Which IPv6 extension header is used to specify intermediate nodes for a packet's path?

In the IPv6 architecture, the base header is kept at a fixed size of 40 bytes to streamline processing. Any additional features or options are handled byExtension Headers, which are inserted between the IPv6 header and the upper-layer protocol. According to Juniper Networks technical documentation and RFC 8200, when a source node needs to list one or more intermediate nodes to be "visited" on the way to the final destination, it utilizes theRouting extension header (Option B).

The Routing header is functionally similar to the "Source Route" option in IPv4. When a packet contains a Routing header, it is addressed to the first intermediate node listed in the header. That node examines the header, swaps its own address with the next address in the list, and forwards the packet. This process continues until the packet reaches the final destination. This is a foundational component for technologies likeSegment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6), where the Routing header (specifically the Segment Routing Header or SRH) is used to steer traffic through a specific set of service instructions or nodes.

To distinguish this from the other options:

Hop-by-hop options (Option A):These carry information that must be examined byeverynode along the path (such as Router Alert), not just specific intermediate nodes.

Fragment (Option C):This is used only when the source node needs to fragment a packet that exceeds the path MTU.

Destination options (Option D):These carry optional information intended specifically for the destination node (or nodes listed in a Routing header), but they do not dictate the path themselves.