IPv6: The what, why and how
Why use IPv6?
Much like your house needs a postal address to receive physical mail, all your devices need an IP address to be able to send and receive data on the Internet.
The life of IPv4 has been prolonged by a "stopgap" technology called CGNAT (Carrier Grade Network Access Translation), which allows for multiple services to share a single IP address. However, this has significant drawbacks:
Streaming services may accuse you of using a "VPN" or "proxy" (Virtual Private Network)
You may be unable to access your security cameras or smart devices when you're away from home
You're unable to host content at home like web/game servers
Multiplayer video games may not work correctly, citing errors like "NAT Type 2", "Double NAT" or references to "UPnP"
Your Work from Home setup to access your workplace may simply not work
Enter IPv6: it allows for WAY more addresses, without the stopgaps. It's designed to work alongside IPv4, eventually allowing for IPv4 to fade into legacy support.
So what does that mean for you?
Each device has its own globally addressable IPv6 address, which means your favourite streaming service will never accuse you for using a VPN to access their services. Anything you run at home (particularly if you're self-hosting services at home) no longer need you to pay for a static IPv4 address, and games/WFH setups will use IPv6 and don't need any "port forwarding" changes in order to function.
It's simple: enable IPv6 on your modem/router, and everything else will just work.
How to configure IPv6
Generally speaking, here's what you need to do
Log into the web interface of your modem/router
This is often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1
Find the Internet or WAN settings page
Enable the checkbox for IPv6 and/or select the dropdown for Automatic or DHCPv6
Avoid dropdown options like SLAAC, Tunnel or Link-Local Only
Save/apply changes, and reboot
Tips for configuring IPv6:
Do not attempt to set IPv6 manually — the configuration process is automatic, and the complexity of configuring it manually will do you your head in!
Upgrade your firmware — if your modem/router offers a firmware update, be sure to apply it. They provide significant bug fixes that among other things, ensures IPv6 works seamlessly.
Reboot once you've set it — after you think you have got it working, reboot your modem/router, this will allow all your household devices to automatically see and use IPv6.
Recommended Routers
Screenshot of known working config:
Screenshot of known working config:
Common Routers
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Apple has instructions on how to enable this on a Mac here:
https://support.apple.com/en-au/guide/aputility/aprt2706/mac
Our settings should look like this:
Note that the DNS settings are different here.
Obtain IPv6 DNS: Use WAN Interface
Firmware: 2.52.d24
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Open up the Google Wi-Fi App, select Network and General
Click Advanced Networking
Scroll down and click IPv6
Toggle IPv6 on
Thanks to Brad Langford for providing these instructions
From command line:
/ipv6 address
add from-pool=launtel interface=bridge
/ipv6 dhcp-client
add add-default-route=yes interface=ether1 pool-name=launtel request=prefix
/ipv6 firewall filter
add action=accept chain=input comment="Allow all ICMP6" protocol=icmpv6
add action=accept chain=input comment="Allow DHCP for PD" dst-port=546 protocol=udp
add action=drop chain=input comment="Drop (invalid)" connection-state=invalid
add action=accept chain=input comment="Accept (established, related)" connection-state=established,related
add action=drop chain=input comment="Drop the rest" in-interface=ether1
add action=accept chain=forward comment="Allow all ICMP6" protocol=icmpv6
add action=drop chain=forward comment="Drop (invalid)" connection-state=invalid
add action=accept chain=forward comment="Accept (established, related)" connection-state=established,related
add action=drop chain=forward comment="Drop the rest" in-interface=ether1
/ipv6 nd
set [ find default=yes ] interface=bridge ra-interval=5s-10sFor the Web or Winbox GUI
## Go to IPV6 settings --> DHCP Client
Interface = "ether1"
Request = (Tick the prefix box)
## Give the pool a name
Pool Name = Launtel
Add Default Route = (Untick the box)
## Go to IPV6 --> Addresses ## (Important to have set the DHCP first or there will be no pools
## to select from when adding IP addresses)
## There is going to need to be 2 addresses set one for ether1 and one for bridge
## add an address for ether1 interface
From Pool = Launtel
Interface = ether1
EUI64 = (Tick the box)
Advertise = (Tick the box)
With these setting as set hit the "O.K." button
## Add the second Address this time for "bridge"
## Go to IPV6 --> Addresses ##
## add an address for ether1 interface
From Pool = Launtel
EUI64 = (Tick the box)
Advertise = (Tick the box)
With these setting as set hit the "O.K." button
### Check the settings for "IPv6 Settings --> Settings"
IPv6 Forward = (Tick the box)
Accept Redirects = yes
Accept Router Advertisements = yes
Max Neighbor Entries = 2048
### Reboot Router after settings are set -- reset the network on connecting PCThis setting basically let's the router figure everything out for itself - though avoid using auto-detect since that seems to default to using passthrough which appears work, but we expect will cause NBN limitations down the track.
Firmware tested: V1.1.00.26_1.00.26
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WAN Config
LAN config
Screen config thanks to Darryn Crook
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Needs configuring through the command line. The important thing is to turn off "rapid commit". Thus:-
configure
set interfaces ethernet eth0 dhcpv6-pd rapid-commit disable
commit;save;exit
release dhcpv6-pd interface eth0
delete dhcpv6-pd duid
renew dhcpv6-pd interface eth0WAN Setup:
Go Settings -> Internet -> Primary (WAN1). Change Advanced from Auto->Manual
Set IPv6 Configuration as follows with Prefix Delegation Size = 48:
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Click SaveLAN Setup:
Go Settings -> Networks -> Default -> Click IPv6 next to Protocol
Set Interface Type to Prefix Delegation:
Click Save
WAN Setup:
Go Settings -> Internet -> Primary (WAN1). Change Advanced from Auto->Manual
Set IPv6 Configuration as follows with Prefix Delegation Size = 48:
Click Save
LAN Setup:
Go Settings -> Networks -> Default -> Click IPv6 next to Protocol
Set Interface Type to Prefix Delegation:
Click Save
Testing IPv6
Once you've enabled IPv6, you'll want to quickly check to confirm it's working. Visit this website on any of your devices when connected to Wi-Fi: http://isp.test-ipv6.com/
If you're having issues, you can provide us with these results and we'll be happy to troubleshoot the issue with you!
Contact us
Need help getting IPv6 set up, or have instructions you want to add? Let our Residential team know!