VPNv6 Review 2023: Servers, Speed, Service, Prices - The Truth!

VPNv6 is a new protocol for routing and security, which was developed in the IPv6 family of protocols. This new protocol is a continuation of IPv4 with support for MPLS VPNs, BGP-MPLS IP VPN extension and peering. It is still in its infancy, and it is not yet as widely adopted as other forms of internetworking, but it is gaining popularity and interest. In this article, we will look at some of the key features of this new protocol.

MPLS VPNv6

A Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a network that uses MPLS to create private networks for communication. The network can be accessed over familiar IPv4 topologies, or over less common types of media. Some features of an IPv6 VPN are similar to those of an IPv4 VPN. These features include Static Routes, EIGRP, and Multiprotocol BGP session.

IPv6 over MPLS is similar to an IPv4 VPN in that it is an IPv6-based solution that utilizes a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) routing table at the provider edge. However, there are important differences that need to be understood.

To start, you need to understand how MPLS and VPNs work. This includes understanding the differences between MPLS and VPN routing tables. Additionally, you need to know how IPv6 and IPv4 addresses are handled.

IPv6 global addresses and ULAs

There are a variety of IPv6 addressing mechanisms. One method is to use global unicast addresses (GUA). These addresses are useful for communicating on the public internet.

Alternatively, you can use a unique local address. While not routable on the global internet, these addresses can be used in local networks and in small sites. They are easy to filter at a site's boundaries.

Another method of addressing is using ULAs. ULAs are similar to IPv4's private address space. However, they lack the link-local scope. This makes them appropriate for a super secure network. For example, they are typically used in enterprise private networks.

In addition, ULAs can be configured with a routable global address. When a router forwards a packet to a destination address in the global unicast address space, it uses an algorithm to select a source address based on the destination address. The algorithm is called the Source Address Selection Algorithm.

BGP-MPLS IP VPN Extension for IPv6 VPN

BGP/MPLS IP VPN extension (also known as 6VPE) is a multi-protocol extension to BGP, which is used to manage IPv6 VPN. This extension provides the necessary mechanisms to provide IPv6 VPN over an IPv4 backbone network. It enables Service Providers and Private networks to offer IPv6 VPN service over their backbone network.

BGP/MPLS IP VPN extension uses Global IPv6 addresses and AFI and SAFI values to advertise routes to peers. These same mechanisms are used to encapsulate and transmit IPv6 traffic through MPLS frames. The IPv6 routes advertised by the ingress PE router are advertised to the egress PE router. In addition, these routes are distributed to specific VPN remote sites.

IPv6 VPNs are similar to IPv4 VPNs, but they use IPv6 to tunnel their packets. This is achieved by creating a virtual subnet, which can be based on a BGP peering session or an L3VPN family.

MPLS-VPNv6 peering

The Multiprotocol Border Gateway Protocol (MP-BGP) is the center of the MPLS IPv6 VPN architecture. Its main goal is to distribute IPv6 routes over the service provider backbone. While the basic mechanisms are similar to those for IPv4, IPv6 needs some modifications in order to achieve IPv6 connectivity.

IPv6 over Layer 3 VPNs are covered in RFC 4659. If the MPLS core is IPv4-based, the default routing table is IPv4. Otherwise, the PE router maintains its own IPv6 routing table. An ingress PE router advertises an IPv6 prefix through MP-BGP. This allows it to reach other PEs within its network. A recursion process then takes place, where the inner label is combined with the outer label.

PEs handle multiple customer sites, with one RIB per connected customer. The BGP tables in the PEs total the entries in the VRFs.

Implementation details

A VPNv6 service is an IPv6 VPN service that supports IPv6 EIGRP and eBGP. It is available over similar media types as IPv4. In addition, it has static routing capability on its PE-CE interface.

To enable this service, a provider needs to have an MPLS-based backbone, a BGP GR, and an IGP GR. These are all required to support the IPv6 service.

The VPNv6 route has an associated MPLS label and BGP Next Hop label. In IPv4 VPNs, these are used to label routes that can be used with IPv4 tunneling.

The MP_REACH_NLRI attribute is typically present in inter-AS topologies. This attribute contains the link-local address of the next hop for the VPNv6 route. Using this attribute, a provider can make the customer-specific routes transparent for traffic that is not labeled with the label.