The way SLAAC automatically allocates IPv6 addresses using the EUI-64 algorithm from the MAC address means that you do need a suffix that is at least 48 bits long for it to work, even if you modified the algorithm somehow. You really want to just have 64 bits of suffix for the standard mechanisms to work properly. So that is a good reason why a minimum allocation for an IPv6 subnet is /64. Working up from there, networks tend to grow and at times they do it in unexpected ways. For example, if Apple were starting out in a garage today, they could use just one or two /64 subnets, but as they grew to become the Apple megacorp, a /48 assignment to the original garage setup would allow them to grow as and when necessary without having to completely reorganise their networking multiple times. Who is to say what garage is going to spawn a megacorp? So given that IPv6 has the capability, why not supply a /48 to everyone?
Is part of the /56 allocated to the Snap access network? I haven't assigned any addresses from the /56 to my equipment and a host 10ms away is answering ICMP echo requests to the first address (2406:e001:1:2c00::1)
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gregb: Is part of the /56 allocated to the Snap access network? I haven't assigned any addresses from the /56 to my equipment and a host 10ms away is answering ICMP echo requests to the first address (2406:e001:1:2c00::1)
I ran an nmap quick scan on that address, and whatever it is, it does have some open ports on IPv6, including ssh and bgp, which suggests some sort of router. Nmap did not recognise the OS fingerprint.
1. Yes, I am using IPv6 over ADSL to post this (Geekzone is IPv6 enabled). 2. Yes, it seems to require a static IPv4 to also get a static IPv6. The cost is not always $10, depending on the deal you get. 3. Not sure - I think someone from Snap said that without paying for a static IP address, you would still automatically get a dynamic IPv6.
Personally, I think that dynamic IPv6s are a stupid idea, completely contrary to the whole point of IPv6 which was to create a huge address space that would allow everything to get a static address again like it was for IPv4 before we ran out of addresses.
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