IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels

GRE tunnels are links between two points, with a separate tunnel for each link. The tunnels are not tied to
a specific passenger or transport protocol, but in this case carry IPv6 as the passenger protocol with the GRE
as the carrier protocol and IPv4 or IPv6 as the transport protocol.

• Finding Feature Information, page 1

• Information About IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels, page 1
• How to Configure IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels, page 4
• Configuration Examples for IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels, page 6
• Additional References, page 8
• Feature Information for IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels, page 9

Finding Feature Information

Your software release may not support all the features documented in this module. For the latest caveats and
feature information, see Bug Search Tool and the release notes for your platform and software release. To
find information about the features documented in this module, and to see a list of the releases in which each
feature is supported, see the feature information table.
Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support.
To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

Information About IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels

Overlay Tunnels for IPv6

Overlay tunneling encapsulates IPv6 packets in IPv4 packets for delivery across an IPv4 infrastructure (a core
network or the figure below). By using overlay tunnels, you can communicate with isolated IPv6 networks
without upgrading the IPv4 infrastructure between them. Overlay tunnels can be configured between border
devices or between a border device and a host; however, both tunnel endpoints must support both the IPv4
and IPv6 protocol stacks. IPv6 supports the following types of overlay tunneling mechanisms:

Interface and Hardware Component Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE Release 3S

1
 IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels
Overlay Tunnels for IPv6

• Manual
• Generic routing encapsulation (GRE)
• IPv4-compatible
• 6to4
• Intrasite Automatic Tunnel Addressing Protocol (ISATAP)

Figure 1: Overlay Tunnels

Note Overlay tunnels reduce the maximum transmission unit (MTU) of an interface by 20 octets (assuming
that the basic IPv4 packet header does not contain optional fields). A network that uses overlay tunnels
is difficult to troubleshoot. Therefore, overlay tunnels that connect isolated IPv6 networks should not be
considered a final IPv6 network architecture. The use of overlay tunnels should be considered as a transition
technique toward a network that supports both the IPv4 and IPv6 protocol stacks or just the IPv6 protocol
stack.

Use the table below to help you determine which type of tunnel that you want to configure to carry IPv6
packets over an IPv4 network.

Table 1: Suggested Usage of Tunnel Types to Carry IPv6 Packets over an IPv4 Network

Tunneling Type Suggested Usage Usage Notes

Manual Simple point-to-point tunnels that Can carry IPv6 packets only.
can be used within a site or
between sites.

GRE- and IPv4- compatible Simple point-to-point tunnels that Can carry IPv6, Connectionless
can be used within a site or Network Service (CLNS), and
between sites. many other types of packets.

IPv4- compatible Point-to-multipoint tunnels. Uses the ::/96 prefix. We do not

recommend using this tunnel type.

Interface and Hardware Component Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE Release 3S

2
IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels
Overlay Tunnels for IPv6

Tunneling Type Suggested Usage Usage Notes

6to4 Point-to-multipoint tunnels that can Sites use addresses from the
be used to connect isolated IPv6 2002::/16 prefix.
sites.

6RD IPv6 service is provided to Prefixes can be from the SP’s own
customers over an IPv4 network address block.
by using encapsulation of IPv6 in
IPv4.

ISATAP Point-to-multipoint tunnels that can Sites can use any IPv6 unicast
be used to connect systems within addresses.
a site.

Individual tunnel types are discussed in detail in this document. We recommend that you review and understand
the information about the specific tunnel type that you want to implement. When you are familiar with the
type of tunnel you need, see the table below for a summary of the tunnel configuration parameters that you
may find useful.

Table 2: Tunnel Configuration Parameters by Tunneling Type

Tunneling Type Tunnel

Configuration
Parameter
Tunnel Mode Tunnel Source Tunnel Destination Interface Prefix or
Address

Interface and Hardware Component Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE Release 3S

3
 IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels
GRE IPv4 Tunnel Support for IPv6 Traffic

Tunneling Type Tunnel

Configuration
Parameter
Manual ipv6ip An IPv4 address, or An IPv4 address. An IPv6 address.
a reference to an
GRE/IPv4 gre ip interface on which An IPv4 address. An IPv6 address.
IPv4 is configured.
IPv4- compatible ipv6ip auto-tunnel Not required. These Not required. The
are all interface address is
point-to-multipoint generated as
tunneling types. The ::tunnel-source/96.
IPv4 destination
6to4 ipv6ip 6to4 address is An IPv6 address.
calculated, on a The prefix must
per-packet basis, embed the tunnel
from the IPv6 source IPv4 address.
destination.
6RD ipv6ip 6rd An IPv6 address.

ISATAP ipv6ip isatap An IPv6 prefix in

modified eui-64
format. The IPv6
address is generated
from the prefix and
the tunnel source
IPv4 address.

GRE IPv4 Tunnel Support for IPv6 Traffic

IPv6 traffic can be carried over IPv4 GRE tunnels using the standard GRE tunneling technique that is designed
to provide the services to implement any standard point-to-point encapsulation scheme. As in IPv6 manually
configured tunnels, GRE tunnels are links between two points, with a separate tunnel for each link. The tunnels
are not tied to a specific passenger or transport protocol but, in this case, carry IPv6 as the passenger protocol
with the GRE as the carrier protocol and IPv4 or IPv6 as the transport protocol.
The primary use of GRE tunnels is for stable connections that require regular secure communication between
two edge devices or between an edge device and an end system. The edge devices and the end systems must
be dual-stack implementations.

How to Configure IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels

Configuring GRE on IPv6 Tunnels

GRE tunnels can be configured to run over an IPv6 network layer and to transport IPv4 and IPv6 packets in
IPv6 tunnels.

Interface and Hardware Component Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE Release 3S

4
 IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels
Configuring GRE on IPv6 Tunnels

Before You Begin

When GRE IPv6 tunnels are configured, IPv6 addresses are assigned to the tunnel source and the tunnel
destination. The tunnel interface can have either IPv4 addresses or IPv6 addresses assigned (this is not shown
in the task). The host or device at each end of a configured tunnel must support both the IPv4 and IPv6 protocol
stacks.

SUMMARY STEPS

1. enable
2. configure terminal
3. interface tunnel tunnel-number
4. Enter one of the following commands:
• ipv6 address {ipv6-address/prefix-length | prefix-name sub-bits/prefix-length}
• ipv6 address ipv6-prefix/prefix-length [eui-64]

5. tunnel source {ip-address | ipv6-address | interface-type interface-number}

6. tunnel destination {hostname | ip-address | ipv6-address}
7. tunnel mode {aurp | cayman | dvmrp | eon | gre | gre multipoint | gre ipv6 | ipip [decapsulate-any] |
iptalk | ipv6 | mpls | nos}
8. end

DETAILED STEPS

Command or Action Purpose

Step 1 enable Enables privileged EXEC mode.
• Enter your password if prompted.
Example:
Device> enable

Step 2 configure terminal Enters global configuration mode.

Example:
Device# configure terminal

Step 3 interface tunnel tunnel-number Specifies a tunnel interface and number, and enters interface
configuration mode.
Example:
Device(config)# interface tunnel 0

Step 4 Enter one of the following commands: Specifies the IPv6 network assigned to the interface and
enables IPv6 processing on the interface.
• ipv6 address {ipv6-address/prefix-length |
prefix-name sub-bits/prefix-length} • If you specify the eui-64 keyword, the software
configures an IPv6 address for an interface and enables
• ipv6 address ipv6-prefix/prefix-length [eui-64]

Interface and Hardware Component Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE Release 3S

5
 IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels
Configuration Examples for IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels

Command or Action Purpose

IPv6 processing on the interface using an EUI-64
Example: interface ID in the low-order 64 bits of the address.

Device(config-if)# ipv6 address

3ffe:b00:c18:1::3/127

Step 5 tunnel source {ip-address | ipv6-address | interface-type Specifies the source IPv4 address, IPv6 address, or the source
interface-number} interface type and number for the tunnel interface.
• If an interface is specified, the interface must be
Example: configured with an IPv4 address.
Device(config-if)# tunnel source gigabitethernet
0/0/0

Step 6 tunnel destination {hostname | ip-address | Specifies the destination IPv4 address, IPv6 address, or
ipv6-address} hostname for the tunnel interface.

Example:
Device(config-if)# tunnel destination
2001:DB8:1111:2222::1/64

Step 7 tunnel mode {aurp | cayman | dvmrp | eon | gre | gre Specifies a GRE IPv6 tunnel.
multipoint | gre ipv6 | ipip [decapsulate-any] | iptalk Note The tunnel mode gre ipv6 command specifies GRE
| ipv6 | mpls | nos} as the encapsulation protocol for the tunnel.

Example:
Device(config-if)# tunnel mode gre ipv6

Step 8 end Returns to privileged EXEC mode.

Example:
Device(config-if)# end

Configuration Examples for IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels

Example GRE Tunnel Running IS-IS and IPv6 Traffic

The following example configures a GRE tunnel running both IS-IS and IPv6 traffic between Router A and
Router B:

Router A Configuration

ipv6 unicast-routing

Interface and Hardware Component Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE Release 3S

6
 IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels
Example: Tunnel Destination Address for IPv6 Tunnel

clns routing
!
interface tunnel 0
no ip address
ipv6 address 3ffe:b00:c18:1::3/127
ipv6 router isis
tunnel source GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
tunnel destination 2001:DB8:1111:2222::1/64
tunnel mode gre ipv6
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/0/0
ip address 10.0.0.1 255.255.255.0
!
router isis
net 49.0000.0000.000a.00

Router B Configuration

ipv6 unicast-routing
clns routing
!
interface tunnel 0
no ip address
ipv6 address 3ffe:b00:c18:1::2/127
ipv6 router isis
tunnel source GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
tunnel destination 2001:DB8:1111:2222::2/64
tunnel mode gre ipv6
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/0/0
ip address 10.0.0.2 255.255.255.0
!
router isis
net 49.0000.0000.000b.00
address-family ipv6
redistribute static
exit-address-family

Example: Tunnel Destination Address for IPv6 Tunnel

Router(config
)
#
interface Tunnel0
Router(config
-if)
#
ipv6 address 2001:1:1::1/48
Router(config
-if)
#
tunnel source GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
Router(config
-if)
#
tunnel destination 10.0.0.2
Router(config
-if)
#
tunnel mode gre ipv6
Router(config
-if)
#
exit
!
Router(config
)

Interface and Hardware Component Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE Release 3S

7
 IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels
Additional References

#
interface GigabitEthernet0/0/0
Router(config
-if)
#
ip address 10.0.0.1 255.255.255.0
Router(config
-if)
#
exit
!
Router(config
)
#
ipv6 unicast-routing
Router(config
)
#
router isis

Router(config
)
#
net 49.0000.0000.000a.00

Additional References
Related Documents

Related Topic Document Title

IPv6 addressing and connectivity IPv6 Configuration Guide

Cisco IOS commands Cisco IOS Master Commands List,

All Releases

IPv6 commands Cisco IOS IPv6 Command

Reference

Cisco IOS IPv6 features Cisco IOS IPv6 Feature Mapping

Standards and RFCs

Standard/RFC Title
RFCs for IPv6 IPv6 RFCs

Interface and Hardware Component Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE Release 3S

8
 IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels
Feature Information for IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels

MIBs

MIB MIBs Link

To locate and download MIBs for selected platforms,
Cisco IOS releases, and feature sets, use Cisco MIB
Locator found at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/go/mibs

Technical Assistance

Description Link
The Cisco Support and Documentation website http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/support/index.html
provides online resources to download documentation,
software, and tools. Use these resources to install and
configure the software and to troubleshoot and resolve
technical issues with Cisco products and technologies.
Access to most tools on the Cisco Support and
Documentation website requires a Cisco.com user ID
and password.

Feature Information for IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels

The following table provides release information about the feature or features described in this module. This
table lists only the software release that introduced support for a given feature in a given software release
train. Unless noted otherwise, subsequent releases of that software release train also support that feature.
Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support.
To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

Interface and Hardware Component Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE Release 3S

9
 IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels
Feature Information for IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels

Table 3: Feature Information for IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels

Feature Name Releases Feature Information

IPv6 over IPv4 GRE Tunnels Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1 GRE tunnels are links between two
points, with a separate tunnel for
each link. The tunnels are not tied
to a specific passenger or transport
protocol, but in this case carry IPv6
as the passenger protocol with the
GRE as the carrier protocol and
IPv4 or IPv6 as the transport
protocol.
The following commands were
introduced or modified: tunnel
destination, tunnel mode ipv6ip,
tunnel source.

Interface and Hardware Component Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE Release 3S

10