Setting Up IPv6 on AmZetta zWAN

Overview

IPv6 is the latest version of the Internet Protocol, designed to address the limitations of IPv4. It introduces a 128-bit address space, ensuring a vast number of unique addresses. IPv6 also simplifies address management and reduces router processing overhead with more efficient headers.

Interface Configuration

In zWAN, interfaces serve as the primary entry and exit points for network traffic. They are named as follows:

• ETH00, ETH01, ETH02 (Physical interfaces)
• VLAN Interfaces (Virtual interfaces)

LTE & WiFi Panels

Configurable Interface Features

The following actions can be performed on zWAN interfaces:

• Assign a static IPv6 address
• Modify or remove a static IP
• Create VLANs on interfaces
• Assign static IPs to VLANs
• Obtain a DHCP-assigned IPv6 address
• Release or renew a DHCP-assigned address
• Enable or disable an interface

Assigning a Static IPv6 Address

To configure a static IP, specify the network IP and netmask. Once assigned, a unique ID will be generated, which is required for future modifications or deletions.

Using DHCP for IPv6

To dynamically acquire an IPv6 address, enable DHCP on the desired interface. Once obtained, you can renew or release the IP as needed.

Configuration Parameters

• Network IP: IPv6 Address to be assigned
• Netmask: Specifies the subnet
• UP/DOWN Interface: Enables or disables the interface
• TWAMP Responder: Determines if this interface participates in Two-Way Active Measurement Protocol (TWAMP) for network performance testing

Status Indicators

Interface status is displayed using color codes:

• GREEN: Interface is active and operational
• RED: Interface is down or unavailable

Use Cases

Network administrators can:

• Assign static or dynamic IPv6 addresses
• Connect to network devices via the assigned IP
• Establish VPN or IPsec tunnels on top of interfaces

IPv6 Benefits

IPv6 provides several key advantages over IPv4:

• 128-bit addressing: Ensures an almost limitless number of IP addresses
• Stateless Address Autoconfiguration (SLAAC): Automatically configures devices on a network
• Built-in IPSec: Enhances security with integrated encryption
• Efficient packet processing: Reduces overhead by eliminating header checksums
• Improved multicast and anycast: Replaces IPv4’s broadcast method for better efficiency

Known Limitations

• IPv6 does not rely on NAT as IPv4 does, since its address space is much larger.
• Broadcast communication is replaced by more efficient multicast and anycast addressing.

Future Enhancements

• Enhanced Quality of Service (QoS) for better traffic prioritization
• Expanded interface data, including usage statistics and error reporting
• UI updates to indicate whether an interface is part of a bridge or bonded network