6PE Configuration
This chapter explains about IPv6 islands over IPv4 MPLS using IPv6 Provider Edge Routers (6PE). With this technique, IPv6 islands are connected to each other across an IPv4 backbone enabled with MPLS label stacking while MP-BGP is used to announce the IPv6 routes across these MPLS tunnels. This feature can be implemented with label- switched paths (LSPs) using the Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) or Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP).
This feature offers the following options to the service providers:
• Connect to other IPv6 networks accessible across the MPLS core.
• Provide access to IPv6 services and resources that service provider provides.
• Provide IPv6 VPN services without going for complete overhaul of existing MPLS/IPv4 core.
The 6PE uses the existing IPv4 MPLS core infrastructure for IPv6 transport. It enables IPv6 sites to communicate with each other over an IPv4 MPLS core network using MPLS label switched paths (LSPs). This feature relies heavily on multiprotocol Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) extensions in the IPv4 network configuration on the provider edge (PE) router to exchange IPv6 reachability information (in addition to an MPLS label) for each IPv6 address prefix. Edge routers are configured as dual-stack, running both IPv4 and IPv6, and use the IPv4 mapped IPv6 address for IPv6 prefix reachability exchange.
Last modified date: 10/17/2023