2.2. Payload Length

This 8-bit field specifies the length of AH in 32-bit words (4-byte units), minus "2". Thus, for example, if an integrity algorithm yields a 96-bit authentication value, this length field will be "4" (3 32-bit word fixed fields plus 3 32-bit words for the ICV, minus 2). For IPv6, the total length of the header must be a multiple of 8-octet units. (Note that although IPv6 [DH98] characterizes AH as an extension header, its length is measured in 32-bit words, not the 64-bit words used by other IPv6 extension headers.) See Section 2.6, "Integrity Check Value (ICV)", for comments on padding of this field, and Section 3.3.3.2.1, "ICV Padding".