What are the details required from ISP to configure basic IPv6 settings on SonicWall

03/26/2020 12 12721

DESCRIPTION:
What are the details required from ISP to configure basic IPv6 settings on SonicWall

RESOLUTION:

SonicWall security appliances can be configured with IPv6 addresses similar to the IPv4 configurations. IPv6 is the next generation Internet Protocol built to replace the current protocol IPv4. IPv6 uses 128 bit addresses as compared to the 32 bit addresses used by IPv4.

Information required to configure basic IPv6 settings: 

When the requirement is such that IPv6 addresses need to be configured on the WAN Interface and this has been requested from the ISP in use on the WAN of the SonicWall, there is some information that should be obtained from the ISP before proceeding to the configuration.

1. Type of IP Assignment: There are three types of IP Assignments that are possible with an IPv6 WAN Interface: Auto, Static or DHCP. This is similar to the IPv4 settings in-terms of Static and DHCP assignments, where as Auto IP Assignment is specific to an IPv6 WAN interface. No other interface LAN, DMZ etc can be configured in an IPv6 Auto mode. If the IP assignment is Auto or DHCP, the ISP modem connected to the interface is responsible in leasing out IP addresses to the Interface. Only when it is a Static Assignment, there would be further informational requirements.
2. IP Address/ IP Addresses: When the IP assignment has to be static, the ISP needs to provide the static IP that should be assigned to the Interface. Incase of IPv4, one Interface can have only one IPv4 Address, where as in the case of IPv6, multiple Addresses can be assigned to an Interface. If multiple IP Addresses are required, the same has to specified by the ISP.
3. Prefix Length: Similar to the subnet mask in IPv4, Prefix Length has to be specified in IPv6 Interface settings. The Prefix is the part of the Address that indicates the bits that have fixed values or are the bits of the network identifier.
4. Default Gateway: Default Gateway will be provided by the ISP and can be configured only on the WAN Interfaces. These are the next hops.
5. DNS Servers: DNS Servers are also generally provided by the ISP. In IPv4 4.2.2.2 and 8.8.8.8 are commonly assigned as the IPv4 DNS Servers. Similarly global DNS Servers can be assigned to the IPv6 Interface settings as well.