Lab Identifying IPv6 Addresses

Topology

Objectives
Part 1: Identify the Different Types of IPv6 Addresses

Review the different types of IPv6 addresses.

Match the IPv6 address with the correct type.

Part 2: Examine a Host IPv6 Network Interface and Address

Check PC IPv6 network address settings.

Part 3: Practice IPv6 Address Abbreviation

Study and review the rules for IPv6 address abbreviation.

Practice compressing and decompressing IPv6 addresses.

Background / Scenario
With the depletion of the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) network address space and the adoption and
transition to IPv6, networking professionals must understand how both IPv4 and IPv6 networks function.
Many devices and applications already support IPv6. This includes extensive Cisco device Internetwork
Operating System (IOS) support and workstation/server operating system support, such as that found in
Windows and Linux.
This lab focuses on IPv6 addresses and the components of the address. In Part 1, you will identify the IPv6
address types, and in Part 2, you will view the IPv6 settings on a PC. In Part 3, you will practice IPv6 address
abbreviation.

Required Resources

1 PC (Windows 7 or Vista with Internet access)

Note: The IPv6 protocol is enabled in Windows 7 and Vista by default. The Windows XP operating system
does not enable IPv6 by default and is not recommended for use with this lab. This lab uses Windows 7 PC
hosts.

2014 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public.

Page 1 of 7

Lab Identifying IPv6 Addresses

Part 1: Identify the Different Types of IPv6 Addresses

In Part 1, you will review the characteristics of IPv6 addresses to identify the different types of IPv6
addresses.

Step 1: Review the different types of IPv6 addresses.

An IPv6 address is 128 bits long. It is most often presented as 32 hexadecimal characters. Each
hexadecimal character is the equivalent of 4 bits (4 x 32 = 128). A non-abbreviated IPv6 host address is
shown here:
2001:0DB8:0001:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001
A hextet is the hexadecimal, IPv6 version of an IPv4 octet. An IPv4 address is 4 octets long, separated by
dots. An IPv6 address is 8 hextets long, separated by colons.
An IPv4 address is 4 octets and is commonly written or displayed in decimal notation.
255.255.255.255
An IPv6 address is 8 hextets and is commonly written or displayed in hexadecimal notation.
FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF
In an IPv4 address, each individual octet is 8 binary digits (bits). Four octets equals one 32-bit IPv4
address.
11111111 = 255
11111111.11111111.11111111.11111111 = 255.255.255.255
In an IPv6 address, each individual hextet is 16 bits long. Eight hextets equals one 128-bit IPv6 address.
1111111111111111 = FFFF
1111111111111111.1111111111111111.1111111111111111.1111111111111111.
1111111111111111.1111111111111111.1111111111111111.1111111111111111 =
FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF
If we read an IPv6 address starting from the left, the first (or far left) hextet identifies the IPv6 address
type. For example, if the IPv6 address has all zeros in the far left hextet, then the address is possibly a
loopback address.
0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001 = loopback address
::1 = loopback address abbreviated
As another example, if the IPv6 address has FE80 in the first hextet, then the address is a link-local
address.
FE80:0000:0000:0000:C5B7:CB51:3C00:D6CE = link-local address
FE80::C5B7:CB51:3C00:D6CE = link-local address abbreviated
Study the chart below to help you identify the different types of IPv6 address based on the numbers in the
first hextet.

2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public.

Page 2 of 7

Lab Identifying IPv6 Addresses

First Hextet (Far Left)

Type of IPv6 Address

0000 to 00FF

Loopback address, any address, unspecified address, or IPv4compatible

2000 to 3FFF

Global unicast address (a routable address in a range of

addresses that is currently being handed out by the Internet
Assigned Numbers Authority [IANA])

FE80 to FEBF

Link-local (a unicast address which identifies the host computer

on the local network)

FC00 to FCFF

Unique-local (a unicast address which can be assigned to a host

to identify it as being part of a specific subnet on the local
network)

FF00 to FFFF

Multicast address

There are other IPv6 address types that are either not yet widely implemented, or have already become
deprecated, and are no longer supported. For instance, an anycast address is new to IPv6 and can be
used by routers to facilitate load sharing and provide alternate path flexibility if a router becomes
unavailable. Only routers should respond to an anycast address. Alternatively, site-local addresses have
been deprecated and replaced by unique-local addresses. Site-local addresses were identified by the
numbers FEC0 in the initial hextet.
In IPv6 networks, there are no network (wire) addresses or broadcast addresses as there are in IPv4
networks.

Step 2: Match the IPv6 address to its type.

Match the IPv6 addresses to their corresponding address type. Notice that the addresses have been
compressed to their abbreviated notation and that the slash network prefix number is not shown. Some
answer choices must be used more than once.
IPv6 Address

Answer

Answer Choices

2001:0DB8:1:ACAD::FE55:6789:B210

1. b____

a. Loopback address

::1

2. a____

b. Global unicast address

FC00:22:A:2::CD4:23E4:76FA

3. d____

c. Link-local address

2033:DB8:1:1:22:A33D:259A:21FE

4. _b___

d. Unique-local address

FE80::3201:CC01:65B1

5. c____

e. Multicast address

FF00::

6. _e___

FF00::DB7:4322:A231:67C

7. _e___

FF02::2

8. e____

Part 2: Examine a Host IPv6 Network Interface and Address

In Part 2, you will check the IPv6 network settings of your PC to identify your network interface IPv6 address.

Step 1: Check your PC IPv6 network address settings.

a. Verify that the IPv6 protocol is installed and active on your PC-A (check your Local Area Connection
settings).

2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public.

Page 3 of 7

Lab Identifying IPv6 Addresses

b. Click the Windows Start button and then Control Panel and change View by: Category to View by:
Small icons.
c.

Click the Network and Sharing Center icon.

d. On the left side of the window, click Change adapter settings. You should now see icons representing
your installed network adapters. Right-click your active network interface (it may be a Local Area
Connection or a Wireless Network Connection), and then click Properties.
e. You should now see your Network Connection Properties window. Scroll through the list of items to
determine whether IPv6 is present, which indicates that it is installed, and if it is also check marked, which
indicates that it is active.

f.

Select the item Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) and click Properties. You should see the IPv6
settings for your network interface. Your IPv6 properties window is likely set to Obtain an IPv6 address
automatically. This does not mean that IPv6 relies on the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
Instead of using DHCP, IPv6 looks to the local router for IPv6 network information and then autoconfigures its own IPv6 addresses. To manually configure IPv6, you must provide the IPv6 address, the
subnet prefix length, and the default gateway.
Note: The local router can refer host requests for IPv6 information, especially Domain Name System
(DNS) information, to a DHCPv6 server on the network.

2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public.

Page 4 of 7

Lab Identifying IPv6 Addresses

g. After you have verified that IPv6 is installed and active on your PC, you should check your IPv6 address
information. To do this, click the Start button, type cmd in the Search programs and files form box, and
press Enter. This opens a Windows command prompt window.
h. Type ipconfig /all and press Enter. Your output should look similar to this:
C:\Users\user> ipconfig /all
Windows IP Configuration
<output omitted>
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix
Description . . . . . . . . . .
Physical Address. . . . . . . .
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . .
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . .
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . .
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . .
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . .
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . .
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . .
Default Gateway . . . . . . . .
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . .
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . .
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6200 AGN

02-37-10-41-FB-48
Yes
Yes
fe80::8d4f:4f4d:3237:95e2%14(Preferred)
192.168.2.106(Preferred)
255.255.255.0
Sunday, January 06, 2013 9:47:36 AM
Monday, January 07, 2013 9:47:38 AM
192.168.2.1
192.168.2.1
335554320
00-01-00-01-14-57-84-B1-1C-C1-DE-91-C3-5D

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public.

Page 5 of 7

Lab Identifying IPv6 Addresses

8.8.4.4
<output omitted>

i.

You can see from the output that the client PC has an IPv6 link-local address with a randomly generated
interface ID. What does it indicate about the network regarding IPv6 global unicast address, IPv6 uniquelocal address, or IPv6 gateway address? IPv6 unique local address

j.

What kind of IPv6 addresses did you find when using ipconfig /all? IPv6 unique local address and IPv6
Global unicast address

Part 3: Practice IPv6 Address Abbreviation

In Part 3, you will study and review rules for IPv6 address abbreviation to correctly compress and decompress
IPv6 addresses.

Step 1: Study and review the rules for IPv6 address abbreviation.
Rule 1: In an IPv6 address, a string of four zeros (0s) in a hextet can be abbreviated as a single zero.
2001:0404:0001:1000:0000:0000:0EF0:BC00
2001:0404:0001:1000:0:0:0EF0:BC00 (abbreviated with single zeros)
Rule 2: In an IPv6 address, the leading zeros in each hextet can be omitted, trailing zeros cannot be omitted.
2001:0404:0001:1000:0000:0000:0EF0:BC00
2001:404:1:1000:0:0:EF0:BC00 (abbreviated with leading zeros omitted)
Rule 3: In an IPv6 address, a single continuous string of four or more zeros can be abbreviated as a double
colon (::). The double colon abbreviation can only be used one time in an IP address.
2001:0404:0001:1000:0000:0000:0EF0:BC00
2001:404:1:1000::EF0:BC00 (abbreviated with leading zeroes omitted and continuous zeros
replaced with a double colon)
The image below illustrates these rules of IPv6 address abbreviation:

2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public.

Page 6 of 7

Lab Identifying IPv6 Addresses

Step 2: Practice compressing and decompressing IPv6 addresses.

Using the rules of IPv6 address abbreviation, either compress or decompress the following addresses:
1

2002:0EC0:0200:0001:0000:04EB:44CE:08A2
2002:EC0:200:1::4EB:44CE:8A2

2002:EC0:200:1:0:4EB:44CE:8A2

FE80:0000:0000:0001:0000:60BB:008E:7402
FE80::1:0:60BB:8E:7402

FE80:0:0:1:0:60BB:8E:7402

FE80::7042:B3D7:3DEC:84B8 FE80:0:0:0:7042:B3D7:3DEC:84B8
FE80:0000:0000:0000:7042:B3D7:3DEC:84B8

FF00:: FF00:0:0:0:0:0:0:0

2001:0030:0001:ACAD:0000:330E:10C2:32BF 2001:30:1:ACAD:0:330E:10C2:32BF
2001:30:1:ACAD::330E:10C2:32BF

FF00:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000

Reflection
1. How do you think you must support IPv6 in the future? I think utilizing multiple mac addresses on one device
will become the norm. A computer having a mac address to support its wireless capabilities and also LAN
lines
2. Do you think IPv4 networks continue on, or will everyone eventually switch over to IPv6? How long do you
think it will take? I think IPV6 will take over, and thus, render IPV4 obsolete. I think the craving for technology
by our society will drive us to implementing IPV6 sooner rather than later.

2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public.

Page 7 of 7