Configuring Internet Protocol Version 6
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Section 3. Configuring Internet Protocol Version 6
The device functions as an IPv6 compliant Host, as well as an IPv4 Host (also known as dual stack). This allows
device operation in a pure IPv6 network as well as in a combined IPv4/IPv6 network.
The primary change from IPv4 to IPv6 is the length of network addresses. IPv6 addresses are 128 bits long,
whereas IPv4 addresses are 32 bits; allowing a much larger address space.
This section contains information on configuring the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) of the device.
IPv6 Syntax
The 128-bit IPv6 address format is divided into eight groups of four hexadecimal digits. Abbreviation of this format
is done by replacing a group of zeros with
double colons
. The IPv6 address representation can be further
simplified by suppressing the leading zeros.
All different IPv6 address formats are acceptable for insertion, yet for display purposes, the system displays the
most abbreviated form, which replaces groups of zeros with
double colons
and removes the
leading zeros
.
IPv6 Prefixes
While Unicast IPv6 addresses written with their prefix lengths are permitted, in practice their prefix lengths are
always 64 bits and therefore are not required to be expressed. Any prefix that is less than 64 bits is a route or
address range that is summarizing a portion of the IPv6 address space.
For every assignment of an IP address to an interface, the system runs the
Duplicate Address Detection
algorithm
to ensure uniqueness.
An intermediary transition mechanism is required for IPv6-only nodes to communicate with IPv6 nodes over an
IPv4 infrastructure. The tunneling mechanism implemented is the Intra-Site Automatic Tunnel Addressing Protocol
(ISATAP). This protocol treats the IPv4 network as a virtual IPv6 local-link, with each IPv4 address mapped to a
Link Local IPv6 address.
This section describes the following topics:
•
Defining IPv6 Interfaces
•
Defining the IPv6 Default Gateway
•
Configuring Tunnels
•
Defining IPv6 Neighbors
Defining IPv6 Interfaces
The
IPv6 Interface Page
provides parameters for defining IPv6 interfaces. When an interface is selected on a
locally connected device, the system creates an IP interface and automatically configures a Link Local
address(es) on the interface. The automatically generated Link Local IPv6 address(es) cannot be removed or
modified. When an interface is selected on a remotely connected device, the system creates an IPv6 interface and
automatically configures both Global and Link Local address(es) on the interface. The automatically generated
IPv6 address(es) cannot be removed or modified.
