ernet Protocol Control Protocol (IPCP)

The Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) provides a standard method of

encapsulating Network Layer protocol information over point-to-point
links.PPP also defines an extensible Link Control Protocol, and proposes a
family of Network Control Protocols (NCPs) for establishing and configuring
different network-layer protocols.

PPP has three main components:

1. A method for encapsulating datagrams over serial links.
2. A Link Control Protocol (LCP) for establishing, configuring, and
testing the data-link connection.
3. A family of Network Control Protocols (NCPs) for establishing and
configuring different network-layer protocols. In order to establish
communications over a point-to-point link, each end of the PPP
link must first send LCP packets to configure and test the data
link. After the link has been established and optional facilities
have been negotiated as needed by the LCP, PPP must send NCP
packets to choose and configure one or more network-layer
protocols.
Once each of the chosen network-layer protocols has been
configured, datagrams from each network-layer protocol can be
sent over the link. The link will remain configured for
communications until explicit LCP or NCP packets close the link
down, or until some external event occurs (an inactivity timer
expires or network administrator intervention).

IPCP is responsible for configuring the IP addresses as

well as for enabling and disabling the IP protocol modules
on both ends of the point-to-point link. IPCP uses the
same packet exchange mechanism as the
Link Control Protocol.
IPCP packets may not be exchanged until PPP has
reached the Network-Layer Protocol phase, and any IPCP
packets received before this phase is reached should be
silently discarded.
IPCP has the NCP protocol code number 0x8021.
Each of the two endpoints of a PPP connection must send
an IPCP configure request to its peer because the TCP/IP
options are independent for each direction of a PPP
connection.

A PPP endpoint can request a specific IP address

from its peer. It can also ask the peer to suggest
an IP address by requesting the address 0.0.0.0;
the peer then sends its suggestion in a IPCP Nak
packet, which the first peer must subsequently
request in order to complete the negotiation.

A similar NCP, theIPv6 Control Protocolexists for

IPv6. It can be used together with IPCP on the
same PPP connection for adual stacklink. (When
interfacing newer and older equipment that
doesn't support IPv6 one sees LCP ProtRej
messages for protocol 0x8057 from the side that
doesn't support IPV6CP.)

e configuration is done, the link is able to carry IP data as a payload of the PPP fr
de indicates that IP data is being carried.
eader:

00000000001111111111222222222233
01234567890123456789012345678901

PPP header

Code

Data:::

IPCP header

Identifier

Length

Data:::

s the function to be performed.

er.8 bits.
match requests and replies.
16 bits.
he packet including the header.
ariable length.
more bytes of data as indicated by the Length. This field may contain one or mor
Code

Description

References

Vendor
Specific.

RFC 2153

ConfigureRequest.

Configure-Ack.

Configure-Nak.

ConfigureReject.

TerminateRequest.

Terminate-Ack.