IPCP uses the same packet exchange mechanism as the Link Control Protocol.
IPCP packets may not be exchanged until PPP has reached the Network-Layer Protocol phase, and any IPCP packets received before this phase is reached should be silently discarded.
[1] A PPP endpoint can request a specific IP address from its peer.
In practice, in protocols like PPPoE which is commonly used in home broadband connections, the latter method (request suggestion, nak with suggestion, request suggested address) is used to set the IP address of the ISP's client endpoint (i.e. the customer-premises equipment), while the former method (request address) is used to inform the client of the ISP endpoint IP (provider edge equipment).
[clarification needed] A similar NCP, the IPv6 Control Protocol exists for IPv6.
After the configuration is done, the link is able to carry IP data as a payload of the PPP frame.
IPCP Configuration Options allow negotiatiation of desirable Internet Protocol parameters.