How is IPv6 configured?

IPv6 can be configured in several ways, including manually assigning addresses. The following details configuring IPv6 manually.

Manual IPv6 Configuration using the Command Line

This method involves using the netsh command-line tool in Windows to configure IPv6 settings. Here's a breakdown of the process:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

   • Click Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

2. Enter netsh Context:

   • At the command prompt, type netsh and press Enter. This enters the Network Shell context.

3. Enter IPv6 Interface Context:

   • Type interface ipv6 and press Enter. This navigates to the IPv6 interface configuration.

From this point you can issue commands to configure IPv6. Here are a few examples of common configuration tasks within the netsh interface ipv6 context:

• Setting an IPv6 Address:

  To configure a static IPv6 address, you would use a command like:

  netsh interface ipv6 add address "Interface Name" <IPv6 Address>/<Prefix Length>

  • Replace "Interface Name" with the name of your network interface (e.g., "Ethernet").
  • Replace <IPv6 Address> with the IPv6 address you want to assign (e.g., 2001:db8::1).
  • Replace <Prefix Length> with the subnet prefix length (e.g., 64).

• Setting a Default Gateway:

  To add a default gateway for IPv6 traffic, you would use a command like:

  netsh interface ipv6 add route ::/0 "Interface Name" <Gateway IPv6 Address>

  • Replace "Interface Name" with the name of your network interface.
  • Replace <Gateway IPv6 Address> with the IPv6 address of your default gateway.

• Enabling or Disabling IPv6 on an Interface

  To enable or disable IPv6 on an interface, use the following commands:

  netsh interface ipv6 set interface "Interface Name" enabled
  netsh interface ipv6 set interface "Interface Name" disabled

  • Replace "Interface Name" with the name of your network interface.

Important Notes:

• Administrative Privileges: Configuring IPv6 settings requires administrative privileges. Ensure you run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
• Interface Name: Double-check the exact name of your network interface. You can find this in the Network Connections settings.
• Prefix Length: The prefix length (typically /64) determines the size of the subnet.