Configuring IPv6 Tunnels
The ISATAP (Intra-Site Automatic Tunnel Addressing Protocol) enables encapsulating IPv6 packets within IPv4 packets for transmission over IPv4 networks. To configure a tunnel, do the following:
After these actions, the switch automatically configures the link local IPv6 address to the IPv6 interface.
When defining ISATAP tunnels, note the following:
- An IPv6 link local address is assigned to the ISATAP interface. The initial IP address is assigned to the interface, which is then activated.
- If an ISATAP interface is active, the ISATAP router IPv4 address is resolved via DNS by using ISATAP-to-IPv4 mapping. If the ISATAP DNS record is not resolved, ISATAP host name-to-address mapping is searched in the host mapping table.
- When the ISATAP router IPv4 address is not resolved via the DNS process, the ISATAP IP interface remains active. The system does not have a default router for ISATAP traffic until the DNS process is resolved.
To configure an IPv6 Tunnel:
- In Layer 2 mode, click Administration > Management Interface > (Layer 2) > IPv6 Tunnel.
In Layer 3 mode, click IP Configuration > Management and IP Interface > IPv6 Tunnel.The IPv6 Tunnel page opens.
- Enter values for the following fields:
- Tunnel Number--Displays the automatic tunnel router domain number.
- Tunnel Type--Always displayed as ISATAP.
- Source IPv4 Address--Disable the ISATAP tunnel, or enable the ISATAP tunnel over an IPv4 interface. The IPv4 address of the selected IPv4 interface used to form part of the IPv6 address over the ISATAP tunnel interface. The IPv6 address has a 64-bit network prefix of fe80::, with the rest of the 64-bit formed by concatenating 0000:5EFE and the IPv4 address.
- Tunnel Router's Domain Name--A global string that represents a specific automatic tunnel router domain name. The name can either be the default name (ISATAP) or a user defined name.
- Query Interval--The number of seconds from 10-3600 between DNS queries (before the IP address of the ISATAP router is known) for this tunnel. The interval can be the default value (10 seconds) or a user defined interval.
- ISATAP Solicitation Interval--The number of seconds from 10-3600 between ISATAP router solicitations messages, when there is no active ISATAP router. The interval can be the default value (10 seconds) or a user defined interval.
- ISATAP Robustness--Used to calculate the interval for the DNS or router solicitation queries. The bigger the number, the more frequent the queries. The default value is 3. The range is 1-20.
NOTE The ISATAP tunnel is not operational if the underlying IPv4 interface is not in operation.
- Click Apply. The tunnel is defined, and the Running Configuration file is updated.