Enables seamless communication by using IPv6 as the exclusive protocol throughout a network, eliminating the need for IPv4 translation or tunneling mechanisms.

IPv6

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is a

packet-based communications protocol developed to exchange data, voice, and video traffic over digital networks, and
successor to IPv4, offering a much larger address space and several functional enhancements to support the growing requirements of modern networks.

IPv6 is based on IP, but adds a much larger address space and improvements such as a simplified main header and extension headers. The architecture of IPv6 helps existing IPv4 users transition to IPv6. It allows continued use of services such as end-to-end security, quality of service (QoS), and globally unique addresses. The larger IPv6 address space allows networks to scale and provide global reachability.

Note

Features and functions that work on IPv4 networks with IPv4 addresses also work on IPv6 networks with IPv6 addresses.

General guidelines and unsupported features of IPv6

For IPv6 functionality, disable IPv6 multicast routing.
The Wireless Management interface must have only one static IPv6 address.
Router advertisements should be suppressed on the wireless management interface and on client VLANs, if IPv6 is configured on the client VLAN.
The preferred mode is a setting within the AP join profile. When you configure the preferred mode as IPv6, an AP attempts to join over IPv6 first. If it fails, the AP falls back to IPv4.
You should use MAC addresses for RA tracing of APs and clients.
APs can join IPv6 controllers only with a static IPv6 address. If you have a controller with auto configurations and multiple IPv6 addresses, APs cannot join those IPv6 controllers.

Unsupported Feature

UDP Lite is not supported.
AP sniffer over IPv6 is not supported.
IPv6 is not supported for the HA port interface.
Auto RF grouping over IPv6 is not supported. Only static RF grouping is supported.

Configure IPv6 addressing (CLI)

Enable IPv6 communication and routing capabilities on physical and VLAN interfaces using commands.

Note

All features and functions that operate on IPv4 networks with IPv4 addresses also function on IPv6 networks with IPv6 addresses.

Procedure

Enter the global configuration mode.
Example:
```
Device# configure terminal
```
Configure IPv6 for unicasting.
Example:
```
Device(config)# ipv6 unicast-routing 
```
Create an interface and enter the interface configuration mode.
Example:
```
Device(config)# interface vlan 1
```

Specify a global IPv6 address.

Example:

Device(config-if)# ipv6 address FD09:9:2:49::53/64

Enable IPv6 on the interface.
Example:
```
Device(config-if)# ipv6 enable  
```
Suppress IPv6 router advertisement transmissions on the interface.
Example:
```
Device(config-if)# ipv6 nd ra suppress all 
```
Return to the global configuration mode and configure the ports that are connected to the supported APs with the wireless management interface.
Example:
```
Device(config-if)# exit 
```
```
Device(config)# wireless management interface gigabitEthernet vlan 64
```

Specify IPv6 static routes.

Example:

Device(config)# ipv6 route ::/0 FD09:9:2:49::1

Create an AP join profile (GUI)

Set up an AP join profile that controls AP joining behavior and preferences using the GUI.

Procedure

Choose Configuration > Tags & Profiles > AP Join.
On the AP Join Profile window, click the General tab and click Add.
In the Name field, enter a name for the AP join profile.
Enter a description for the AP join profile.
Choose CAPWAP > Advanced.
Select IPv6 from the Preferred Mode drop-down list under the Advanced tab to set the preferred mode of APs to IPv6.
Click Save & Apply to Device.

Create an AP join profile (CLI)

Create an AP join profile using commands.

Procedure

Enter the global configuration mode.
Example:
```
Device# configure terminal
```
Configure an AP profile and enter the AP profile configuration mode.
Example:
```
Device(config)# ap profile ap-profile
```

Add a description for the AP profile.

Example:

Device(config-ap-profile)# description ap-profile-name

Set the preferred mode of APs as IPv6.

Example:

Device(config-ap-profile)# preferred-mode ipv6

Configure the primary and backup Controller (GUI)

Set up a reliable wireless network by designating primary and backup controllers to ensure continuous connectivity in case of failures using the GUI.

Before you begin

Ensure that you have configured an AP join profile prior to configuring the primary and backup controller s.

Procedure

Choose Configuration > Tags & Profiles > AP Join.
On the AP Join Profile window, click the AP join profile name.
In the Edit AP Join Profile window, click the CAPWAP tab.
In the High Availability tab, under Backup Controller Configuration, check the Enable Fallback check box.
Enter the primary and secondary controller names and IP addresses.
Click Update & Apply to Device.

Configure primary and backup controller (CLI)

Set up failover by designating primary and backup controllers on an AP to ensure continuous operation if the primary controller becomes unavailable using commands.

Procedure

Enter the global configuration mode.
Example:
```
Device# configure terminal
```
Configure an AP profile and enter the AP profile configuration mode.
Example:
```
Device(config)# ap profile profile-name
```
Configure AP CAPWAP parameters with the primary backup controller's name.
Example:
```
Device(config)# capwap backup primary primary-controller-name primary-controller-ip
```
Note

Enable fast heartbeat so that capwap backup primary and capwap backup secondary work.

The AP may disconnect if the link between the controller and the AP is unreliable and fast heartbeat is enabled.

Configure AP CAPWAP parameters with the secondary backup controller's name.

Example:

Device(config)# capwap backup secondary secondary-controller-name secondary-controller-ip

Configure the system logging settings for the APs.
Example:
```
Device(config)# syslog host ip-address
```
Initiate AP image downgrade from a TFTP server for all the APs.
Example:
```
Device(config)# tftp-downgrade tftp-server-ip imagename
```

Verify IPv6 configuration

Use these show command to verify the IPv6 configuration:

Device# show wireless interface summary
Wireless Interface Summary
Interface Name Interface Type VLAN ID IP Address      IP Netmask     MAC Address
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vlan49         Management     49      0.0.0.0       255.255.255.0    001e.f64c.1eff
                                      fd09:9:2:49::54/64

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