This section, as well as the following two, includes installation and configuration examples for most of the implementations of the tools and mechanisms previously described in this chapter.

Generally, adding IPv6 functionality to existing IPv4 interfaces – if it is supported in the operating system/on the platform – is often a simple task. Nevertheless, as one basically adds a complete new IPv6 network living next to the existing IPv4 network, one has to think about internal and maybe external routing structures. These may differ from those used in IPv4, as not all of the current IGPs (like OSPFv2) are capable to route IPv6 traffic. Instead it may happen that new protocols (e.g. OSPFv3) need to be deployed.

Information on how to switch on IPv6 on any platform is included in Appendix B. As IPv6 becomes more and more common it is likely that this information will become unnecessary. Very soon all operating systems and router platforms will have IPv6 switched on by default.

Configuration examples for routing protocols are covered in Chapter 6. We would like the reader to refer to that chapter to learn how to set up inter or intra-domain routing with either iBGP, OSPFv3, ISIS or RIPng for most platforms.