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Internet 6lo Working Group 6lowpan, header compression, ethertype When carried over Layer 2 technologies such as Ethernet, IPv6 datagrams using Low-Power Wireless Personal Area Network (LoWPAN) encapsulation as defined in RFC 4944 must be identified so the receiver can correctly interpret the encoded IPv6 datagram. The IETF officially requested the assignment of an Ethertype for that purpose and this document reports that assignment.

The IETF defined "LoWPAN encapsulation", a format for IPv6 datagram encapsulation . This document regards any IPv6 datagram using the Dispatch octet as defined in Section 5.1 of RFC 4944 as using LoWPAN encapsulation. LoWPAN encapsulation as defined in RFC 4944 has been updated by , and may be extended and modified by future IETF Standards. The intended Layer 2 technology for IPv6 datagrams using LoWPAN encapsulation as originally defined is , which does not provide for a protocol switch in its Layer 2 headers. The following list gives some example use cases for the Ethertype-based protocol dispatch for the LoWPAN-encapsulated IPv6 datagram: Usage of LoWPAN encapsulation in conjunction with IEEE 802.15.9 Multiplexed Data Service , which provides the ability to perform upper layer protocol dispatch for IEEE 802.15.4 networks. Wi-SUN Alliance intends to use the 15.9 Multiplexed Data Information Element for upper layer protocol dispatch. As specified in IEEE 802.15.9, dispatch of LoWPAN encapsulation frames will require that an Ethertype be assigned for LoWPAN encapsulation. LoWPAN encapsulation will likely be needed for Wi-Fi Alliance's HaLoW standard (low-power operation in the 900 MHz band). Other Layer 2 technologies such as Ethernet and debugging tools such as Wireshark require a unique Protocol Type field for LoWPAN encapsulation to properly interpret IPv6 datagrams that use LoWPAN encapsulation. Any existing or future Layer 2 technology, incorporating Ethertype-based upper layer dispatch, can use the Ethertype proposed in this document to dispatch LoWPAN-encapsulated IPv6 datagrams.

The IETF formally submitted a request to IEEE for assignment of an Ethertype for IPv6 datagrams using LoWPAN encapsulation. IEEE has responded with the assignment of Ethertype 0xA0ED for this purpose. The assignment has been recorded by IEEE .

IANA has added the following entry to the "ETHER TYPES" subregistry of the "IEEE 802 Numbers" registry : Ethertype (decimal): 41197 Ethertype (hex): A0ED Exp. Ethernet (decimal): - Exp. Ethernet (octal): - Description: LoWPAN encapsulation References: RFC 7973 (this document)

This document only requests assignment of an Ethertype for IPv6 datagrams using LoWPAN encapsulation. It has no incremental implications for security beyond those in the relevant protocols.

&RFC2460; &RFC4944; &RFC6282; IANA IEEE The protocol and compatible interconnection for data communication devices using low data-rate, low-power, and low-complexity short-range radio frequency (RF) transmissions in a wire less personal area network (WPAN) were defined in IEEE Std 802.15.4-2006. In this revision, the market applicability of IEEE Std 802.15.4 is extended, the ambiguities in the standard are removed, and the improvements learned from implementations of IEEE Std 802.15.4-2006 are included. Wi-Fi Alliance IEEE IEEE