Defining IPv6 Neighbors Information

The IPv6 Neighbors page enables configuring and viewing the list of IPv6 neighbors on the IPv6 interface. The IPv6 Neighbor Table (also known as IPv6 Neighbor Discovery Cache) displays the MAC addresses of the IPv6 neighbors that are in the same IPv6 subnet as the switch. This is used to verify the reachability of this neighbor. This is the IPv6 equivalent of the IPv4 ARP Table. When the switch needs to communicate with its neighbors, the switch uses the IPv6 Neighbor Table to determine the MAC addresses based on their the IPv6 addresses.

This page displays the neighbors that were automatically detected or manually configured entries. Each entry displays to which interface the neighbor is connected, the neighbor’s IPv6 and MAC addresses, the entry type (static or dynamic), and the state of the neighbor.

To define IPv6 neighbors:

  1. In Layer 2 mode, click Administration > Management Interface > (Layer 2) > IPv6 Neighbors.
    In Layer 3 mode, click IP Configuration > Management and IP Interface > IPv6 Neighbors.
  2. The IPv6 Neighbors page opens.

  3. Select a Clear Table option to clear some or all of IPv6 addresses in the IPv6 Neighbors Table.
    • Static Only--Deletes the static IPv6 address entries.
    • Dynamic Only--Deletes the dynamic IPv6 address entries.
    • All Dynamic & Static--Deletes the static and dynamic address entries IPv6 address entries.

    The following fields are displayed for the neighboring interfaces:

    • Interface--Neighboring IPv6 interface type.
    • IPv6 Address--IPv6 address of a neighbor.
    • MAC Address--MAC address mapped to the specified IPv6 address.
    • Type--Neighbor discovery cache information entry type (static or dynamic).
    • State--Specifies the IPv6 neighbor status. The values are:
      • Incomplete--Address resolution is working. The neighbor has not yet responded.
      • Reachable--Neighbor is known to be reachable.
      • Stale--Previously-known neighbor is unreachable. No action is taken to verify its reachability until traffic must be sent.
      • Delay--Previously-known neighbor is unreachable. The interface is in Delay state for a predefined Delay Time. If no reachability confirmation is received, the state changes to Probe.
      • Probe--Neighbor is no longer known to be reachable, and Unicast Neighbor Solicitation probes are being sent to verify the reachability.
  4. To add a neighbor to be monitored, click Add. The Add IPv6 Neighbors page opens.
  5. Enter values for the following fields:
    • Interface--The neighboring IPv6 interface to be added.
    • IPv6 Address--Enter the IPv6 network address assigned to the interface. The address must be a valid IPv6 address.
    • MAC Address--Enter the MAC address mapped to the specified IPv6 address.
  6. Click Apply. The Running Configuration file is updated.
  7. To change the type of an IP address from Dynamic to Static, use the Edit IPv6 Neighbors page.