Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.07.14
What are the well-known IPv6 multicast addresses ff02::1 and ff02::2?
ff02::1 = all nodes on the link; ff02::2 = all routers on the link. The ff02:: prefix means link-local scope multicast.
* Structure of an IPv6 multicast address with scope field. — Michel Bakni, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. *
Multicast addresses begin with ff (the high 8 bits are all ones). The 02 indicates link-local scope (stays on the segment):
| Address | Group |
|---|---|
ff02::1 |
all nodes on the link (the closest thing IPv6 has to "broadcast") |
ff02::2 |
all routers on the link |
ff05::2 |
all routers, site-local scope |
This is how IPv6 replaces broadcast: instead of "shout to everyone," you address the specific relevant group — e.g. a Router Solicitation goes to ff02::2 (routers only), not to every device.
Tip: The 4th hex digit of a multicast address encodes scope: 1=interface-local, 2=link-local, 5=site-local, e=global.
Go deeper:
Multicast address — IPv6 (Wikipedia) — the notable-address table (ff02::1, ff02::2, …), the scope field, and the solicited-node format.