Internet Protocol supports different address types. This chapter gives an overview.
Unicast
The source sends an IP packet to a certain station within the same or different net-
work (specified by the unicast address).
Anycast
The source sends an IP packet to a set of stations. It is delivered to the closest
interface (in terms of routing protocols, e.g. server in next network).
Broadcast
The source sends an IP packet to all stations of the same or different network
(specified by the network identification of the IP address). In IPv6 broadcast ad-
dresses are not supported.
Multicast
The source sends an IP packet to a certain group of stations of the same or dif-
ferent network (specified by a dedicated IP address). End systems have to "join" a
multicast group in order to receive packets for that group. In IPv6 multicast is a
very important address type.
