Port Forwarding - Static IP or IPv6?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Port Forwarding - Static IP or IPv6?

Kaiza

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#302968 7-Jan-2023 15:45

Hello,

I am trying to set up a spare PC on my home network as a dedicated server for an old game which requires ports to be forwarded. As I understand, with 2Degrees being CGNAT, port forwarding is not an option without a static IP. So plan A is paying an extra 10 bucks a month for a static IP.

I do note, however, that the game I am using has the option for hosting via IPv6. I don't really know anything about IPv6, but am wondering if I take the time to set it up whether I will be able to port forward without needing a static IP?

Currently on ultra fibre plan, with Orbi configured as per: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/NetgearISPSettings#sparkorbi

Cheers in advance!

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#3018379 7-Jan-2023 20:33

For IPv6 the question will be do all the players you want to connect to the server be using isps (like 2degrees) which support IPv6? - If yes then it could be an option, but if the answer is no then any players on isps that don't have native IPv6 wouldn't be able to connect (without doing something more complex like getting setup with a external ipv6 tunnel etc).

michaelmurfy

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#3018392 7-Jan-2023 21:10

Is it just for playing with friends or for a full public gaming server?

I wouldn’t recommend hosting a full public gaming server behind a consumer grade router personally but if it is just for playing with friends consider using Zerotier for the task as this creates a private network perfect for gaming and doesn’t require any port forwarding.

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Kaiza

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#3018529 8-Jan-2023 10:51

Thanks for the repsonses.

alavaliant: For IPv6 the question will be do all the players you want to connect to the server be using isps (like 2degrees) which support IPv6? - If yes then it could be an option, but if the answer is no then any players on isps that don't have native IPv6 wouldn't be able to connect (without doing something more complex like getting setup with a external ipv6 tunnel etc).

That's a good point, might be a hassle if others with no IPv6 want to join in.

michaelmurfy: Is it just for playing with friends or for a full public gaming server?

I wouldn’t recommend hosting a full public gaming server behind a consumer grade router personally but if it is just for playing with friends consider using Zerotier for the task as this creates a private network perfect for gaming and doesn’t require any port forwarding.

Just with a few friends. OK great, I will check it out. Thanks for that!

Kaiza

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#3018986 9-Jan-2023 13:26

michaelmurfy: Is it just for playing with friends or for a full public gaming server?

I wouldn’t recommend hosting a full public gaming server behind a consumer grade router personally but if it is just for playing with friends consider using Zerotier for the task as this creates a private network perfect for gaming and doesn’t require any port forwarding.

Zerotier works really well. Thanks again!

MichaelNZ

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#3019006 9-Jan-2023 13:53

I work in the internet industry and part of my job includes managing IP resources.

IPv6 is very much a thing. I know this because I see the size of the routing tables we are receiving now vs a few years ago. So that's al great :-)

Furthermore, IPv6 does away with the need to NAT and port forward and any of that carry on.

So start with this and see how you get on. You may (hopefully) be surprised.

If you still find you need IPv4 I suggest just pay the $10 a month.

WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers | ZL2NET

reubenfarrelly

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#3019226 9-Jan-2023 19:05

Just be mindful if your IPv6 allocation is static or not. I have had no joy so far getting an allocation made static on a recently provisioned 2degrees fibre connection - this will wreak havoc if you are mid-way through a game and your IPv6 subnet changes!

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Kaiza

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#3019238 9-Jan-2023 19:38

Interesting, thanks Reuben. So 2degrees IPv6 allocations are not static as standard? Are they going to make you pay more for a static one?

reubenfarrelly

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#3019287 9-Jan-2023 19:55

I'm already paying $10/month for a static IPv4 address. No, the IPv6 allocations are not static and support have officially told me in writing that they don't offer static IPv6 subnets just yet and that there is no ETA on when that might change.

nzkc

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#3019288 9-Jan-2023 19:56

reubenfarrelly:

Just be mindful if your IPv6 allocation is static or not. I have had no joy so far getting an allocation made static on a recently provisioned 2degrees fibre connection - this will wreak havoc if you are mid-way through a game and your IPv6 subnet changes!

That's a shame - especially given the size of the pool it wouldn't be much "hassle" to allocate static ranges.

I do know if you pay for a static/public IPv4 address you also get a static IPv6 allocation too (I know because I have this 😀)

nzkc

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#3019289 9-Jan-2023 19:57

reubenfarrelly:

I'm already paying $10/month for a static IPv4 address. No, the IPv6 allocations are not static and support have officially told me in writing that they don't offer static IPv6 subnets just yet and that there is no ETA on when that might change.

Wait... what... this contradicts what I just posted. It is/was definitely a static range when I got it (with the static IPv4 address). And its still static - at least it hasnt ever changed for me.

MichaelNZ

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#3019293 9-Jan-2023 20:00

We issue "static" IPv6 to everyone. All they need to do is enable DHCPv6 client on their router.

An ISP in the APNIC region is eligible for a minimum of a /32 prefix which is more then enough space to go around.

WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers | ZL2NET

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reubenfarrelly

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#3019294 9-Jan-2023 20:02

nzkc:

reubenfarrelly:

I'm already paying $10/month for a static IPv4 address. No, the IPv6 allocations are not static and support have officially told me in writing that they don't offer static IPv6 subnets just yet and that there is no ETA on when that might change.

Wait... what... this contradicts what I just posted. It is/was definitely a static range when I got it (with the static IPv4 address). And its still static - at least it hasnt ever changed for me.

I know. Some people have been able to get a static /56 and I've seen posts around here about other people getting them too - but mine definitely is not. I suspect it might have something to do with a different backend system the connection is provisioned on.

Quote from support on 4-Dec-22:

Thanks for your email regarding the Static IPV6 and Dashboard issues.

We can only provide an IPV4 Static IP address for the service at this present time, with no known ETA as to when this may change, I will raise this with our team in the meantime asking if this will be available in the future for you.
You have been assigned an IPV4 in the meantime: 60.x.x.x

This connection was new at the end of November, so a very recent one. How long have you had your static subnet for?

MichaelNZ

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#3019298 9-Jan-2023 20:08

reubenfarrelly:

Quote from support on 4-Dec-22:

Thanks for your email regarding the Static IPV6 and Dashboard issues.

We can only provide an IPV4 Static IP address for the service at this present time, with no known ETA as to when this may change, I will raise this with our team in the meantime asking if this will be available in the future for you.
You have been assigned an IPV4 in the meantime: 60.x.x.x

This connection was new at the end of November, so a very recent one. How long have you had your static subnet for?

"Static" IPv6 is provisioned in the same way as IPv4, namely as a radius attribute against their username (or whatever key is used: mac address, port asid, etc) . I know because I set this stuff up at ISP level. Its so doable I could do it blindfolded.

There are over 100 ISP's registered in the Commerce Commission list. I suggest shopping around.

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michaelmurfy

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#3019313 9-Jan-2023 20:58

My understanding is 2degrees are migrating to the “Vocus” network currently and if you’ve got a newer connection with them, then you’re likely on the Vocus stack.

No static V6 on this will be a bit of a dealbreaker for people like myself who use V6 extensively across their network.

@Sounddude may be able to shed more light on this. It will also be great if Static V6 were just given out by default to all customers as I’ve seen routers that seriously don’t like prefix changes (namely Synology) and I’m personally all for widespread V6 adoption.

@Kaiza Glad Zerotier is working well for you also. It’s what I personally use for playing a few retro games with friends and works incredibly well for me.

reubenfarrelly

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#3019318 9-Jan-2023 21:15

michaelmurfy: My understanding is 2degrees are migrating to the “Vocus” network currently and if you’ve got a newer connection with them, then you’re likely on the Vocus stack.

Yes. I thought that might have been the case. A whois for the IPv4 address and every IPv6 address I have received shows CALLPLUS-NZ and VOCUS as IRTs and MNTs, and last updated very recently combined with a call I had with a support person who indicated lots of things were changing at that time.

I also got the feeling when setting this connection up that there was a whole lot of backend work going on. I had no information whatsoever as to how to set it up nor was a provisioning or completion notice sent out detailing how it had to be set up. That's not normal for a well organised ISP with well established processess (I know, I used to do just this for a job).

michaelmurfy: No static V6 on this will be a bit of a dealbreaker for people like myself who use V6 extensively across their network.

Pain in the proverbial for me as well!

In this case this is my sister's network that I manage for her, but it's hard to manage a printer, AP and switch and router over IPv6 when the addressing keeps changing let alone writing firewall rules to allow traffic on my end. So the end result is that I have to do everything else over an IPSec tunnel using IPv4. It's not a dealbrearker but it's not ideal. [I'm based in Aussie, and most ISPs here give static DHCPv6 allocations by default...]

Anyway, back to the OT's original question. IPv6 might not be an option depending on the connection - if it's a newly provisioned service this might not work well. But at least you can fall back to an IPv4 static if need be.

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