Routers and IPv6

Hungerdunger

I'm thinking of upgrading my old router. I've read that routers should be able to handle IPv6 addresses, but the ones I've looked at so far don't make any mention of this on the specifications.

Is it safe to assume that routers currently on the market are IPv6 compatible, or that at least it will be possible to make them compatible at some stage by upgrading the firmware? I really don't want to buy a new one now only to find it becoming obsolete in a year or two.

Hammyman

No. Its safe to assume they aren't and that companies won't be interested in updating older models when they can sell you a shiny new one.

And for a good few years yet its going to be somewhat of a minefield because you are completely reliant on your ISP implementing it at consumer level which requires them changing a lot of kit out which they will be reluctant to do so on cost grounds. So if you need a router just go buy one.

John_Gray

Have a look at Broadband Buyer's Router Finder tool. Out of nearly 200 routers they list, only about 14 support IPv6.
Good call by Hammyman, I reckon!

Lil306

John_Gray wrote: »

Have a look at Broadband Buyer's Router Finder tool. Out of nearly 200 routers they list, only about 14 support IPv6.
Good call by Hammyman, I reckon!

Good shout, saved that link. Only one router came up for me Netgear DGND3700

jayme1

I would say some of the higher end routers now support ipv6 to some extent, it is safe to say no cheap routers will likely support it, something like the apple airport extreme supports it http://www.apple.com/uk/airportextreme/specs.html (as do the time machine and express)

unless you find another router that has support the extreme could be your best bet. (just be sure to block all incoming ipv6 connection in the settings)

Mondez

Its not that most cheap routers can't support IPv6 its that the vendors will never take the trouble to rebuild the firmware and add support to it. Not when they can sell you a new one with similar hardware but the all important updated firmware components. They will no doubt see it as a gold mine in a similar way to the film studios loving selling the same film over and over as DVD's then BluRays and such. Users of old routers will be stuck hoping OpenWRT supports them and compiling the firmware themselves if they don't want to fork out.

John_Gray

Lil306 wrote: »

Good shout, saved that link. Only one router came up for me Netgear DGND3700

I just ticked the IPv6 box, nothing else! That's how I got the 14-odd.

Hungerdunger

Mondez wrote: »

Its not that most cheap routers can't support IPv6 its that the vendors will never take the trouble to rebuild the firmware and add support to it.

Probably true for a lot of manufacturers, but I came across this statement from Draytek which sounds encouraging:

Just as important for current users, we want to be able to retrospectively upgrade existing units which do not currently support IPv6.

DrayTek is starting the process to add IPv6 to existing models as a firmware upgrade. In some cases, it will not be feasible to support IPv6, perhaps due to hardware limitations or discontinued models.

In the next few months, DrayTek will move forward with this upgrade plan and be able to announce which models will support IPv6 in future

RussJK

I get 15, had to count them myself:
http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Finders/Routers/?LAN=&WLAN=&RANGE=&FRQ=&AB=1

John_Gray

RussJK wrote: »

I get 15, had to count them myself:
http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Finders/Routers/?LAN=&WLAN=&RANGE=&FRQ=&AB=1

Ah, you didn't remove the "superseded by" entry! (As if it matters much...)

closed

Is there something wrong with the one you have?