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IPv6 Configuration and Routing

Jun 12, 2025

Overview

This lecture covers configuring IPv6 addresses (EUI-64 and manual methods), enabling IPv6 on interfaces, setting up IPv6 static routes, and introduces RIPng for dynamic IPv6 routing.

Configuring IPv6 Addresses

  • Use EUI-64 to auto-generate the interface ID by splitting the MAC address, inserting FFFE, and inverting the 7th bit.
  • Enable IPv6 routing with the command ipv6 unicast-routing.
  • Assign IPv6 addresses to interfaces using ipv6 address <prefix> eui-64.
  • Link-local addresses are automatically created (prefix FE80::/10) and use EUI-64.

Configuring End Devices

  • Set the default gateway of PCs to the router’s IPv6 address on the connected interface.
  • Manually assign IPv6 addresses to PCs with a /64 prefix.

Enabling IPv6 on Interfaces

  • Use ipv6 enable to automatically assign a link-local address to an interface without specifying a global address.

IPv6 Static Routing

  • Configure static routes with ipv6 route <destination> <exit-interface> <next-hop>.
  • Specify both exit interface and link-local next-hop for routes using link-local addresses.
  • Test connectivity using ping commands.

Introduction to RIPng (IPv6 Dynamic Routing)

  • RIPng is the version of RIP for IPv6 dynamic routing.
  • Enable RIPng with ipv6 router rip <process-name> (global) and ipv6 rip <process-name> enable (interface).
  • In RIPng, processes are enabled directly on interfaces instead of using the network command.
  • After configuration, use show ipv6 route and show ipv6 protocols to verify routes.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • EUI-64 — Method for generating IPv6 interface IDs from MAC addresses.
  • Link-local address — IPv6 address valid only within a local network segment, starting with FE80::/10.
  • Static route — Manually configured route in a routing table.
  • RIPng — Routing Information Protocol next generation; supports IPv6.
  • Default gateway — Router address used by an end device to send traffic outside its local network.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Practice configuring IPv6 addresses using EUI-64 and manual methods.
  • Enable IPv6 and configure static routes on routers.
  • Read up on RIPng and try enabling it on router interfaces.
  • Prepare for a deeper dive into IPv6 static routing in Day 33.