Deploying IPv6 in Broadband Access Networks

Chapter 5. Configuring and Troubleshooting IPv6 on Gateway Routers and Hosts

In this chapter we discuss configuring and troubleshooting IPv6 on gateway routers (GWRs) and hosts that reside in customer premises or home networks. We also provide an overview of how IPv6 can be enabled on Windows XP/Vista, Windows Server 2003 and 2008, Linux, MAC OS, and Sun Solaris. For IPv6 to be widely deployed and accepted by the user community it is important for various operating systems not only to support IPv6 provisioning and configuration, but also to support IPv6-based applications. The SP needs to provide IPv6-based value-added services, such as high-quality data and voice and video over IP, to end customers to get the user community excited about IPv6 and adopt its use.

One of the key advantages of IPv6 to end customers is that they can get a /64 dedicated prefix assigned to them which does not have to change unless they change their provider. With IPv4, users typically get a single public IPv4 address assigned to them by the SP via DHCPv4. The IPv4 address typically has a DHCP lease time of a few hours or days. If the user switches off its PC for an extended period of time, so that the IPv4 address lease is not renewed with the DHCP server, the address is returned to the available pool of addresses, which can be assigned to a different user. If end customers want to host an application or a server and need a fixed IPv4 address, they typically pay extra for this service, due to the associated ...