Manually Configured IPv6 over IPv4 Tunnels

This feature provides support for manually configured IPv6 over IPv4 tunnels. A manually configured tunnel
is equivalent to a permanent link between two IPv6 domains over an IPv4 backbone.

• Finding Feature Information, page 1

• Information About Manually Configured IPv6 over IPv4 Tunnels, page 1
• How to Enable Manually Configured IPv6 over IPv4 Tunnels, page 5
• Configuration Examples for Manually Configured IPv6 over IPv4 Tunnels, page 7
• Additional References, page 10
• Feature Information for Manually Configured IPv6 over IPv4 Tunnels, page 11

Finding Feature Information

Your software release may not support all the features documented in this module. For the latest caveats and
feature information, see Bug Search Tool and the release notes for your platform and software release. To
find information about the features documented in this module, and to see a list of the releases in which each
feature is supported, see the feature information table.
Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support.
To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

Information About Manually Configured IPv6 over IPv4 Tunnels

Overlay Tunnels for IPv6

Overlay tunneling encapsulates IPv6 packets in IPv4 packets for delivery across an IPv4 infrastructure (a core
network or the figure below). By using overlay tunnels, you can communicate with isolated IPv6 networks
without upgrading the IPv4 infrastructure between them. Overlay tunnels can be configured between border
devices or between a border device and a host; however, both tunnel endpoints must support both the IPv4
and IPv6 protocol stacks. IPv6 supports the following types of overlay tunneling mechanisms:

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Overlay Tunnels for IPv6

• Manual
• Generic routing encapsulation (GRE)
• IPv4-compatible
• 6to4
• Intrasite Automatic Tunnel Addressing Protocol (ISATAP)

Figure 1: Overlay Tunnels

Note Overlay tunnels reduce the maximum transmission unit (MTU) of an interface by 20 octets (assuming
that the basic IPv4 packet header does not contain optional fields). A network that uses overlay tunnels
is difficult to troubleshoot. Therefore, overlay tunnels that connect isolated IPv6 networks should not be
considered a final IPv6 network architecture. The use of overlay tunnels should be considered as a transition
technique toward a network that supports both the IPv4 and IPv6 protocol stacks or just the IPv6 protocol
stack.

Use the table below to help you determine which type of tunnel that you want to configure to carry IPv6
packets over an IPv4 network.

Table 1: Suggested Usage of Tunnel Types to Carry IPv6 Packets over an IPv4 Network

Tunneling Type Suggested Usage Usage Notes

Manual Simple point-to-point tunnels that Can carry IPv6 packets only.
can be used within a site or
between sites.

GRE- and IPv4- compatible Simple point-to-point tunnels that Can carry IPv6, Connectionless
can be used within a site or Network Service (CLNS), and
between sites. many other types of packets.

IPv4- compatible Point-to-multipoint tunnels. Uses the ::/96 prefix. We do not

recommend using this tunnel type.

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Overlay Tunnels for IPv6

Tunneling Type Suggested Usage Usage Notes

6to4 Point-to-multipoint tunnels that can Sites use addresses from the
be used to connect isolated IPv6 2002::/16 prefix.
sites.

6RD IPv6 service is provided to Prefixes can be from the SP’s own
customers over an IPv4 network address block.
by using encapsulation of IPv6 in
IPv4.

ISATAP Point-to-multipoint tunnels that can Sites can use any IPv6 unicast
be used to connect systems within addresses.
a site.

Individual tunnel types are discussed in detail in this document. We recommend that you review and understand
the information about the specific tunnel type that you want to implement. When you are familiar with the
type of tunnel you need, see the table below for a summary of the tunnel configuration parameters that you
may find useful.

Table 2: Tunnel Configuration Parameters by Tunneling Type

Tunneling Type Tunnel

Configuration
Parameter
Tunnel Mode Tunnel Source Tunnel Destination Interface Prefix or
Address

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IPv6 Manually Configured Tunnels

Tunneling Type Tunnel

Configuration
Parameter
Manual ipv6ip An IPv4 address, or An IPv4 address. An IPv6 address.
a reference to an
GRE/IPv4 gre ip interface on which An IPv4 address. An IPv6 address.
IPv4 is configured.
IPv4- compatible ipv6ip auto-tunnel Not required. These Not required. The
are all interface address is
point-to-multipoint generated as
tunneling types. The ::tunnel-source/96.
IPv4 destination
6to4 ipv6ip 6to4 address is An IPv6 address.
calculated, on a The prefix must
per-packet basis, embed the tunnel
from the IPv6 source IPv4 address.
destination.
6RD ipv6ip 6rd An IPv6 address.

ISATAP ipv6ip isatap An IPv6 prefix in

modified eui-64
format. The IPv6
address is generated
from the prefix and
the tunnel source
IPv4 address.

IPv6 Manually Configured Tunnels

A manually configured tunnel is equivalent to a permanent link between two IPv6 domains over an IPv4
backbone. The primary use is for stable connections that require regular secure communication between two
edge devices or between an end system and an edge device, or for connection to remote IPv6 networks.
An IPv6 address is manually configured on a tunnel interface, and manually configured IPv4 addresses are
assigned to the tunnel source and the tunnel destination. The host or device at each end of a configured tunnel
must support both the IPv4 and IPv6 protocol stacks. Manually configured tunnels can be configured between
border devices or between a border device and a host. Cisco Express Forwarding switching can be used for
IPv6 manually configured tunnels, or Cisco Express Forwarding switching can be disabled if process switching
is needed.

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How to Enable Manually Configured IPv6 over IPv4 Tunnels

How to Enable Manually Configured IPv6 over IPv4 Tunnels

Configuring Manual IPv6 Tunnels

Before You Begin
With manually configured IPv6 tunnels, an IPv6 address is configured on a tunnel interface, and manually
configured IPv4 addresses are assigned to the tunnel source and the tunnel destination. The host or device at
each end of a configured tunnel must support both the IPv4 and IPv6 protocol stacks.

SUMMARY STEPS

1. enable
2. configure terminal
3. interface tunnel tunnel-number
4. Enter one of the following commands:
• ipv6 address {ipv6-address/prefix-length | prefix-name sub-bits/prefix-length}
• ipv6 address ipv6-prefix/prefix-length [eui-64]

5. tunnel source {ip-address | interface-type interface-number}

6. tunnel destination ip-address
7. tunnel mode ipv6ip
8. end

DETAILED STEPS

Command or Action Purpose

Step 1 enable Enables privileged EXEC mode.
• Enter your password if prompted.
Example:
Device> enable

Step 2 configure terminal Enters global configuration mode.

Example:
Device# configure terminal

Step 3 interface tunnel tunnel-number Specifies a tunnel interface and number, and enters interface
configuration mode.
Example:
Device(config)# interface tunnel 0

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Configuring Manual IPv6 Tunnels

Command or Action Purpose

Step 4 Enter one of the following commands: Specifies the IPv6 network assigned to the interface and enables
IPv6 processing on the interface.
• ipv6 address {ipv6-address/prefix-length |
prefix-name sub-bits/prefix-length} • If you specify the eui-64 keyword, the software configures
an IPv6 address for an interface and enables IPv6 processing
• ipv6 address ipv6-prefix/prefix-length
on the interface using an EUI-64 interface ID in the low-order
[eui-64]
64 bits of the address.

Note See the “Implementing IPv6 Addressing and Basic

Example: Connectivity” module for more information on
Device(config-if)# ipv6 address configuring IPv6 addresses.
3ffe:b00:c18:1::3/127

Step 5 tunnel source {ip-address | interface-type Specifies the source IPv4 address or the source interface type and
interface-number} number for the tunnel interface.
• If an interface is specified, the interface must be configured
Example: with an IPv4 address.
Device(config-if)# tunnel source
gigabitethernet 0/0/0

Step 6 tunnel destination ip-address Specifies the destination IPv4 address or hostname for the tunnel
interface.
Example:
Device(config-if)# tunnel destination
192.168.30.1

Step 7 tunnel mode ipv6ip Specifies a manual IPv6 tunnel.

Note The tunnel mode ipv6ip command specifies IPv6 as
Example: the passenger protocol and IPv4 as both the encapsulation
Device(config-if)# tunnel mode ipv6ip and transport protocol for the manual IPv6 tunnel.

Step 8 end Returns to privileged EXEC mode.

Example:
Device(config-if)# end

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Configuration Examples for Manually Configured IPv6 over IPv4 Tunnels

Configuration Examples for Manually Configured IPv6 over IPv4

Tunnels

Example: Configuring Manual IPv6 Tunnels

The following example configures a manual IPv6 tunnel between router A and router B. In the example, tunnel
interface 0 for both router A and router B is manually configured with a global IPv6 address. The tunnel
source and destination addresses are also manually configured.

Router A Configuration

interface ethernet 0
ip address 192.168.99.1 255.255.255.0
interface tunnel 0
ipv6 address 3ffe:b00:c18:1::3/127
tunnel source ethernet 0
tunnel destination 192.168.30.1
tunnel mode ipv6ip

Router B Configuration

interface ethernet 0
ip address 192.168.30.1 255.255.255.0
interface tunnel 0
ipv6 address 3ffe:b00:c18:1::2/127
tunnel source ethernet 0
tunnel destination 192.168.99.1
tunnel mode ipv6ip

Example: IPv6 over GRE IPv4 Tunnel

Example: Configuring CE1

!
ipv6 unicast-routing
ipv6 cef
!
interface Ethernet0/0
no ip address
ipv6 address 2001:DB8:2:1::1/64
no shutdown
exit
!
!
ipv6 route 2001:DB8:2:2::/64 2001:DB8:2:1::2
ipv6 route 2001:DB8:2:4::/64 2001:DB8:2:1::2
!

Example: Configuring PE1

ipv6 unicast-routing
ipv6 cef
!

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Example: IPv6 over GRE IPv4 Tunnel

interface Tunnel0
no ip address
ipv6 address 2001:DB8:2:4::1/64
tunnel source 10.22.22.22
tunnel destination 10.44.44.44
exit
!
interface Ethernet0/0
no ip address
ipv6 address 2001:DB8:2:1::2/64
no shutdown
exit
!
interface Ethernet1/1
no ip address
ip address 10.22.22.22 255.255.255.0
no shutdown
exit
!
ip route 10.44.44.0 255.255.255.0 10.22.22.23
ipv6 route 2001:DB8:2:2::/64 Tunnel0 2001:DB8:2:4::2

Example: Configuring PE2

!
ipv6 unicast-routing
ipv6 cef
!
interface Tunnel0
no ipv6 address
ipv6 address 2001:DB8:2:4::2/64
tunnel source 10.44.44.44
tunnel destination 10.22.22.22
exit
!
interface Ethernet0/0 no ipv6 address
ipv6 address 2001:DB8:2:2::1/64
no shutdown
exit
!
interface Ethernet1/0
no ip address
ip address 10.44.44.44 255.255.255.0
no shutdown
exit
!
ip route 10.22.22.0 255.255.255.0 10.44.44.43
!
ipv6 route 2001:DB8:2:1::/64 Tunnel0 2001:DB8:2:4::1
!

Example: Configuring CE2

!
ipv6 unicast-routing
ipv6 cef
!
!
interface Ethernet0/0
no ipv6 address
ipv6 address 2001:DB8:2:2::2/64
no shutdown
exit
!
!
ipv6 route 2001:DB8:2:1::/64 2001:DB8:2:2::1
ipv6 route 2001:DB8:2:4::/64 2001:DB8:2:2::1

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Example: IPv6 over GRE IPv4 Tunnel

Example: Configuring Device X

!
interface Ethernet1/0
no ip address
ip address 10.44.44.43 255.255.255.0
no shutdown
exit
!
interface Ethernet1/1
no ip address
ip address 10.22.22.23 255.255.255.0
no shutdown
exit
!

Example: Verifying the Tunnel Configuration

From CE1

Device# ping ipv6 2001:db8:2:2::2

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 2001:DB8:2:2::2, timeout is 2 seconds:
!!!!!
Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 1/9/43 ms

Device# ping ipv6 2001:db8:2:2::2 source 2001:db8:2:1::1

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 2001:DB8:2:2::2, timeout is 2 seconds:
Packet sent with a source address of 2001:DB8:2:1::1
!!!!!
Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 1/1/1 ms

From PE1
Device# show tunnel interface

Tunnel0
Mode:GRE/IP, Destination 10.44.44.44, Source 10.22.22.22
IP transport: output interface Ethernet1/1 next hop 10.22.22.23
Application ID 1: unspecified
Linestate - current up
Internal linestate - current up, evaluated up
Tunnel Source Flags: Local
Transport IPv4 Header DF bit cleared
OCE: IP tunnel decap
Provider: interface Tu0, prot 47
Performs protocol check [47]
Protocol Handler: GRE: opt 0x0
ptype: ipv4 [ipv4 dispatcher: punt]
ptype: ipv6 [ipv6 dispatcher: from if Tu0]
ptype: mpls [mpls dispatcher: drop]
ptype: otv [mpls dispatcher: drop]
ptype: generic [mpls dispatcher: drop]
There are 0 tunnels running over the EON IP protocol
There are 0 tunnels running over the IPinIP protocol
There are 0 tunnels running over the NOSIP protocol
There are 0 tunnels running over the IPv6inIP protocol
There are 0 tunnels running over the RBSCP/IP protocol

Device# show ip route 10.44.44.44

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Additional References

Routing entry for 10.44.44.0/24

Known via "static", distance 1, metric 0
Routing Descriptor Blocks:
* 10.22.22.23
Route metric is 0, traffic share count is 1

Device# debug ipv6 icmp

ICMP Packet debugging is on

*Jan 1 10:57:37.882: ICMPv6: Sent R-Advert, Src=FE80::A8BB:CCFF:FE00:5200, Dst=FF02::1
*Jan 1 11:00:18.634: ICMPv6: Received R-Advert, Src=FE80::A8BB:CCFF:FE00:5200,Dst=FF02::1

Additional References
Related Documents

Related Topic Document Title

IPv6 addressing and connectivity IPv6 Configuration Guide

Cisco IOS commands Cisco IOS Master Commands List,

All Releases

IPv6 commands Cisco IOS IPv6 Command

Reference

Cisco IOS IPv6 features Cisco IOS IPv6 Feature Mapping

Standards and RFCs

Standard/RFC Title
RFCs for IPv6 IPv6 RFCs

MIBs

MIB MIBs Link

To locate and download MIBs for selected platforms,
Cisco IOS releases, and feature sets, use Cisco MIB
Locator found at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/go/mibs

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Feature Information for Manually Configured IPv6 over IPv4 Tunnels

Technical Assistance

Description Link
The Cisco Support and Documentation website http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/support/index.html
provides online resources to download documentation,
software, and tools. Use these resources to install and
configure the software and to troubleshoot and resolve
technical issues with Cisco products and technologies.
Access to most tools on the Cisco Support and
Documentation website requires a Cisco.com user ID
and password.

Feature Information for Manually Configured IPv6 over IPv4

Tunnels
The following table provides release information about the feature or features described in this module. This
table lists only the software release that introduced support for a given feature in a given software release
train. Unless noted otherwise, subsequent releases of that software release train also support that feature.
Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support.
To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

Table 3: Feature Information for Manually Configured IPv6 over IPv4 Tunnels

Feature Name Releases Feature Information

IPv6 Tunneling: Manually Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1 A manually configured tunnel is
Configured IPv6 over IPv4 Tunnels equivalent to a permanent link
between two IPv6 domains over an
IPv4 backbone.
The following commands were
introduced or modified: tunnel
destination, tunnel ipv6ip, tunnel
source.

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