How to configure IPv6 static routes in Cisco Routers

Similar to IPv4, static routes also can be configured in IPv6 Cisco Routers. Static IPv6 routes can be used in small networks where the overhead of a routing protocol is not required.

In Cisco Routers, IPv6 static routes can be configured using the following Cisco IOS command ipv6 route <ipv6-prefix/prefix-length> <administrative-distance> <next-hop-address> from Cisco IOS global configuration mode.

Make sure to enable IPv6 unicast routing by using the Cisco IOS command ipv6 unicast-routing from the global configuration mode.

IPv6 address configuration in Router OmniSecuR1

OmniSecuR1#configure terminal
OmniSecuR1(config)#interface gigabitEthernet 0/0
OmniSecuR1(config-if)#ipv6 address 2001:db8:0:1::1/64
OmniSecuR1(config-if)#no shutdown
OmniSecuR1(config-if)#exit
OmniSecuR1(config)#interface serial 1/0
OmniSecuR1(config-if)#ipv6 address fe80::1 link-local
OmniSecuR1(config-if)#no shutdown
OmniSecuR1(config-if)#exit
OmniSecuR1(config)#exit
OmniSecuR1#

IPv6 address configuration in Router OmniSecuR2

OmniSecuR2#configure terminal
OmniSecuR2(config)#interface gigabitEthernet 0/0
OmniSecuR2(config-if)#ipv6 address 2001:db8:0:2::1/64
OmniSecuR2(config-if)#no shutdown
OmniSecuR2(config-if)#exit
OmniSecuR2(config)#int serial 1/0
OmniSecuR2(config-if)#ipv6 address fe80::2 link-local
OmniSecuR2(config-if)#no shutdown
OmniSecuR2(config-if)#exit
OmniSecuR2(config)#interface serial 1/1
OmniSecuR2(config-if)#ipv6 address fe80::2 link-local
OmniSecuR2(config-if)#no shutdown
OmniSecuR2(config-if)#exit
OmniSecuR2(config)#exit

IPv6 address configuration in Router OmniSecuR3

OmniSecuR3#configure terminal
OmniSecuR3(config)#interface gigabitEthernet 0/0
OmniSecuR3(config-if)#ipv6 address 2001:db8:0:3::1/64
OmniSecuR3(config-if)#no shutdown
OmniSecuR3(config-if)#exit
OmniSecuR3(config)#interface serial 1/0
OmniSecuR3(config-if)#ipv6 address fe80::3 link-local
OmniSecuR3(config-if)#no shutdown
OmniSecuR3(config-if)#exit
OmniSecuR3(config)#exit
OmniSecuR3#

As we discussed above, IPv6 static route configuration is similar to IPv4 static route configuration. You can use either Global Unicast IPv6 address or Link-Local IPv6 address as the next hop address. However, if you provide the Link-Local IPv6 address as the next hop address, you need to provide the interface number also. Otherwise, you may receive a configuration error as shown below. Remember, Link-Local IPv6 addresses are link specific.

OmniSecuR1(config)#ipv6 route 2001:db8:0:3::/64 fe80::2
% Interface has to be specified for a link-local nexthop

IPv6 Static Route Configuration on Router OmniSecuR1

OmniSecuR1#configure terminal
OmniSecuR1(config)#ipv6 unicast-routing
OmniSecuR1(config)#ipv6 route 2001:db8:0:3::/64 Serial 1/0 fe80::2
OmniSecuR1(config)#ipv6 route 2001:db8:0:2::/64 Serial 1/0 fe80::2
OmniSecuR1(config)#exit
OmniSecuR1#

IPv6 Static Route Configuration on Router OmniSecuR2

OmniSecuR2#configure terminal
OmniSecuR2(config)#ipv6 unicast-routing
OmniSecuR2(config)#ipv6 route 2001:db8:0:3::/64 Serial 1/1 fe80::3
OmniSecuR2(config)#ipv6 route 2001:db8:0:1::/64 Serial 1/0 fe80::1
OmniSecuR2(config)#exit
OmniSecuR2#

IPv6 Static Route Configuration on Router OmniSecuR3

OmniSecuR3#configure terminal
OmniSecuR3(config)#ipv6 unicast-routing
OmniSecuR3(config)#ipv6 route 2001:db8:0:1::/64 Serial 1/0 fe80::2
OmniSecuR3(config)#ipv6 route 2001:db8:0:2::/64 Serial 1/0 fe80::2
OmniSecuR3(config)#exit
OmniSecuR3#