be copied on fragmentation.
[Page 17]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
Source Route
+--------+--------+--------+---------//--------+
|00000011| length | source route |
+--------+--------+--------+---------//--------+
Type=3
The source route option provides a means for the source of an
internet datagram to supply routing information to be used by
the gateways in forwarding the datagram to the destination.
The option begins with the option type code. The second octet
is the option length which includes the option type code and the
length octet, as well as length-2 octets of source route data.
A source route is composed of a series of internet addresses.
Each internet address is 32 bits or 4 octets. The length
defaults to two, which indicates the source route is empty and
the remaining routing is to be based on the destination address
field.
If the address in destination address field has been reached and
this option's length is not two, the next address in the source
route replaces the address in the destination address field, and
is deleted from the source route and this option's length is
reduced by four. (The Internet Header Length Field must be
changed also.)
Must be copied on fragmentation.
Return Route
+--------+--------+--------+---------//--------+
|00000111| length | return route |
+--------+--------+--------+---------//--------+
Type=7
The return route option provides a means to record the route of
an internet datagram.
The option begins with the option type code. The second octet
is the option length which includes the option type code and the
length octet, as well as length-2 octets of return route data.
A return route is composed of a series of internet addresses.
The length defaults to two, which indicates the return route is
empty.
[Page 18]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
When an internet module routes a datagram it checks to see if
the return route option is present. If it is, it inserts its
own internet address as known in the environment into which this
datagram is being forwarded into the return route at the front
of the address string and increments the length by four.
Not copied on fragmentation, goes in first fragment only.
Stream Identifier
+--------+--------+---------+--------+
|00001000|00000010| Stream ID |
+--------+--------+---------+--------+
Type=8 Length=4
This option provides a way for the 16-bit SATNET stream
identifier to be carried through networks that do not support
the stream concept.
Must be copied on fragmentation.
General Error Report
+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+----//----+
|00100001| length |err code| id | |
+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+----//----+
Type=33
The general error report is used to report an error detected in
processing an internet datagram to the source internet module of
that datagram. The "err code" indicates the type of error
detected, and the "id" is copied from the identification field
of the datagram in error, additional octets of error information
may be present depending on the err code.
If an internet datagram containing the general error report
option is found to be in error or must be discarded, no error
report is sent.
ERR CODE:
0 - Undetermined Error, used when no information is available
about the type of error or the error does not fit any defined
class. Following the id should be as much of the datagram
(starting with the internet header) as fits in the option
space.
1 - Datagram Discarded, used when specific information is
[Page 19]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
available about the reason for discarding the datagram can be
reported. Following the id should be the original (4-octets)
destination address, and the (1-octet) reason.
Reason Description
------ -----------
0 No Reason
1 No One Wants It - No higher level protocol or
application program at destination wants this
datagram.
2 Fragmentation Needed & DF - Cannot deliver with out
fragmenting and has don't fragment bit set.
3 Reassembly Problem - Destination could not
reassemble due to missing fragments when time to
live expired.
4 Gateway Congestion - Gateway discarded datagram due
to congestion.
The error report is placed in a datagram with the following
values in the internet header fields:
Version: Same as the datagram in error.
IHL: As computed.
Type of Service: Zero.
Total Length: As computed.
Identification: A new identification is selected.
Flags: Zero.
Fragment Offset: Zero.
Time to Live: Sixty.
Protocol: Same as the datagram in error.
Header Checksum: As computed.
Source Address: Address of the error reporting module.
Destination Address: Source address of the datagram in error.
Options: The General Error Report Option.
Padding: As needed.
Not copied on fragmentation, goes with first fragment.
Internet Timestamp
+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|01000100|00000100| time in milliseconds |
+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
Type=68 Length=6
The data of the timestamp is a 32 bit time measured in
milliseconds.
[Page 20]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
Not copied on fragmentation, goes with first fragment
Satellite Timestamp
+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|01000101|00000100| time in milliseconds |
+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
Type=69 Length=6
The data of the timestamp is a 32 bit time measured in
milliseconds.
Not copied on fragmentation, goes with first fragment
Padding: variable
The internet header padding is used to ensure that the internet
header ends on a 32 bit boundary. The padding is zero.
3.2. Discussion
The implementation of a protocol must be robust. Each implementation
must expect to interoperate with others created by different
individuals. While the goal of this specification is to be explicit
about the protocol there is the possibility of differing
interpretations. In general, an implementation should be conservative
in its sending behavior, and liberal in its receiving behavior. That
is, it should be careful to send well-formed datagrams, but should
accept any datagram that it can interpret (e.g., not object to
technical errors where the meaning is still clear).
The basic internet service is datagram oriented and provides for the
fragmentation of datagrams at gateways, with reassembly taking place
at the destination internet protocol module in the destination host.
Of course, fragmentation and reassembly of datagrams within a network
or by private agreement between the gateways of a network is also
allowed since this is transparent to the internet protocols and the
higher-level protocols. This transparent type of fragmentation and
reassembly is termed "network-dependent" (or intranet) fragmentation
and is not discussed further here.
Internet addresses distinguish sources and destinations to the host
level and provide a protocol field as well. It is assumed that each
protocol will provide for whatever multiplexing is necessary within a
host.
[Page 21]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
Addressing
The 8 bit network number, which is the first octet of the address,
has a value as specified in reference [6].
The 24 bit local address, assigned by the local network, should
allow for a single physical host to act as several distinct internet
hosts. That is, there should be mapping between internet host
addresses and network/host interfaces that allows several internet
addresses to correspond to one interface. It should also be allowed
for a host to have several physical interfaces and to treat the
datagrams from several of them as if they were all addressed to a
single host. Address mappings between internet addresses and
addresses for ARPANET, SATNET, PRNET, and other networks are
described in reference [4].
Fragmentation and Reassembly.
The internet identification field (ID) is used together with the
source and destination address, and the protocol fields, to identify
datagram fragments for reassembly.
The More Fragments flag bit (MF) is set if the datagram is not the
last fragment. The Fragment Offset field identifies the fragment
location, relative to the beginning of the original unfragmented
datagram. Fragments are counted in units of 8 octets. The
fragmentation strategy is designed so than an unfragmented datagram
has all zero fragmentation information (MF = 0, fragment offset =
0). If an internet datagram is fragmented, its data portion must be
broken on 8 octet boundaries.
This format allows 2**13 = 8192 fragments of 8 octets each for a
total of 65,536 octets. Note that this is consistent with the the
datagram total length field.
When fragmentation occurs, some options are copied, but others
remain with the first fragment only.
Every internet module must be able to forward a datagram of 68
octets without further fragmentation. This is because an internet
header may be up to 60 octets, and the minimum fragment is 8 octets.
Every internet destination must be able to receive a datagram of 576
octets either in one piece or in fragments to be reassembled.
[Page 22]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
The fields which may be affected by fragmentation include:
(1) options field
(2) more fragments flag
(3) fragment offset
(4) internet header length field
(5) total length field
(6) header checksum
If the Don't Fragment flag (DF) bit is set, then internet
fragmentation of this datagram is NOT permitted, although it may be
discarded. This can be used to prohibit fragmentation in cases
where the receiving host does not have sufficient resources to
reassemble internet fragments.
General notation in the following pseudo programs: "=<" means "less
than or equal", "#" means "not equal", "=" means "equal", "<-" means
"is set to". Also, "x to y" includes x and excludes y; for example,
"4 to 7" would include 4, 5, and 6 (but not 7).
Fragmentation Procedure
The maximum sized datagram that can be transmitted through the
next network is called the maximum transmission unit (MTU).
If the total length is less than or equal the maximum transmission
unit then submit this datagram to the next step in datagram
processing; otherwise cut the datagram into two fragments, the
first fragment being the maximum size, and the second fragment
being the rest of the datagram. The first fragment is submitted
to the next step in datagram processing, while the second fragment
is submitted to this procedure in case it still too large.
Notation:
FO - Fragment Offset
IHL - Internet Header Length
MF - More Fragments flag
TL - Total Length
OFO - Old Fragment Offset
OIHL - Old Internet Header Length
OMF - Old More Fragments flag
OTL - Old Total Length
NFB - Number of Fragment Blocks
MTU - Maximum Transmission Unit
[Page 23]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
Procedure:
IF TL =< MTU THEN Submit this datagram to the next step
in datagram processing ELSE
To produce the first fragment:
(1) Copy the original internet header;
(2) OIHL <- IHL; OTL <- TL; OFO <- FO; OMF <- MF;
(3) NFB <- (MTU-IHL*4)/8;
(4) Attach the first NFB*8 data octets;
(5) Correct the header:
MF <- 1; TL <- (IHL*4)+(NFB*8);
Recompute Checksum;
(6) Submit this fragment to the next step in
datagram processing;
To produce the second fragment:
(7) Selectively copy the internet header (some options
are not copied, see option definitions);
(8) Append the remaining data;
(9) Correct the header:
IHL <- (((OIHL*4)-(length of options not copied))+3)/4;
TL <- OTL - NFB*8 - (OIHL-IHL)*4);
FO <- OFO + NFB; MF <- OMF; Recompute Checksum;
(10) Submit this fragment to the fragmentation test; DONE.
Reassembly Procedure
For each datagram the buffer identifier is computed as the
concatenation of the source, destination, protocol, and
identification fields. If this is a whole datagram (that is both
the fragment offset and the more fragments fields are zero), then
any reassembly resources associated with this buffer identifier
are released and the datagram is forwarded to the next step in
datagram processing.
If no other fragment with this buffer identifier is on hand then
reassembly resources are allocated. The reassembly resources
consist of a data buffer, a header buffer, a fragment block bit
table, a total data length field, and a timer. The data from the
fragment is placed in the data buffer according to its fragment
offset and length, and bits are set in the fragment block bit
table corresponding to the fragment blocks received.
If this is the first fragment (that is the fragment offset is
zero) this header is placed in the header buffer. If this is the
last fragment ( that is the more fragments field is zero) the
total data length is computed. If this fragment completes the
datagram (tested by checking the bits set in the fragment block
table), then the datagram is sent to the next step in datagram
[Page 24]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
processing; otherwise the timer is set to the maximum of the
current timer value and the value of the time to live field from
this fragment; and the reassembly routine gives up control.
If the timer runs out, the all reassembly resources for this
buffer identifier are released. The initial setting of the timer
is a lower bound on the reassembly waiting time. This is because
the waiting time will be increased if the Time to Live in the
arriving fragment is greater than the current timer value but will
not be decreased if it is less. The maximum this timer value
could reach is the maximum time to live (approximately 4.25
minutes). The current recommendation for the initial timer
setting is 15 seconds. This may be changed as experience with
this protocol accumulates. Note that the choice of this parameter
value is related to the buffer capacity available and the data
rate of the transmission medium; that is, data rate times timer
value equals buffer size (e.g., 10Kb/s X 15s = 150Kb).
Notation:
FO - Fragment Offset
IHL - Internet Header Length
MF - More Fragments flag
TTL - Time To Live
NFB - Number of Fragment Blocks
TL - Total Length
TDL - Total Data Length
BUFID - Buffer Identifier
RCVBT - Fragment Received Bit Table
TLB - Timer Lower Bound
[Page 25]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
Procedure:
(1) BUFID <- source|destination|protocol|identification;
(2) IF FO = 0 AND MF = 0
(3) THEN IF buffer with BUFID is allocated
(4) THEN flush all reassembly for this BUFID;
(5) Submit datagram to next step; DONE.
(6) ELSE IF no buffer with BUFID is allocated
(7) THEN allocate reassembly resources
with BUFID;
TIMER <- TLB; TDL <- 0;
(8) put data from fragment into data buffer with
BUFID from octet FO*8 to
octet (TL-(IHL*4))+FO*8;
(9) set RCVBT bits from FO
to FO+((TL-(IHL*4)+7)/8);
(10) IF MF = 0 THEN TDL <- TL-(IHL*4)+(FO*8)
(11) IF FO = 0 THEN put header in header buffer
(12) IF TDL # 0
(13) AND all RCVBT bits from 0
to (TDL+7)/8 are set
(14) THEN TL <- TDL+(IHL*4)
(15) Submit datagram to next step;
(16) free all reassembly resources
for this BUFID; DONE.
(17) TIMER <- MAX(TIMER,TTL);
(18) give up until next fragment or timer expires;
(19) timer expires: flush all reassembly with this BUFID; DONE.
In the case that two or more fragments contain the same data
either identically or through a partial overlap, this procedure
will use the more recently arrived copy in the data buffer and
datagram delivered.
Identification
The choice of the Identifier for a datagram is based on the need to
provide a way to uniquely identify the fragments of a particular
datagram. The protocol module assembling fragments judges fragments
to belong to the same datagram if they have the same source,
destination, protocol, and Identifier. Thus, the sender must choose
the Identifier to be unique for this source, destination pair and
protocol for the time the datagram (or any fragment of it) could be
alive in the internet.
It seems then that a sending protocol module needs to keep a table
of Identifiers, one entry for each destination it has communicated
with in the last maximum packet lifetime for the internet.
[Page 26]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
However, since the Identifier field allows 65,536 different values,
some host may be able to simply use unique identifiers independent
of destination.
It is appropriate for some higher level protocols to choose the
identifier. For example, TCP protocol modules may retransmit an
identical TCP segment, and the probability for correct reception
would be enhanced if the retransmission carried the same identifier
as the original transmission since fragments of either datagram
could be used to construct a correct TCP segment.
Type of Service
The type of service (TOS) is for internet service quality selection.
The type of service is specified along the abstract parameters
precedence, reliability, and speed. A further concern is the
possibility of efficient handling of streams of datagrams. These
abstract parameters are to be mapped into the actual service
parameters of the particular networks the datagram traverses.
Precedence. An independent measure of the importance of this
datagram.
Stream or Datagram. Indicates if there will be other datagrams from
this source to this destination at regular frequent intervals
justifying the maintenance of stream processing information.
Reliability. A measure of the level of effort desired to ensure
delivery of this datagram.
Speed over Reliability. Indicates the relative importance of speed
and reliability when a conflict arises in meeting the pair of
requests.
Speed. A measure of the importance of prompt delivery of this
datagram.
For example, the ARPANET has a priority bit, and a choice between
"standard" messages (type 0) and "uncontrolled" messages (type 3),
(the choice between single packet and multipacket messages can also
be considered a service parameter). The uncontrolled messages tend
to be less reliably delivered and suffer less delay. Suppose an
internet datagram is to be sent through the ARPANET. Let the
internet type of service be given as:
[Page 27]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
Precedence: 5
Stream: 0
Reliability: 1
S/R: 1
Speed: 1
The mapping of these parameters to those available for the ARPANET
would be to set the ARPANET priority bit on since the Internet
priority is in the upper half of its range, to select uncontrolled
messages since the speed and reliability requirements are equal and
speed is preferred.
The following chart presents the recommended mappings from the
internet protocol type of service into the service parameters
actually available on the ARPANET, the PRNET, and the SATNET:
+------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|Application | INTERNET | ARPANET | PRNET | SATNET |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|TELNET |S/D:stream| T: 3 | R: ptp | T: block |
| on | R:normal| S: S | A: no | D: min |
| TCP |S/R:speed | | | H: inf |
| | S:fast | | | R: no |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|FTP |S/D:stream| T: 0 | R: ptp | T: block |
| on | R:normal| S: M | A: no | D: normal|
| TCP |S/R:rlblt | | | H: inf |
| | S:normal| | | R: no |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|interactive |S/D:strm* | T: 3 | R: ptp | T: stream|
|narrow band | R:least | S: S | A: no | D: min |
| speech | P:speed | | | H: short |
| | S:asap | | | R: no |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|datagram |S/D:dtgrm | T: 3 or 0| R:station| T: block |
| | R:normal| S: S or M| A: no | D: min |
| |S/R:speed | | | H: short |
| | S:fast | | | R: no |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
key: S/D=strm/dtgrm T=type R=route T=type
R=reliability S=size A=ack D=delay
S/R=speed/rlblt H=holding time
S=speed R=reliability
*=requires stream set up
[Page 28]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
Time to Live
The time to live is set by the sender to the maximum time the
datagram is allowed to be in the internet system. If the datagram
is in the internet system longer than the time to live, then the
datagram should be destroyed. This field should be decreased at
each point that the internet header is processed to reflect the time
spent processing the datagram. Even if no local information is
available on the time actually spent, the field should be
decremented by 1. The time is measured in units of seconds (i.e.
the value 1 means one second). Thus, the maximum time to live is
255 seconds or 4.25 minutes.
Options
The options are just that, optional. That is, the presence or
absence of an option is the choice of the sender, but each internet
module must be able to parse every option. There can be several
options present in the option field.
The options might not end on a 32-bit boundary. The internet header
should be filled out with octets of zeros. The first of these would
be interpreted as the end-of-options option, and the remainder as
internet header padding.
Every internet module must be able to act on the following options:
End of Option List (0), No Operation (1), Source Route (3), Return
Route (7), General Error Report (33), and Internet Timestamp (68).
The Security Option (2) is required only if classified or
compartmented traffic is to be passed.
Checksum
The internet header checksum is recomputed if the internet header is
changed. For example, a reduction of the time to live, additions or
changes to internet options, or due to fragmentation. This checksum
at the internet level is intended to protect the internet header
fields from transmission errors.
[Page 29]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
3.3. Examples & Scenarios
Example 1:
This is an example of the minimal data carrying internet datagram:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|Ver= 4 |IHL= 5 |Type of Service| Total Length = 21 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Identification = 111 |Flg=0| Fragment Offset = 0 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Time = 123 | Protocol = 1 | header checksum |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| source address |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| destination address |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| data |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Example Internet Datagram
Figure 4.
Note that each tick mark represents one bit position.
This is a internet datagram in version 4 of internet protocol; the
internet header consists of five 32 bit words, and the total length
of the datagram is 21 octets. This datagram is a complete datagram
(not a fragment).
[Page 30]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
Example 2:
In this example, we show first a moderate size internet datagram
(552 data octets), then two internet fragments that might result
from the fragmentation of this datagram if the maximum sized
transmission allowed were 280 octets.
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|Ver= 4 |IHL= 5 |Type of Service| Total Length = 472 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Identification = 111 |Flg=0| Fragment Offset = 0 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Time = 123 | Protocol = 6 | header checksum |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| source address |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| destination address |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| data |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| data |
\ \
\ \
| data |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| data |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Example Internet Datagram
Figure 5.
[Page 31]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
Now the first fragment that results from splitting the datagram
after 256 data octets.
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|Ver= 4 |IHL= 5 |Type of Service| Total Length = 276 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Identification = 111 |Flg=1| Fragment Offset = 0 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Time = 119 | Protocol = 6 | Header Checksum |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| source address |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| destination address |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| data |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| data |
\ \
\ \
| data |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| data |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Example Internet Fragment
Figure 6.
[Page 32]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
And the second fragment.
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|Ver= 4 |IHL= 5 |Type of Service| Total Length = 216 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Identification = 111 |Flg=0| Fragment Offset = 32 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Time = 119 | Protocol = 6 | Header Checksum |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| source address |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| destination address |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| data |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| data |
\ \
\ \
| data |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| data |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Example Internet Fragment
Figure 7.
[Page 33]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
Example 3:
Here, we show an example of a datagram containing options:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|Ver= 4 |IHL= 8 |Type of Service| Total Length = 576 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Identification = 111 |Flg=0| Fragment Offset = 0 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Time = 123 | Protocol = 6 | Header Checksum |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| source address |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| destination address |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Opt. Code = x | Opt. Len.= 3 | option value | Opt. Code = x |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Opt. Len. = 4 | option value | Opt. Code = 1 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Opt. Code = y | Opt. Len. = 3 | option value | Opt. Code = 0 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| data |
\ \
\ \
| data |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| data |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Example Internet Datagram
Figure 8.
3.4. Interfaces
Internet protocol interfaces on one side to the local network and on
the other side to either a higher level protocol or an application
program. In the following, the higher level protocol or application
program (or even a gateway program) will be called the "user" since it
is using the internet module. Since internet protocol is a datagram
protocol, there is minimal memory or state maintained between datagram
transmissions, and each call on the internet protocol module by the
user supplies all the necessary information.
[Page 34]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
For example, the following two calls satisfy the requirements for the
user to internet protocol module communication ("=>" means returns):
SEND (dest, TOS, TTL, BufPTR, len, Id, DF, options => result)
where:
dest = destination address
TOS = type of service
TTL = time to live
BufPTR = buffer pointer
len = length of buffer
Id = Identifier
DF = Don't Fragment
options = option data
result = response
OK = datagram sent ok
Error = error in arguments or local network error
RECV (BufPTR => result, source, dest, prot, TOS, len)
where:
BufPTR = buffer pointer
result = response
OK = datagram received ok
Error = error in arguments
source = source address
dest = destination address
prot = protocol
TOS = type of service
len = length of buffer
When the user sends a datagram, it executes the SEND call supplying
all the arguments. The internet protocol module, on receiving this
call, checks the arguments and prepares and sends the message. If the
arguments are good and the datagram is accepted by the local network,
the call returns successfully. If either the arguments are bad, or
the datagram is not accepted by the local network, the call returns
unsuccessfully. On unsuccessful returns, a reasonable report should
be made as to the cause of the problem, but the details of such
reports are up to individual implementations.
When a datagram arrives at the internet protocol module from the local
network, either there is a pending RECV call from the user addressed
or there is not. In the first case, the pending call is satisfied by
passing the information from the datagram to the user. In the second
case, the user addressed is notified of a pending datagram. If the
[Page 35]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Specification
user addressed does not exist, an error datagram is returned to the
sender, and the data is discarded.
The notification of a user may be via a pseudo interrupt or similar
mechanism, as appropriate in the particular operating system
environment of the implementation.
A user's RECV call may then either be immediately satisfied by a
pending datagram, or the call may be pending until a datagram arrives.
An implementation may also allow or require a call to the internet
module to indicate interest in or reserve exclusive use of a class of
datagrams (e.g., all those with a certain value in the protocol
field).
[Page 36]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
GLOSSARY
1822
BBN Report 1822, "The Specification of the Interconnection of
a Host and an IMP". The specification of interface between a
host and the ARPANET.
ARPANET message
The unit of transmission between a host and an IMP in the
ARPANET. The maximum size is about 1012 octets (8096 bits).
ARPANET packet
A unit of transmission used internally in the ARPANET between
IMPs. The maximum size is about 126 octets (1008 bits).
Destination
The destination address, an internet header field.
DF
The Don't Fragment bit carried in the flags field.
Flags
An internet header field carrying various control flags.
Fragment Offset
This internet header field indicates where in the internet
datagram a fragment belongs.
header
Control information at the beginning of a message, segment,
datagram, packet or block of data.
Identification
An internet header field carrying the identifying value
assigned by the sender to aid in assembling the fragments of a
datagram.
IHL
The internet header field Internet Header Length is the length
of the internet header measured in 32 bit words.
IMP
The Interface Message Processor, the packet switch of the
ARPANET.
[Page 37]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Glossary
Internet Address
A four octet (32 bit) source or destination address consisting
of a Network field and a Local Address field.
internet fragment
A portion of the data of an internet datagram with an internet
header.
internet datagram
The unit of data exchanged between a pair of internet modules
(includes the internet header).
ARPANET leader
The control information on an ARPANET message at the host-IMP
interface.
Local Address
The address of a host within a network. The actual mapping of
an internet local address on to the host addresses in a
network is quite general, allowing for many to one mappings.
MF
The More-Fragments Flag carried in the internet header flags
field.
module
An implementation, usually in software, of a protocol or other
procedure.
more-fragments flag
A flag indicating whether or not this internet datagram
contains the end of an internet datagram, carried in the
internet header Flags field.
NFB
The Number of Fragment Blocks in a the data portion of an
internet fragment. That is, the length of a portion of data
measured in 8 octet units.
octet
An eight bit byte.
Options
The internet header Options field may contain several options,
and each option may be several octets in length. The options
are used primarily in testing situations, for example to carry
timestamps.
[Page 38]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
Glossary
Padding
The internet header Padding field is used to ensure that the
data begins on 32 bit word boundary. The padding is zero.
Protocol
In this document, the next higher level protocol identifier,
an internet header field.
Rest
The 3 octet (24 bit) local address portion of an Internet
Address.
RTP
Real Time Protocol: A host-to-host protocol for communication
of time critical information.
Source
The source address, an internet header field.
TCP
Transmission Control Protocol: A host-to-host protocol for
reliable communication in internet environments.
TCP Segment
The unit of data exchanged between TCP modules (including the
TCP header).
Total Length
The internet header field Total Length is the length of the
datagram in octets including internet header and data.
Type of Service
An internet header field which indicates the type (or quality)
of service for this internet datagram.
User
The user of the internet protocol. This may be a higher level
protocol module, an application program, or a gateway program.
Version
The Version field indicates the format of the internet header.
[Page 39]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
[Page 40]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
REFERENCES
[1] Cerf, V., "The Catenet Model for Internetworking," Information
Processing Techniques Office, Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency, IEN 48, July 1978.
[2] Bolt Beranek and Newman, "Specification for the Interconnection of
a Host and an IMP," BBN Technical Report 1822, May 1978 (Revised).
[3] Shoch, J., "Inter-Network Naming, Addressing, and Routing,"
COMPCON, IEEE Computer Society, Fall 1978.
[4] Postel, J., "Address Mappings," IEN 115, USC/Information Sciences
Institute, August 1979.
[5] Shoch, J., "Packet Fragmentation in Inter-Network Protocols,"
Computer Networks, v. 3, n. 1, February 1979.
[6] Postel, J., "Assigned Numbers," RFC 762, IEN 127, USC/Information
Sciences Institute, January 1980.
[Page 41]
^L
January 1980
Internet Protocol
[Page 42]
^L
|