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In this lesson, we will focus on another Cisco Packet Tracer IPv6 Configuration. Here, we will focus on IPv6 Static Route Configuration on Cisco routers. How to configure IPv6 static routing on Cisco routers? We will answer this question and we will practice IPv6 static routing on Cisco devices with the help of Cisco Packet Tracer. For a complete configuration example, you can also check our IPv6 Static Route Configuration on Cisco IOS lesson.
Before learning how to configure IPv6 static routes on Cisco devices, you can visit What is Static Route lesson and remember IPv4 static routes. There is also a nice example on that lesson.
Before Cisco Packet Tracer IPv6 Config Example, let’s firstly start with, what is IPv6 Static route?
You can also visit IPv6 Address Lesson to remember IPv6 address details.
To configure an IPv6 static route, we use the ipv6 route command. Depending on the static route type, we can specify the destination IPv6 prefix, next-hop IPv6 address, outgoing interface or a combination of these parameters.
The main parameters used in an IPv6 static route are:
IPv6 static routes are commonly used in small or simple networks, or when a manually defined path towards a destination is required.
Before configuring IPv6 routing, make sure that IPv6 unicast routing is enabled on the router. We can enable ipv6 routing with ipv6 unicast-routing command.
Router(config)# ipv6 unicast-routing
You can also watch Cisco IPv6 Static Route Configuration.
There are different types of IPv6 static routes depending on how the next hop and outgoing interface are specified. The common IPv6 static route types are:
Let’s see how to configure each of these IPv6 static route types on Cisco routers.
In a Directly Attached Static Route, only the outgoing interface is specified. The router forwards the traffic towards the destination network through this interface.
To configure a directly attached IPv6 static route, we use the ipv6 route <destination-prefix> <outgoing-interface> command.
ipv6 route 2001:AAA::/32 GigabitEthernet0/0/0
This static route directs traffic destined for 2001:AAA::/32 through GigabitEthernet0/0/0.
In a Recursive Static Route, only the next-hop IPv6 address is specified. The router performs an additional routing table lookup to determine the outgoing interface used to reach the next hop.
To configure a recursive IPv6 static route, we use the ipv6 route <destination-prefix> <next-hop-address> command.
ipv6 route 2001:AAA::/32 2001:AAA:1000:1
Here, traffic destined for 2001:AAA::/32 is forwarded towards the next-hop IPv6 address 2001:AAA:1000::1.
A Fully Specified Static Route includes both the outgoing interface and the next-hop IPv6 address.
To configure a fully specified IPv6 static route, we use the ipv6 route <destination-prefix> <outgoing-interface> <next-hop-address> command.
ipv6 route 2001:AAA::/32 GigabitEthernet0/0/0 2001:AAA:1000:1
Here, traffic destined for 2001:AAA::/32 is forwarded through GigabitEthernet0/0/0 towards the next-hop IPv6 address 2001:AAA:1000::1.
A Floating Static Route is used as a backup route. It is configured with a higher Administrative Distance than the primary route, so it is used when the preferred route is no longer available.
To configure an IPv6 Floating Static Route, we add the Administrative Distance at the end of the ipv6 route command.
ipv6 route 2001:AAA::/32 2001:AAA:1000:1 200
Here, the Floating Static Route uses 2001:AAA:1000::1 as the next-hop address and has an Administrative Distance of 200. Because the default Administrative Distance of a static route is 1, this route can act as a backup when a preferred route with a lower Administrative Distance exists.
The table below summarizes the main IPv6 Static Route types, their main characteristics, and the basic command format used for each type.
| Type | Main Characteristic | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Directly Attached | Outgoing interface | ipv6 route prefix interface |
| Recursive | Next-hop address | ipv6 route prefix next-hop |
| Fully Specified | Interface + next-hop | ipv6 route prefix interface next-hop |
| Floating | Higher Administrative Distance | ipv6 route prefix next-hop AD |
After configuring our IPv6 static routes, we can verify them with the show ipv6 route command. This command displays the IPv6 routing table of the router.
Router# show ipv6 route
S 2001:AAA::/32 [1/0]
via 2001:AAA:1000::1
In the IPv6 routing table, static routes are marked with the letter S. The output also shows information such as the destination IPv6 prefix, Administrative Distance, metric, next-hop address and outgoing interface.
Here, S indicates a static route. The [1/0] values represent the Administrative Distance and metric. As we have learned before, the default Administrative Distance of a static route is 1.
Instead of displaying the entire IPv6 routing table, we can use the show ipv6 route static command to display only the static IPv6 routes.
Router# show ipv6 route static
This command is especially useful when the routing table contains many different types of IPv6 routes and we want to focus only on static routes.
We can also check the routing information for a specific IPv6 destination prefix.
Router# show ipv6 route 2001:AAA::/32
This command provides detailed routing information about the specified IPv6 network, including the route source, Administrative Distance, metric and forwarding information.
After verifying the IPv6 static routes in the routing table, we should also verify IPv6 connectivity. To do this, we can use the ping command with the IPv6 address of a remote interface.
Router# ping 2001:AAA::1
A successful ping shows that the remote IPv6 address is reachable using the configured routing information.
We can also use the traceroute command to verify the path towards a remote IPv6 destination.
Router# traceroute 2001:AAA::1
While ping verifies IPv6 reachability, traceroute shows the Layer 3 hops that packets pass through to reach the destination.
There are various advantages and disadvantages of using static routes with IPv6. Let’s firstly start with the advantages of IPv6 static routing.
First of all when we use static routing, it is predictible because, we configure IPv6 static routes manually. Secondly, static routing consumes very low bandwidth and CPU resource if we compare them with dynamic routing protocol calculations. And lastly, using static routing is more secure than routing protocols.
How about limitations and disadvantages of IPv6 Static routing? The first limitation is also about manul aconfiguration. Because when we do a manual configuration, at every change, we shoud do this job manually and this need an extra work on networks. Again, because of manual configuration, it is not adaptable to the changes. And laslty, it is maden by Human. And human is always open to the wrong configurations that can cause routing loops.
In this Cisco IPv6 Configuration Example, you we have learned how to configure IPv6 static routes on Cisco routers. We have used Cisco Packet Tracer for IPv6 Static Route Config. If you would like to gain more hand on experience with Cisco Packet Tracer, you can visit other Packet Tracer configuration lessons.
To test yourslf, you can visit Cisco CCNA Practice Quiz Page!
You can also check Cisco IPv6 Static Route Configuration lesson.
Gokhan Kosem is a Network Engineer, Instructor and the Founder of IPCisco.com with 15+ years of experience in Cisco, Nokia, Huawei, Juniper, Linux, Service Provider Networks, Routing and Switching technologies.
He has worked on the backbone networks of major service providers and network vendors including Nortel, Alcatel-Lucent (Nokia) and has extensive hands-on experience with Cisco, Huawei, Juniper and Nokia networking technologies.
He has trained thousands of networking students worldwide through IPCisco.com, Udemy, books, labs, quizzes, and educational content across multiple social media platforms.
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