IPv6 and the TCP/IP protocol architecture

As Figure 6-10 illustrates, the TCP/IP protocol networking stack on the Microsoft Windows platform is implemented using a dual IP layer approach. This means for example that
■Only a single implementation of transport layer protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is needed for both IPv4 and IPv6 communications.
■Only a single implementation of framing layer protocols—such as Ethernet (802.3), Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), and mobile broadband (802.11)—is needed for both IPv4 and IPv6 communications.
This dual IP layer TCP/IP stack is implemented on the following Windows platforms:

■Windows 8
■Windows 7
■Windows Vista
■Windows Server 2012
■Windows Server 2008 R2
■Windows Server 2008