IPv6 Troubleshooting

Ismir Saljic Updated by Ismir Saljic

When troubleshooting in the IPv6 area, it is particularly important to double-check the IP address, subnet mask, and the default route or default gateway for typos. Due to the nature (length and complexity) of IPv6 addresses, it is easily possible to miss or accidentally add a digit.

In Debian Linux you can work with the following commands:

ip -6 addr show - display configured IPv6 address

ip -6 route show - display configured default route

Examples based on an IP address configured in Austria, at the interface eth0

ip -6 addr show

eth0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 state UP qlen 1000 inet6 2a03:f80:ed15:435a::1/48 scope global

Important: pay attention to use the correct subnet (2a03:f80:xx:xxxx::1) and netmask /48

ip -6 route show

default via 2a03:f80:ed15::1 dev eth0

Important: pay attention to use the correct default gateway (2a03:f80:xxx::1)
Every server locations has its own unique gateway!

If the configuration seems correct and IPv6 is still not working properly, this could be a general network issue. A test with mtr or ping provides more insights.

Use an address that you can assume will work with a high degree of probability, such as ipv6.google.com:

mtr -6 -r ipv6.google.com

ping -6 ipv6.google.com

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