IPv6 Source Guard and Prefix Guard

IPv6 Source Guard and IPv6 Prefix Guard are Layer 2 snooping features that validate the source of IPv6 traffic. IPv6 Source Guard blocks any data traffic from an unknown source. For example, one that is not already populated in the binding table or previously learned through Neighbor Discovery (ND) or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) gleaning. IPv6 Prefix Guard prevents home-node sourcing traffic outside of the authorized and delegated traffic.

Finding Feature Information

Your software release may not support all the features documented in this module. For the latest caveats and feature information, see Bug Search Tool and the release notes for your platform and software release. To find information about the features documented in this module, and to see a list of the releases in which each feature is supported, see the feature information table.

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Information about IPv6 Source Guard and Prefix Guard

IPv6 Source Guard Overview

IPv6 source guard is an interface feature between the populated binding table and data traffic filtering. This feature enables the device to deny traffic when it is originated from an address that is not stored in the binding table. IPv6 source guard does not inspect ND or DHCP packets; rather, it works in conjunction with IPv6 neighbor discovery (ND) inspection or IPv6 address glean, both of which detect existing addresses on the link and store them into the binding table. IPv6 source guard is an interface between the populated binding table and data traffic filtering, and the binding table must be populated with IPv6 prefixes for IPv6 source guard to work.

IPv6 source guard can deny traffic from unknown sources or unallocated addresses, such as traffic from sources not assigned by a DHCP server. When traffic is denied, the IPv6 address glean feature is notified so that it can try to recover the traffic by querying the DHCP server or by using IPv6 ND. The data-glean function prevents the device and end user from getting deadlocked, whereupon a valid address fails to be stored into the binding table, there is no recovery path, and the end user is unable to connect.

The following illustration provides an overview of how IPv6 source guard works with IPv6 address glean.

Figure 1. IPv6 Source Guard and Address Glean Overview

IPv6 Prefix Guard Overview

The IPv6 Prefix Guard feature works within the IPv6 Source Guard feature, enabling the device to deny traffic originated from nontopologically correct addresses. IPv6 prefix guard is often used when IPv6 prefixes are delegated to devices (for example, home gateways) using DHCP prefix delegation. The feature discovers ranges of addresses assigned to the link and blocks any traffic sourced with an address outside this range.

To determine which prefixes should be allowed and which prefixes should be blocked, IPv6 prefix guard uses the following:

  • Prefix glean in Router Advertisements (RAs)

  • Prefix glean in DHCP prefix delegation

  • Static configuration

Whenever a prefix is to be allowed, IPv6 prefix guard downloads it to the hardware table. Whenever a packet is switched, the hardware matches the source of the packet against this table and drops the packet if no match is found.

The following figure shows a service provider (SP) scenario in which prefixes are gleaned in DHCP-PD messages.

Figure 2. Prefixes Gleaned in DHCP-PD Messages Scenario

How to Configure IPv6 Source Guard and Prefix Guard

Configuring IPv6 Source Guard

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. enable
  2. configure terminal
  3. ipv6 source-guard policy snooping-policy
  4. permit link-local
  5. deny global-autoconfig
  6. trusted
  7. exit
  8. show ipv6 source-guard policy [ snooping-policy]

DETAILED STEPS

Step 1

enable

Example:


Device> enable

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.

Step 2

configure terminal

Example:


Device# configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.

Step 3

ipv6 source-guard policy snooping-policy

Example:

Device(config)# ipv6 source-guard policy

Defines an IPv6 source-guard policy name and enters source-guard policy configuration mode.

Step 4

permit link-local

Example:

Device(config-source-guard)# permit link-local

Allows hardware bridging for all data traffic sourced by a link-local address.

Step 5

deny global-autoconfig

Example:

Device(config-source-guard)# deny global-autoconfig

Denies data traffic from auto-configured global addresses.

Step 6

trusted

Example:

trusted
Step 7

exit

Example:

Device(config-if)# exit

Exits source-guard policy configuration mode and places the device in privileged EXEC mode.

Step 8

show ipv6 source-guard policy [ snooping-policy]

Displays the IPv6 source-guard policy configuration.

Configuring IPv6 Source Guard on an Interface

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. enable
  2. configure terminal
  3. interface type number
  4. ipv6 source-guard attach-policy source-guard-policy
  5. exit
  6. show ipv6 source-guard policy source-guard-policy

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

enable

Example:


Device> enable

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.

Step 2

configure terminal

Example:


Device# configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.

Step 3

interface type number

Example:


Device(config)# interface fastethernet 3/13

Specifies an interface type and number, and enters interface configuration mode.

Step 4

ipv6 source-guard attach-policy source-guard-policy

Example:

Device(config-if)# ipv6 source-guard attach-policy my_source_guard_policy

Applies IPv6 source guard on an interface.

Step 5

exit

Example:

Device(config-if)# exit

Exits interface configuration mode and places the device in privileged EXEC mode.

Step 6

show ipv6 source-guard policy source-guard-policy

Example:

Device# show ipv6 source-guard policy policy1

Displays all the interfaces on which IPv6 source guard is applied.

Configuring IPv6 Prefix Guard

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. enable
  2. configure terminal
  3. ipv6 source-guard policy snooping-policy
  4. validate address
  5. validate prefix
  6. exit
  7. show ipv6 source-guard policy [ snooping-policy]

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

enable

Example:


Device> enable

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.

Step 2

configure terminal

Example:


Device# configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.

Step 3

ipv6 source-guard policy snooping-policy

Example:

Device(config)# ipv6 source-guard policy

Defines an IPv6 source-guard policy name and enters source-guard policy configuration mode.

Step 4

validate address

Example:

Device(config-source-guard)# no validate address

Disables the validate address feature and enables the IPv6 prefix guard feature to be configured.

Step 5

validate prefix

Example:

Device(config-source-guard)# validate prefix

Enables IPv6 source guard to perform the IPv6 prefix-guard operation.

Step 6

exit

Example:

Device(config-if)# exit

Exits source-guard policy configuration mode and places the device in privileged EXEC mode.

Step 7

show ipv6 source-guard policy [ snooping-policy]

Displays the IPv6 source-guard policy configuration.

Configuration Examples for IPv6 Source Guard and Prefix Guard

Example: Configuring IPv6 Source Guard and Prefix Guard

Device# ipv6 source-guard policy policy1

Policy guard configuration:
  validate prefix
  validate address

Additional References for IPv6 Source Guard and Prefix Guard

Related Documents

Related Topic

Document Title

IPv6 addressing and connectivity

IPv6 Configuration Guide

IPv4 addressing

IP Addressing: IPv4 Addressing Configuration Guide

Cisco IOS commands

Cisco IOS Master Command List, All Releases

IPv6 commands

Cisco IOS IPv6 Command Reference

Cisco IOS IPv6 features

Cisco IOS IPv6 Feature Mapping

Standards and RFCs

Standard/RFC

Title

RFCs for IPv6

IPv6 RFCs

Technical Assistance

Description

Link

The Cisco Support and Documentation website provides online resources to download documentation, software, and tools. Use these resources to install and configure the software and to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues with Cisco products and technologies. Access to most tools on the Cisco Support and Documentation website requires a Cisco.com user ID and password.

http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/support/index.html

Feature Information for IPv6 Source Guard and Prefix Guard

The following table provides release information about the feature or features described in this module. This table lists only the software release that introduced support for a given feature in a given software release train. Unless noted otherwise, subsequent releases of that software release train also support that feature.

Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.
Table 1. Feature Information for IPv6 Source Guard and Prefix Guard

Feature Name

Releases

Feature Information

IPv6 Prefix Guard

15.3(1)S

The IPv6 Prefix Guard feature enables a device to deny traffic originated from nontopologically correct addresses.

The following commands were introduced or modified: ipv6 source-guard policy , permit link-local , show ipv6 source-guard policy , validate address , validate prefix .

IPv6 Source Guard

15.0(2)SE

15.3(1)S

IOS XE 3.6.0E, IOS 15.2(2)E

The IPv6 source guard feature blocks any data traffic sourced from an unknown source. For example, one that is not already populated in the binding table or previously learned through ND or DHCP gleaning.

The following commands were introduced or modified: deny global-autoconfig , ipv6 source-guard attach-policy , ipv6 source-guard policy , permit link-local , show ipv6 source-guard policy , trusted .