Getting back on the IPv6 wagon

Over the last 7 years or so, I’ve played with IPv6 from time to time. I’ve had tunnels set up several times, and they’ve fallen over again due to kernel upgrades, or just because I didn’t really use them. Now I’ve set up another one, but this time, I have found some actual uses for it – sort of, anyway:

1) My web server runs IPv6, and DNS works for it. This blog now works with IPv6 access. I’ve already had a couple of hits on that connection, but not very many. From earlier experiences, I know that this means some people will have a hard time getting to it, due to having a non-working IPv6 setup, and browsers prefering IPv6. Well, if that’s you: Get with the programme, and get your IPv6 fixed.

2) I made my phone – a Nokia N95 – work with IPv6. Actually, I’m bragging where I shouldn’t be: I figured out how to get my wireless network to accept the phone, and as soon as that worked, the phone picked up an IPv6 address, and I could access the test site I’ve been using, http://ipv6.beijing2008.cn/.

I was a bit surprised at how easy it was, but it seems that the consumer end of electronics is really getting ready for IPv6, even though various routers and ADSL-modems aren’t. Next step must be to convince the boss to let an IPv6 VLAN close to the servers so people can start using it for something.

2 thoughts on “Getting back on the IPv6 wagon

  1. Martin

    Cool! Here at IBM Zurich they have IPv6, so I can now see your blog that way 🙂

    I recently talked with a guy down here — we signed each others PGP keys — who are involved in pushing IPv6, he started http://www.sixxs.net/ which you might know.

    He explained me that one of the cool things about having an IPv6 address is that you can finally have a fixed IP address, and this address can follow you around the world. He told me that he has tried resuming his laptop after a hibernation, and when the IPv6 tunnel came up his SSH connections were still working!

    So I plan to look at this too when I get back home…

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