askvity

How to Configure an IPv6 Router?

Published in IPv6 Networking 5 mins read

Configuring an IPv6 router involves several key steps, from ensuring prerequisites are met to configuring the network name service. Here's a breakdown of the process:

1. Prerequisites

Before diving into the configuration, confirm you have the following:

  • IPv6 Connectivity: Verify that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) supports IPv6 and has provided you with the necessary addressing information (e.g., a global IPv6 prefix).
  • Router Compatibility: Ensure your router supports IPv6. Refer to your router's documentation or manufacturer's website. Most modern routers offer IPv6 support.
  • Addressing Plan: Develop a clear addressing plan for your network. Decide how you'll assign IPv6 addresses to devices (e.g., using SLAAC (Stateless Address Autoconfiguration) or DHCPv6).
  • Knowledge of your Router's Interface: Familiarize yourself with your router's web interface or command-line interface (CLI).

2. Router Configuration

The specific steps vary depending on your router's manufacturer and model, but the general process includes:

2.1. Accessing the Router

  • Web Interface: Open a web browser and enter your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Log in using your administrator credentials.
  • CLI: Connect to the router using SSH or Telnet (if enabled). Log in using your administrator credentials.

2.2. Enabling IPv6

  • Locate IPv6 Settings: Navigate to the IPv6 configuration section within your router's interface. This is often found under "WAN," "Internet," or "Advanced Settings."
  • Enable IPv6: Enable the IPv6 option.

2.3. Configuring IPv6 Connection Type

Select the appropriate connection type based on your ISP's requirements. Common options include:

  • Automatic (DHCPv6): The router automatically obtains an IPv6 address and other configuration information from your ISP's DHCPv6 server. This is common for residential connections.
  • Static IPv6: Manually enter the IPv6 address, prefix length, gateway, and DNS server addresses provided by your ISP.
  • Tunneling (6to4, Teredo): Used to tunnel IPv6 traffic over an IPv4 network if your ISP doesn't natively support IPv6. Less common now as native IPv6 adoption increases. Important: Teredo is often disabled for security reasons.
  • PPPoE (Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet): Used by some ISPs, often requiring a username and password for authentication. Configure the PPPoE settings according to your ISP's instructions, paying close attention to IPv6 options if available.

2.4. Configuring LAN (Local Area Network) IPv6 Settings

  • SLAAC (Stateless Address Autoconfiguration): The router advertises its IPv6 prefix to devices on the LAN, and each device generates its own unique IPv6 address using the prefix and its MAC address. Enable Router Advertisement (RA). You can optionally also enable DHCPv6 for additional configuration options (e.g., DNS server addresses).
  • DHCPv6: The router acts as a DHCPv6 server, assigning IPv6 addresses and other configuration information to devices on the LAN.
  • Router Advertisement Options: Configure the router advertisement (RA) settings, such as the prefix lifetime and the managed address configuration flag (M flag), which determines whether devices should use DHCPv6 for address assignment.

2.5. Configuring DNS Servers

  • Automatic: Allow the router to obtain DNS server addresses automatically from your ISP via DHCPv6 or RA.
  • Manual: Specify IPv6 DNS server addresses manually. Consider using public DNS servers like Google Public DNS (2001:4860:4860::8888, 2001:4860:4860::8844) or Cloudflare DNS (2606:4700:4700::1111, 2606:4700:4700::1001).

2.6. Firewall Configuration

  • IPv6 Firewall: Ensure your router's firewall is configured to allow IPv6 traffic. By default, most firewalls block all incoming connections. Carefully configure rules to allow necessary traffic while blocking unwanted connections.

2.7. Save and Reboot

  • Save Changes: Save the changes you've made to the router's configuration.
  • Reboot: Reboot the router for the changes to take effect.

3. Verification

After configuring the router, verify IPv6 connectivity:

  • Check Router Status: Check the router's status page to confirm that it has obtained an IPv6 address and is advertising its prefix.
  • Test Connectivity: Use online IPv6 test websites (e.g., test-ipv6.com) or ping an IPv6 address (e.g., ping ipv6.google.com) from a device on your network.

Example Configuration Snippet (Illustrative)

This is an illustrative example. Actual commands depend on the specific router and OS.

# Enable IPv6 routing
ipv6 unicast-routing

# Interface configuration (e.g., GigabitEthernet0/0)
interface GigabitEthernet0/0
 ipv6 address autoconfig
 ipv6 enable
!
#Configure DHCPv6
ipv6 dhcp pool LAN_POOL
 address prefix ::/64
 dns-server 2001:4860:4860::8888
 dns-server 2001:4860:4860::8844

interface GigabitEthernet0/1 #LAN interface example
 ipv6 address autoconfig
 ipv6 enable
 ipv6 nd ra-interval 200 #Optional tune RA intervall
 ipv6 dhcp server LAN_POOL rapid

Important Considerations:

  • Security: Pay close attention to firewall configuration to protect your network from unauthorized access.
  • Documentation: Consult your router's documentation for specific configuration instructions and troubleshooting tips.
  • Testing: Thoroughly test IPv6 connectivity after making any changes to the router's configuration.

Related Articles