IPv6 configuration of network interfaces and domain name resolution under Debian Linux
IPv6 configuration of network interfaces under Debian Linux
IPv6 configuration of domain name resolution (DNS) under Debian Linux
Introdution
Besides of enabled IPv6 support, operating system needs a proper IPv6 configuration of network interfaces and domain name resolution (using DNS). Bellow the relevant sections are describing how to configure these elements in Debian Linux.
IPv6 configuration of network interfaces under Debian Linux
Here is a list of steps that must be performed to configure network interfaces to operate in an IPv6 network.
- The configuration of all network interfaces is in /etc/network/interfaces file. For every network interface, that suppose to have an IPv6 address, there is a need of appropriate entry in that file. Such entries are dependent on whether the network interfaces configuration is set up dynamic (DHCP) or static (manual, detailed entries in configuration file).
- The dynamic configuration (DHCPv6):
Here are sample definitions for eth0 interface:
iface eth0 inet6 dhcp
Attention! In Dual Stack mode (simultaneous support for IPv4 and IPv6) with the dynamic configuration there is a need of having two kind of DHCP servers working in the network: DHCPv4 and DHCPv6. In that case a sample definition for eth0 interface should be as follows:
iface eth0 inet dhcp
iface eth0 inet6 dhcp
- The static configuration:
Here are sample definitions for eth0 interface:
iface eth0 inet6 static
address 31de::a00:2ff:fede:bdeb
netmask 96
gateway 31de::a00:2ff:fe00:0001
Attention! In Dual Stack mode with the static configuration there is a need of having IPv4 definition also. In that case a sample definitions for eth0 interface should be as follows:
iface eth0 inet static
address 20.0.2.16
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 20.0.2.1iface eth0 inet6 static
address 31de::a00:2ff:fede:bdeb
netmask 96
gateway 31de::a00:2ff:fe00:0001
- When the network interface should be enabled during operating system initialization, there is a need of following entry (ideally before the definition of the whole interface):
auto <interface_name>
- After the configuration of selected interfaces, network must be restarted:
service networking restart
IPv6 configuration of domain name resolution (DNS) under Debian Linux
The configuration of domain name resolution in Linux family operating systems resides in /etc/resolv.conf file. When the network interfaces configuration is based on DHCPv6, which broadcasts the DNS IPv6 adresses, the entries in the resolv.conf file are generated automatically. For static configuration there is a need of entering the appropriate IPv6 addresses of DNS servers. Here is a sample resolv.conf configured to operate based on DNS servers with IPv6 addresses:
nameserver 31de::a00:2ff:fe01:0053
nameserver 31de::a00:2ff:fe02:0053