Cisco 6rd Configuration Example: IPv6 General Prefix
IPv6, the next generation of internet protocol, is quickly becoming the industry standard for connecting devices, networks, and services. While it offers significant advantages over its predecessor, IPv4, the transition to IPv6 can be difficult, particularly for network engineers. One of the biggest challenges is configuring the prefixes and addressing schemes needed to support IPv6. Fortunately, Cisco provides a solution in the form of 6rd, or 6 Rapid Deployment, which is designed to quickly and easily configure the IPv6 prefixes and addressing schemes needed to support the new protocol.
The 6rd method is based on the concept of rapid deployment, which was created by Cisco to quickly and easily deploy IPv6 on networks. This method uses a 6rd border router, or 6rd BR, which is a router that is configured to use a 6rd-specific prefix and addressing scheme. This 6rd prefix is used to create a virtual tunnel between the 6rd BR and a 6rd relay, which is typically located on the ISP's network. The 6rd relay then forwards the IPv6 traffic to the rest of the IPv6-enabled network.
The 6rd BR is configured with a general prefix, which is used to route traffic between the 6rd BR and the 6rd relay. This prefix is typically of the form xxxx:xxxx:xxxx::/48, where xxxx represents a 4-byte string. The 6rd BR is also configured with a specific prefix, which is used to route traffic within the 6rd network. This prefix is typically of the form xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:1::/64, where xxxx represents a 4-byte string.
In order to configure the 6rd BR, an IPv6 general prefix must first be configured. This general prefix is typically of the form xxxx:xxxx:xxxx::/48, where xxxx represents a 4-byte string. This prefix is then configured on the 6rd BR using the following commands:
ipv6 general-prefix xxxx:xxxx:xxxx::/48
The 6rd BR is then configured with a specific prefix, which is typically of the form xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:1::/64. This specific prefix is then configured on the 6rd BR using the following commands:
ipv6 specific-prefix xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:1::/64
Finally, the 6rd BR is configured with a static route to the 6rd relay, which is typically of the form xxxx:xxxx:xxxx::1. This static route is then configured on the 6rd BR using the following commands:
ip route xxxx:xxxx:xxxx::1
Once the 6rd BR has been correctly configured, it can be used to forward IPv6 traffic between the 6rd BR and the 6rd relay. The 6rd BR will then forward the IPv6 traffic to the rest of the IPv6-enabled network.
Cisco's 6rd configuration example provides network engineers with a quick and easy way to configure the IPv6 prefixes and addressing schemes needed to support IPv6. This example demonstrates how to quickly and easily configure a 6rd BR with a general prefix, a specific prefix, and a static route to the 6rd relay. By following these instructions, network engineers can quickly and easily configure the 6rd BR to support IPv6 traffic.
