Recommend:
Knowledge document #573

Configuring IPv6 in the FRITZ!Repeater

The FRITZ!Repeater already supports the internet protocols IPv4 and IPv6 in the factory settings. When used as a router, the FRITZ!Repeater attempts to establish a native IPv4 and a native IPv6 internet connection, for example using Dual Stack. Only if the internet service provider no longer allows IPv4 internet connections, the FRITZ!Repeater will only establish an IPv6 internet connection, for example using Dual-Stack Lite (DS-Lite).

Normally manual adjustment of the IPv6 settings is only necessary if the IPv6 internet connection could not be set up automatically, IPv6 is used with a tunnel protocol on an IPv4 internet connection, or a special configuration is to be implemented.

Observe the following information on the different IPv6 connections and proceed as described in the subsequent measures.

Note:All instructions on configuration and settings given in this guide refer to the latest FRITZ!OS for the FRITZ!Repeater.

1 IPv6 connection options of the FRITZ!Repeater

In the FRITZ!Repeater, you can configure native IPv4 and IPv6 internet connections or an IPv6 connection over a tunnel protocol. Various settings are available:

Using a native IPv4 connection

If the setting "Use native IPv4 connection" is selected, the FRITZ!Repeater establishes IPv4 and IPv6 internet connections:

  • The FRITZ!Repeater establishes a native IPv4 connection first.
  • If the internet service provider announces the IPv4 address of a 6RD gateway to the FRITZ!Repeater via DHCPv4, the FRITZ!Repeater also establishes a 6RD tunnel for IPv6 in addition to the IPv4 connection.
  • If the internet service provider does not announce a 6RD gateway to the FRITZ!Repeater, the FRITZ!Repeater also tries to establish a native IPv6 connection using Dual-Stack in addition to the IPv4 connection.
  • If neither a 6RD tunnel nor a native IPv6 connection is established, then the FRITZ!Repeater will not establish an IPv6 connection.

The setting "Use native IPv4 connection" makes sense if the internet connection supports IPv4 and it is not known which IPv6 settings the internet service provider expects.

Using a native IPv6 connection

If the setting "Use native IPv6 connection" is selected, the FRITZ!Repeater establishes a native IPv6 internet connection and also attempts to establish an IPv4 connection using DS-Lite:

  • The FRITZ!Repeater establishes a native IPv6 connection first.
  • If the option "Automatically determine IPv4 connectivity" is enabled and the internet service provider announces a border router for MAP-T, MAP-E or Lightweight 4over6 to the FRITZ!Repeater via DHCPv6, the FRITZ!Repeater also establishes an IPv4 connection using the corresponding procedure in addition to the IPv6 connection.
  • If the option "Establish IPv4 connection via DS-Lite" is enabled and the internet service provider announces an AFTR address to the FRITZ!Repeater via DHCPv6 or an AFTR was entered manually, the FRITZ!Repeater also establishes an IPv4 connection using DS-Lite in addition to the IPv6 connection.
  • If the native IPv6 connection cannot be established, the FRITZ!Repeater establishes a native IPv4 connection.

The setting "Use native IPv6 connection" makes sense if the internet connection supports a native IPv6 connection and IPv4 using a transitional technology (DS-Lite, MAP-T, MAP-E, Lightweight 4over6).

Using only IPv6

If the setting "Use only IPv6" is selected, the FRITZ!Repeater only establishes a native IPv6 internet connection. The FRITZ!Repeater does not establish an IPv4 connection.

The setting "Use only IPv6" makes sense if you have a pure IPv6 internet connection and the internet service provider makes suitable translation procedures for IPv4 destinations available (for example NAT64 / DNS64 or 464XLAT).

Using IPv6 with a tunnel protocol

If the setting "Use IPv6 with a tunnel protocol" is selected, the FRITZ!Repeater establishes a native IPv4 internet connection and also establishes a tunnel for IPv6. When using a tunnel protocol, the FRITZ!Repeater packs IPv6 packets into IPv4 packets and sends them via the IPv4 internet connection to a special gateway that unpacks the packets again and forwards the IPv6 data they contain to the IPv6 area of the internet.

The FRITZ!Repeater supports various tunnel protocols:

  • 6to4: 6to4 is a tunnel protocol that can be used with all IPv4 internet connections. It is not necessary to register with a service provider. The IPv4 address of the FRITZ!Repeater is rendered on an IPv6 address space according to a prescribed mechanism. This means that every change to the IPv4 address also changes the IPv6 address space of the FRITZ!Repeater.
  • 6RD: The 6RD tunnel protocol is based on the tunnel protocol 6to4, but it can only be used if the IPv4 internet service provider offers a 6RD gateway. Unlike with 6to4, the same gateway is always used with 6RD.
  • 6in4: The 6in4 tunnel protocol can only be used if the IPv4 internet service provider offers a 6in4 gateway. Unlike with 6RD, the gateway must always be set up manually with 6in4.

The setting "Use IPv6 with a tunnel protocol" makes sense if the internet service provider does not support IPv6 on the connection.

2 Setting up an IPv6 connection in the FRITZ!Repeater

  1. Click "Internet" in the user interface of the FRITZ!Repeater.
  2. Click "Account Information" in the "Internet" menu.
  3. Click on the "IPv6" tab.
  4. Enable the option "IPv6 support enabled". If IPv6 support is already enabled, IPv6 is already enabled. In this case you do not need to adjust the IPv6 settings.
  5. Configure the IPv6 internet connection according to the instructions of your internet service provider. If you do not know which IPv6 settings are required for your internet service provider, enable the option "Use native IPv4 connection".
  6. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

3 Adjusting the IPv6 settings for the home network

  1. Click "Home Network" in the user interface of the FRITZ!Repeater.
  2. Click "Network" in the "Home Network" menu.
  3. Click on the "Network Settings" tab.
  4. Click "Additional Settings" in the section "LAN Settings" to display all of the settings.
  5. Click the "IPv6 Settings" button.
  6. Enable the option "Router advertisement enabled in the LAN".
  7. Enable the option "Assign unique local addresses (ULAs)" in the section "Unique Local Addresses".
  8. Enable the options "Enable DHCPv6 server in the FRITZ!Repeater for the home network" and "Only assign DNS server" in the section "DHCPv6 Server in the Home Network".
  9. Click "Apply" to save the settings and on the FRITZ!Repeater, confirm that the procedure may be executed, if you are asked to do so.

4 Configuring IPv6 in the network device

IPv6 is enabled by default in Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and other modern operating systems; it is used parallel to IPv4 and preferred by modern devices. We recommend the following settings for IPv6 communication with the FRITZ!Repeater:

Windows 11

  1. Click (Start) and then (Settings) in the Windows task bar.
  2. Click "Network & Internet" in the "Settings" menu.
  3. Click "Advanced network settings".
  4. Click "More network adapter options" in the section "Related settings".
  5. Right-click the network adapter that connects the computer to the FRITZ!Repeater.
  6. Click "Properties".
  7. Select "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)".
  8. Click "Properties".
  9. Enable the options "Obtain an IPv6 address automatically" and "Obtain DNS server address automatically".
  10. Click "OK" to save the settings.

Windows 10

  1. Click (Start) and then (Settings) in the Windows task bar.
  2. Click "Network & Internet" in the "Settings" menu.
  3. Click "Change adapter options" in the section "Change your networking settings".
  4. Click the arrow next to the (Change view) button in the menu bar and select "Details".
  5. Right-click the LAN or Wi-Fi connection that lists the network adapter that connects the computer to the FRITZ!Repeater under "Device Name".
  6. Click "Properties".
  7. Select "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)".
  8. Click "Properties".
  9. Enable the options "Obtain an IPv6 address automatically" and "Obtain DNS server address automatically".
  10. Click "OK" to save the settings.

macOS

  1. Open the "System Preferences" in the Apple menu.
  2. Click on "Network" in the "System Preferences" menu.
  3. If the computer is connected to the FRITZ!Repeater via Wi-Fi, select "Wi-Fi" in the left-hand window.
    • If the computer is connected to the FRITZ!Repeater using a network cable, select "Built-in Ethernet" in the left-hand window.
  4. Click "Advanced".
  5. Switch to the TCP/IP settings page and select "Using DHCP:" from the drop-down list "Configure IPv4". Select the option "Automatically" from the drop-down list "Configure IPv6".
  6. Click "OK" to save the settings.

Linux and other devices (for example NAS systems)

  1. Configure the device to automatically obtain an IPv6 address and a DNSv6 server via SLAAC und DHCPv6. Refer to the manufacturer for information on how to set it up, for example consult the manual.
Language selection