IPv6

With IPv4 addresses shortage, IPv6 was developed by increasing the address size to
128bits. IPv6 address is represented in hexadecimal notation separated by colon.
IPv6 address example: Each hexadecimal digit contain 4 bits and divided into 8 groups.

IPv6 is backward compatible with IPv4 and provides built-in authentication and
encryption into the IPv6 network header, allow hosts to auto configure their IPv6
address based on network prefixes advertised by routers.
IPv6 address are not case sensitive and we can drop leading Zeros in each field of an
IPv6 address. For eg.
1423:0021:0C13:CC1E:3142:0001:2222:3333
Can be written as 1423:21:C13:CC1E:3142:1:2222:3333

Consecutive quarters of all zeros can be replaced with [ :: ]

F12F:0000:0000:CC1E:2412:1111:2222:3333
Can be written as F12F::CC1E:2412:1111:2222:3333
Consecutive quarters of all zeros can only be abbreviated once in IPv6. For e.g.
2001:0000:0000:0000:20A1:0000:0000:3YBD
Can be written as 2001::20A1:0:0:3YBD

Practice IPv6 abbreviation exercise

2001:0db8:3c4d:0015:0000:0000:1a2f:1a2b
2001:0db8:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0c50
2001:0db8:0000:0000:b450:0000:0000:00b4
2001:0db8:00f0:0000:0000:03d0:0000:00ff
2001:0db8:0f3c:00d7:7dab:03d0:0000:00ff

Expanding IPv6 exercise

FF02::2
2001:DB8:1:B23:2309::C1
FE80::1010:2FC:0:9
FE80::2:0:0:FBE8
Address Types
There are no broadcast addresses in IPv6. Thus any IPv6 address that is not multicast is a
unicast address.

Global Unicast Addresses – These addresses are public addresses (Like IPv4) which can be
routed over the Internet. Originally defined as 2000::/3 [2000 to 3FFF). Now all
addresses which are not reserved for other purposes are global unicast.

Unique Local Addresses – These addresses are private addresses (Like IPv4) which cannot be
used over the Internet. Uses address block FC00::/7 [FC00 to FCFF]

Link-Local Addresses – These addresses are automatically generated on IPv6 interface with a
process known as stateless address auto-configuration or link local address auto-
configuration or APIPA or Auto-IP. Use address block FE80::/10. However, standard states
that 54 bits after FE80/10 should be all 0.
Site-local Address- These addresses have the scope of an entire site or organization .They
allow addressing within an org. without need for public prefix. Address starts with FEC,
FED, FEE or FEF.

Multicast – Same as IPv4 multicast (1 to many) and address begin with FF00::/8

Anycast – Anycast address identifies multiple interfaces on multiple devices. Anycast packet is
delivered to only one device to the closest one it finds in terms of routing distance.
IPv6 multiple multicast scopes indicates how far the packet should be forwarded.
IPv6 multicast scopes:
1. Interface Local [FF01] - Packet doesn’t leave the local device. Can be used to send
traffic to a service within the local device.
2. Link Local [FF02]- Packet remain in the local subnet. Router will not route packet
between subnets.
3. Site Local [FF05] – Packets can be forwarded by routers. Should be limited to a
single physical location (do not forward over WAN)
4. Organization Local [FF08] – Wider in scope that site local (an entire organization).
5. Global [FF0E] – No boundaries. Possible to be routed over the internet.
Special Addresses
0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0 Equals :: or ::/0 is equivalent to IPv4 0.0.0.0

0:0:0:0:0:0:0:1 Equals ::1 is equivalent to IPv4 127.0.0.1

0:0:0:0:0:0:192.168.100.1 – This is how IPv4 address is mixed with IPv6 network

FF02::1 – Multicast for all nodes/hosts [functions like broadcast, similar to IPv4
224.0.0.0.1]
FF02::2 – All routers [similar to IPv4 224.0.0.2]
FF02::5 – All OSPF routers [similar to IPv4 224.0.0.5]
FF02::6 – All OSPF DR/BDRs [similar to IPv4 224.0.0.6]
FF02::9 – All RIP routers [similar to IPv4 224.0.0.9]
FF02::A – All EIGRP routers [similar to IPv4 224.0.0.10]

3FFF:FFFF::/32 is reserved for example and documentation

2001:0DB8::/32 is also reserved for example and documentation.

2002::/16 used with 6to4 tunneling. This allows IPv6 packets to be transmitted over an
IPv4 network without the need to configure explicit tunnel
IPv6 Prefix
IPv6 always use CIDR notation to determine what bits notate the prefix of an address
Full Address: 1254:1532:26B1:CC14:123:1111:2222:3333/64
Prefix ID(Network): 1254:1532:26B1:CC14:
Host ID(Interface): 123:1111:2222:3333
/64 indicates that the first 64bits of this address identify the prefix.

IPv6 allocate the first 64bits of the address to identify the network (Prefix) and the last
64bits to identify the host referred as Interface ID based on the interface MAC/HW
address. System will do the following calculation by default.

Interface ID adheres to IEEE 64-bit Extended Unique Identifier (EUI-64) format. Thus
MAC address must be converted into EUI-64 format
1. MAC address is 48bit, split into half i.e. first 24bits of the MAC becomes the first
24bits of the EUI-64 formatted Interface ID. For e.g. 1111:2222:3333 converted to
1111:22 becomes the first 24bit EUI-64
2. Seventh bit of the OUI is changed from 1 to 0 and if 0 then 1.
1111
0001 conver 0 to 1 then it should become 0011 in decimal it will be 3
1311:22
3. Next 16 bit of the Interface ID are FFFE. Insert this value FFFE, immediately after
1311:22
1311:22FF:FE
4. Add the last 24 bits of the MAC address (Host ID) becomes the last 24bit of the
Interface ID
1311:22FF:FE22:3333
Thus, the MAC address 1111:2222:3333 in EUI-64 format would become
1311:22FF:FE22:3333 which becomes the interface ID.

Convert the MAC address into EUI-64 format for practise:

0060:D673:1987
782B:CBAC:0867
0200:4C4F:4F50
0050:56C0:0001
00FF:6BA6:F456
96AB:6D6B:98AE
IPv6 Addresses and URL
IPv6 addresses can be referenced in URL. However, colon to represent a specific TCP
port therefore IPv6 address must be placed in bracket, to confirm the URL standard
http://[FEC0::CC1E:2412:1111:2222:3333]/index.html
ICMPv6
4 Key ICMPv6 error messages
1. Destination Unreachable - Indicate packets cannot be forwarded to destination.
2. Packet Too Big – Indicate packet is larger than the MTU link
3. Time Exceeded – Indicates hop count limit has reached
4. Parameter problem – Indicate an error in IPv6 header or extension header.

NDP (Neighbor Discovery Protocol)

NDP provides a multitude of services like
a. Automatic address configuration, and prefix discovery
b. Duplicate Address Detection
c. MTU Discovery
d. Router Discovery
e. Address Resolution

NDP replaces many IPv4 services like ARP, and DHCP. It utilizes ICMPv6 to provide
services.
IPv6 routers send out Routers Advertisement (RAs) to both, announce their presence
on link, and to provide auto-configuration information for hosts.
RA(ICMP packet type 134) is sourced from the link-local address of the sending router,
and sent to the link –scope all-nodes multicast group. However, RA packet must
not forwarded outside the local link.
Hosts use RA’s to configure themselves, and add the router to its local default router
list. A host can request and RA by sending out Router Solicitation (RS – Packet
type 133) to the link local all router multicast address. An RS is usually sent when a
host is not currently configured with an IP address
Neighbor Solicitation (NS – ICMP packet type 135) are sent by hosts to identify the
link layer address of the neighbor, and ensure its reachability. A NS message source
address is the link local address of the sending host, and the destination is the
solicited-node multicast address of destination host.
A neighbor will reply to a NS with a Neighbor Advertisement (NA – ICMP packet type
136). This process replaces ARP used by IPv4 and however learns neighbor
address information in more efficient way.
Auto-configuration of Hosts
Hosts can be assigned IPv6 addresses one of two ways: Manually, and auto-
configuration. Hosts learn how to auto-configure themselves using RA(Router
Advertisement)
Two types of auto-configuration: Stateless and stateful.

When using stateless auto-configuration, a host first assigns itself a link-local IPv6
address. It accomplishes by combining the link-local prefix (FE8) with its interface
ID(MAC address in EUI-64 format).
The host then sends a Router Solicitation (RS) multicast to all-routers multicast
address, which provides one or more network prefixes. The host combine these
prefixes with its interface ID to create its site-local IPv6 address.

Stateful auto-configuration is used in conjunction with stateless auto-configuration.

Stateful autoconfiguration utilizes DHCPv6 to provide additional information to the
host, such as DNS server. DHCPv6 can also be used in the event that there is no
router on the link, to provide stateless auto-configuration.
Configuring IPv6 on CISCO routers
In order to enable IPv6 on a router, you have to use the ipv6 unicast-routing command on
global configuration mode. By default, IPv6 traffic forwarding is disabled, using this
command enables it.

IPv6 isn’t enabled by default.

Add an IP address to the interface. You can use the interface configuration command
“Ipv6 address ipv6prefix/prefix-length eui-64”
Router#conf t
Router(config)#ipv6 unicast-routing
Router(config)#int g0/1
Router(config-if)#ipv6 address 2001:DB8:AAAA:A::1/64
Router(config-if)#no shut
Router(config-if)#int g0/0
Router(config-if)#ipv6 address 2001:DB8:AAAA:B::1/64
Router(config-if)#no shut
If you have link local address , you will be able to communicate on the local subnet. For e.g. PC0 can communicate with
PC1 but not with PC2.
IPv6 Link-local Router Configuration:
Router#conf t
Router(config)#ipv6 unicast-routing
Router(config)#int g0/1
Router(config-if)#ipv6 address FE80::1 link-local
Router(config-if)#no shut
Router(config-if)#int g0/0
Router(config-if)#ipv6 address FE80::1 link-local
Router(config-if)#no shut
To configure an interface to auto-configure a link-local IPv6 addresses
Router(config)#int g0/0
Router(config-if)#ipv6 enable

Router#sh ipv6 int brief

GigabitEthernet0/0 [administratively down/down]
FE80::20C:CFFF:FE1A:EC01
GigabitEthernet0/1 [administratively down/down]
unassigned
Vlan1 [administratively down/down]
Unassigned

To configure an site-local IPv6 address on an interface:

Router(config)#int g0/0
Router(config-if)#iipv6 address FEC0::/64 eui-64
Static Route

Router0(config)#ipv6 route 2001:DB8:AAAA:B::/64 2001:DB8:1:1::2

Router0(config)#ipv6 route 2001:DB8:AAAA:C::/64 2001:DB8:1:1::2
Router0(config)#ipv6 route 2001:DB8:1:2::/64 2001:DB8:1:1::2
For Default Route:
Router1(config)# ipv6 route 2001:DB8:AAAA:A::/64 2001:DB8:1:1::1
Router1(config)#ipv6 route ::/0 S0/0/0
Router1(config)# ipv6 route 2001:DB8:AAAA:C::/64 2001:DB8:1:2::2
Note: ::/0 indicates 0.0.0.0
Router2(config)# ipv6 route 2001:DB8:AAAA:A::/64 Serial0/3/0
Router2(config)# ipv6 route 2001:DB8:1:1::/64 Serial0/3/0
Router2(config)# ipv6 route 2001:DB8:AAAA:B::/64 Serial0/3/0
RIP Route

Router(config)#ipv6 unicast-routing
Router(config)#ipv6 router rip cisco
Router(config-rtr)#int g0/1
Router(config-if)#ipv6 rip cisco enable
Router(config-if)#int s0/3/0
Router(config-if)#ipv6 rip cisco enable

Router(config)#ipv6 router rip cisco

Router(config-rtr)#int g0/0
Router(config-if)#ipv6 rip cisco enable
Router(config-if)#int s0/3/0
Router(config-if)#ipv6 rip cisco enable
OSPF Route

Router(config)#ipv6 unicast-routing
Router(config)#ipv6 router ospf 1
Router(config-rtr)#router-id 1.1.1.1
Router(config-rtr)#int g0/1
Router(config-if)#ipv6 ospf 1 area 0
Router(config-if)#int s0/3/0
Router(config-if)#ipv6 ospf 1 area 0
Router(config)#ipv6 unicast-routing
Router(config)#ipv6 router ospf 1
Router(config-rtr)#router-id 2.2.2.2
Router(config-rtr)#int g0/1
Router(config-if)#ipv6 ospf 1 area 0
Router(config-if)#int s0/3/0
Router(config-if)#ipv6 ospf 1 area 0
Dual Stacking

Dual Stacking allows our devices to communicate either using IPv4 or IPv6. It allows
you to upgrade your devices and applications on the network one at a time.

To configuring Dual Stack on a Cisco router , all you have to do is enable IPv6
forwarding and apply an address to the interface already configured in IPv4