IPv6 EIGRP: The Next-Generation Routing Protocol

 IPv6 EIGRP: The Next-Generation Routing Protocol

As networks transition to IPv6, routing protocols must evolve too. Enter EIGRP for IPv6 – Cisco’s enhanced interior gateway protocol, now ready for the modern internet.

 

What is IPv6 EIGRP?

IPv6 EIGRP is the IPv6-enabled version of Cisco’s advanced distance-vector protocol. It retains EIGRP’s popular features – rapid convergence, low bandwidth usage, and support for VLSM – while fully embracing IPv6 addressing and communication.

 

Key Advantages

Dual-Stack Ready: Runs alongside IPv4 EIGRP, allowing gradual migration

Separate Process: IPv6 EIGRP operates as an independent protocol instance

Link-local addressing: uses IPv6 link-local addresses for neighbor discovery

Same Dual Algorithm: Maintains the reliable loop-free path selection

 

Configuration Highlights

 

R1(config)#ipv6 unicast-routing
R1(config)#ipv6 router eigrp 65100
R1(config-rtr)#no shutdown
R1(config-rtr)#router-id 11.11.11.11
R1(config-rtr)#exit
R1(config)#interface fastethernet 0/0
R1(config-if)#ipv6 eigrp 65100
R1(config-if)#exit  

Let's see the configuration :

Topology:

TASK

• Configure the topology as per the diagram 
• Configure IPv6 addresses as per the topology
• Configure IPv6 EIGRP AS 65100
• Make sure both routers communicate 
• Verify with show commands 

R1(config)#ipv6 unicast-routing

R1(config)#

R1(config)#interface fastethernet 0/0

R1(config-if)#ipv6 address 2001:1122:1122:1122::1/64

R1(config-if)#no shutdown

R1(config-if)#exit

R1(config)#

R1(config)#

R1(config)#interface fastethernet 2/0

R1(config-if)#ipv6 address fc00:1111:1111:1111::1/64

R1(config-if)#no shutdown

R1(config-if)#no keepalive

R1(config-if)#exit

R2(config)#ipv6 unicast-routing

R2(config)#

R2(config)#interface fastethernet 0/0

R2(config-if)#ipv6 address 2001:1122:1122:1122::2/64

R2(config-if)#no shutdown

R2(config-if)#exit

R2(config)#

R2(config)#interface fastethernet 2/0

R2(config-if)#ipv6 address fc00:2222:2222:2222::1/64

R2(config-if)#no shutdown

R2(config-if)#no keepalive

R2(config-if)#exit

R1(config)#ipv6 router eigrp 65100

R1(config-rtr)#no shutdown

R1(config-rtr)#router-id 11.11.11.11

R1(config-rtr)#exit

R1(config)#

R1(config)#interface fastethernet 0/0

R1(config-if)#ipv6 eigrp 65100

R1(config-if)#exit

R1(config)#

R1(config)#interface fastethernet 2/0

R1(config-if)#ipv6 eigrp 65100

R1(config-if)#exit

R2(config)#ipv6 router eigrp 65100

R2(config-rtr)#no shutdown

R2(config-rtr)#router-id 22.22.22.22

R2(config-rtr)#exit

R2(config)#

R2(config)#interface fastethernet 0/0

R2(config-if)#ipv6 eigrp 65100

R2(config-if)#exit

R2(config)#

R2(config)#interface fastethernet 2/0

R2(config-if)#ipv6 eigrp 65100

R2(config-if)#exit

R1#show ipv6 route

IPv6 Routing Table - Default - 6 entries

Codes: C - Connected, L - Local, S - Static, U - Per-user Static route

       B - BGP, M - MIPv6, R - RIP, I1 - ISIS L1

       I2 - ISIS L2, IA - ISIS interarea, IS - ISIS summary, D - EIGRP

       EX - EIGRP external

       O - OSPF Intra, OI - OSPF Inter, OE1 - OSPF ext 1, OE2 - OSPF ext 2

       ON1 - OSPF NSSA ext 1, ON2 - OSPF NSSA ext 2

C   2001:1122:1122:1122::/64 [0/0]

     via FastEthernet0/0, directly connected

L   2001:1122:1122:1122::1/128 [0/0]

     via FastEthernet0/0, receive

C   FC00:1111:1111:1111::/64 [0/0]

     via FastEthernet2/0, directly connected

L   FC00:1111:1111:1111::1/128 [0/0]

     via FastEthernet2/0, receive

D   FC00:2222:2222:2222::/64 [90/30720]

     via FE80::C802:59FF:FE98:0, FastEthernet0/0

L   FF00::/8 [0/0]

     via Null0, receive

R1#show ipv6 eigrp neighbor

IPv6-EIGRP neighbors for process 65100

H   Address                 Interface       Hold Uptime   SRTT   RTO  Q  Seq

                                            (sec)         (ms)       Cnt Num

0   Link-local address:     Fa0/0             12 00:01:21  906  5000  0  5

    FE80::C802:59FF:FE98:0

R1#show ipv6 interface brief

FastEthernet0/0            [up/up]

    FE80::C801:A5FF:FED4:0

    2001:1122:1122:1122::1

ATM1/0                     [administratively down/down]

    unassigned

FastEthernet2/0            [up/up]

    FE80::C801:A5FF:FED4:38

    FC00:1111:1111:1111::1

R1#ping fc00:2222:2222:2222::1

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to FC00:2222:2222:2222::1, timeout is 2 seconds:

!!!!!

Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 12/29/56 ms