How to configure IPv6 virtual machines with Proxmox on Elastic Metal

When you install your server with a virtualization solution like Proxmox, you can create multiple virtual machines on the physical server and configure them to use flexible IPv6 addresses.

This guide covers the steps for configuring the network interfaces on different distributions inside a virtual machine on a Proxmox host using flexible IPv6 addresses on Elastic Metal servers.

Before you startLink to this anchor

To complete the actions presented below, you must have:

• A Scaleway account logged into the console
• Owner status or IAM permissions allowing you to perform actions in the intended Organization
• An Elastic Metal server with a hypervisor (Proxmox) installed
• A flexible IPv6
• A virtual MAC address

Finding your IPv6 gatewayLink to this anchor

1. Log into the virtual machine using SSH.
2. Identify the network interface:

   ip a
   

   Take note of the interface name (e.g., ens18).
3. Find the IPv6 gateway:

   ip -6 route
   

   Look for the line specifying the default route:

   default via fe80::xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx dev ens18 proto static metric 1024 onlink
   

   The fe80::xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx part is the link-local IPv6 gateway address.

Ubuntu - Configuration with NetplanLink to this anchor

1. Open the Netplan configuration file:

   sudo nano /etc/netplan/01-netcfg.yaml
   

2. Configure the network settings:

   network:
     version: 2
     renderer: networkd
     ethernets:
       ens18:
         dhcp4: false
         dhcp6: false
         accept-ra: no
         addresses:
           - FLEXIBLE_IPv4/32
           - "FLEXIBLE_IPv6/64"
         routes:
           - to: 0.0.0.0/0
             via: 62.210.0.1
             on-link: true
           - to: "::/0"
             via: "LINK_LOCAL_IPv6_GATEWAY"
             on-link: true
         nameservers:
           addresses:
             - 51.159.47.28
             - 51.159.47.26
   

   Replace the placeholders with actual values.
3. Apply the configuration:

   sudo netplan apply
   

DebianLink to this anchor

1. Edit the network interfaces file:

   sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces
   

2. Configure the network interface:

   auto ens18
   iface ens18 inet static
     address FLEXIBLE_IPv4
     netmask 255.255.255.255
     gateway 62.210.0.1
   iface ens18 inet6 static
     address FLEXIBLE_IPv6
     netmask 64
     gateway LINK_LOCAL_IPv6_GATEWAY
   

3. Set the DNS resolver:

   sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf
   

4. Add the following lines:

   nameserver 51.159.47.28
   nameserver 51.159.47.26
   

5. Activate the network configuration:

   sudo ifup ens18
   

CentOSLink to this anchor

1. Edit the network script file:

   sudo nano /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-ens18
   

2. Configure the network interface:

   DEVICE=ens18
   BOOTPROTO=none
   ONBOOT=yes
   USERCTL=no
   IPV6INIT=yes
   PEERDNS=yes
   TYPE=Ethernet
   NETMASK=255.255.255.255
   IPADDR=FLEXIBLE_IPv4
   IPV6ADDR=FLEXIBLE_IPv6
   GATEWAY=62.210.0.1
   DNS1=51.159.47.28
   DNS2=51.159.47.26
   ARP=yes
   HWADDR=virtual:mac:address
   

3. Enable the network interface:

   sudo ifup ens18
   

Debugging Configuration IssuesLink to this anchor

If your IPv6 configuration does not work, try the following:

1. Check the interface configuration:

   ip a
   ip route
   ip -6 route
   

2. Run a ping test:

   ping -6 google.com
   

3. Verify DNS resolution:

   dig google.com
   dig -6 google.com
   

4. Check firewall settings:

   sudo iptables -L -v -n
   sudo ip6tables -L -v -n
   

5. Restart network services:

   sudo systemctl restart systemd-networkd
   

6. Verify the link-local address:

   ip -6 addr show dev ens18
   ping -6 LINK_LOCAL_IPv6_GATEWAY