What IPv6 functions are available?

Learn how IPv6 is being implemented on the iSeries™ server.

IBM^® is implementing IPv6 for the iSeries server over several software releases. IPv6 functions are transparent to existing TCP/IP applications and coexist with IPv4 functions.

These are the main iSeries server features that are affected by IPv6:

• Configuration

  By specifying the Start IPv6 (STRIP6) parameter on the Start TCP/IP (STRTCP) command, you can start IPv6 optionally when TCP/IP starts. By default, the Start IPv6 (STRIP6) parameter on the Start TCP/IP (STRTCP) command is set to *YES.

  If you configure IPv6, you are sending IPv6 packets over an IPv6 network. See Create an IPv6 local area network for a scenario that describes a situation in which you configure IPv6 on your network.

  The Start and Stop menu items on the TCP/IP Configuration folder are removed. IPv6 can be started and stopped in the same way as IPv4, with STRTCP and ENDTCP commands. IPv6 cannot be started or stopped independent of IPv4.

  The Configure IPv6 wizard is removed from iSeries Navigator. The line configuration options in the wizard are replaced by actions on individual lines in the Lines folder. Similarly, you can use a new wizard to create IPv6 interfaces. For more information about the new features, see Configure IPv6 to configure your network for IPv6.

  
• Sockets

  Develop and test sockets applications using IPv6 application programming interfaces (APIs) and tools. IPv6 enhances sockets so that applications can use IPv6 using a new address family, which is AF_INET6. These enhancements do not affect existing IPv4 applications. You can create applications that use concurrent IPv4 and IPv6 traffic or IPv6-only traffic.

• DNS

  Domain Name System (DNS) supports AAAA addresses and a new domain for reverse lookups, which is IP6.ARPA. The DNS retrieves IPv6 information; however, the server must use IPv4 to communicate with the DNS.

• Troubleshoot TCP/IP

  Use standard troubleshooting tools such as PING, netstat, trace route and communications trace for IPv6 networks. These tools now support the IPv6 address format. See TCP/IP troubleshooting to solve problems for both IPv4 and IPv6 networks.