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In IPv6, normally the first ____ bits identify the network.

a. 32
b. 48
c. 64
d. 96

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

In IPv6, the network portion of an address is identified by the first 64 bits, commonly referred to as the network prefix.

Step-by-step explanation:

In IPv6, the first 64 bits typically identify the network portion of an address. This part of the address, known as the network prefix, is used to determine the network to which a given address belongs. Unlike IPv4, which generally uses a 32-bit address space, IPv6 addresses are 128 bits long, allowing for a much larger address space. This is especially useful given the ever-growing number of devices connecting to the internet. Therefore, the network prefix can be used to distinguish between different networks, while the remaining 64 bits are often used for interface identifiers, allowing for many more unique addresses within those networks.