SpaceX owns and operates the satellite internet service provider Starlink. The service provides worldwide internet access through a series of satellites in low Earth orbit.

Starlink was created so that people living in places where terrestrial broadband is unavailable may still get a reliable and fast internet connection. The program is also meant to serve as a secondary means of staying online during times of crisis like natural disasters.

What do You need to Know About IPv6?

IPv6 is the next-generation IP address, which frees up a significant amount of space in terms of distributing addresses to more devices. The present IP address version, IPv4, is rapidly running out of addresses, making device differentiation impossible in the future.

Fortunately, both IPv4 and IPv6 can be used by most current computers and smartphones.

Does Starlink Support IPv6?

Yes, Starlink does support IPv6. Each Starlink terminal is allocated one IPv4 address and delegated a /56 IPv6 prefix for network clients. If the router connected to Starlink is IPv6 capable, all Starlink network clients will be assigned an IPv6 address. However, it’s worth noting that IPv6 is not supported on the early generation router in the Circular Starlink Kit.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started using IPv6 with Starlink.

• IPv6-compatible operating system; the most recent versions of Windows and Mac are sufficient
• Get an IPv6-compatible router.
• Starlink ethernet adapter.

Why IPv6 Matters?

A worldwide scarcity of IPv4 addresses is a problem that IPv6 is designed to solve in the long run. Other methods, such as carrier-grade NAT CGNAT, are utilized nowadays. Several issues make CGNAT a bad choice. It also prevents you from using router features like port forwarding and prevents unauthorized access to your network.

Starlink does not provide the option of a public IP address for its residential customers. This is a major issue for gamers that wish to switch to an open NAT Type through port forwarding.

There are considerably more addresses available with IPv6, and each device can potentially have its own publicly routable IP address if required.

The advantages of Starlink’s ipv6 support

The inclusion of IPv6 capability to the Starlink service is a great step forward that will improve the experience for everyone involved. It will allow several individuals to connect to the internet with guaranteed security. The following are the most significant advantages of Starlink’s IPV6.

• IPv6’s primary benefit is its increased address space compared to IPv4. More addresses are now accessible, which is crucial since internet-connected devices keep rising.
• IPv6 is more secure than IPv4 because it makes it harder for hackers to fake addresses and carry out attacks.
• IPv6 also allows for end-to-end encryption, making data transmissions across the internet more secure.
• Significantly more available addresses for devices

What to Consider with Starlink IPv6?

Before making the leap from IPv4 to IPv6, there are a few things to consider. Remember that Starlink only offers its clients restricted access and does not give help for any difficulties that may arise.

Using A Third-Party Router

The Starlink router does not support IPv6, thus, you will need to use another router if you wish to make the switch.

Currently In Beta

Starlink does not officially support IPv6, and the service is only available to a limited number of beta testers. You may try configuring IPv6 on your router if you reside in a Starlink service area.

Challenging Setups

To configure IPv6 on your router, you must first ensure that you are located within Starlink’s service region and use a router built by a third party, such as Netgear.

How to Use IPv6 With Starlink?

While IPv6 support is still in its developmental stage, it is available in some Starlink service zones as a beta (experimental) feature. If you find yourself in any of these regions, you can try configuring IPv6 on your router. A third-party router that can communicate via IPv6 will be required. Modern Netgear routers often have IPv6 capability.

Ubiquiti and MikroTik also have low-cost solutions that work well with Starlink and provide additional setup flexibility. Note that the Starlink ethernet adapter is required and that your Starlink-supplied router must be set to bypass (bridge) mode.

IPv6 Setup for Starlink

Starlink’s IPv6 support requires that your network be configured. Access your Starlink router and switch it into bridge or bypass mode. This effectively converts your Starlink router into a modem, allowing you to use it as a modem for another router without disrupting your existing network.

To activate bridge or bypass mode on your Starlink router, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Starlink app on your smartphone.
2. Navigate to the Settings tab.
3. Look for the option Enable bypass mode.
4. Select it to enable it.

Is Ipv6 Faster Than Ipv4?

IPv6 technology is quicker than IPv4 since NAT is not required. Those that need rapid network processing times should switch to IPv6, which has improved efficiency and effectiveness.

IPv6 does not suffer from IPv4’s issue of multipath latency. Passing through numerous routers potentially slows down IPv4 packets since routers must decide which network to transmit the packet to. This is not something to concern you since IPv6 enables packets to be routed straight from one node to another without requiring a router. Thus, IPv6 is the best solution for lag-free online gaming since it removes the need for polling.

One of IPv6’s main benefits is that it can manage more traffic than IPv4. Your website or web app will be more robust and able to manage higher volumes of traffic thanks to IPv6’s ability to process up to 50 times as much data as IPv4.

IPv6 With pfsense

If you are getting problems with pfsense then you can use the below guide to resolve your issue, I’m using “21.02.2-RELEASE (arm64)”.

Step 1: Configure Starlink WAN Interface

1. Go to the “Interfaces” section and select “Your Starlink WAN Interface.”
2. Note the interface ID in brackets and remember it (e.g., mine was “mvneta0.4090”).
3. Keep IPv4 DHCP and set IPv6 Configuration Type to DHCP6.
4. Under “DHCP6 Client Configuration,” make sure everything is unchecked.
5. Check the following boxes: “Use IPv4 connectivity as parent interface,” “Request only an IPv6 prefix,” and “Send IPv6 prefix hint.”
6. Set the “DHCPv6 Prefix Delegation size” to 56.
7. Check “Do not wait for a RA.”
8. Click “Save” and “Apply Changes.”

Step 2: Configure LAN Interface

1. Go to “Interfaces” and select “Your LAN Interface.”
2. Under “Track IPv6 Section,” set “IPv6 Interface” to “Starlink WAN” and “IPv6 Prefix ID” to 0.
3. Click “Save” and “Apply Changes.”

Step 3: Allow IPv6 in System Settings

1. Go to “System” and select “Advanced.”
2. Click the “Networking” tab.
3. Check “Allow IPv6.”
4. Click “Save.”

Step 4: Configure Starlink IPv6 Gateway

1. Go to “System” and select “Routing.”
2. Select your Starlink IPv6 gateway.
3. Set the “Monitor IP” to “2001:4860:4860::8888.”

Step 5: Setup a Cron Job

There are two methods to set up a Cron job. The first method is to install the Cron package.

Method 1: Cron package

1. Go to “System” and select “Package Manager.”
2. Open the “Available Packages” tab and install Cron.
3. Go to “Services” and select “Cron.”
4. Add a Cron job with the following settings (change “mvneta0.490” to your Starlink WAN ID):

markdownCopy code*/2
 *
 *
 *
 *
 root
 /sbin/rtsol mvneta0.4090

Method 2: SSH into pfSense

1. Use option 8) Shell.
2. Type “crontab -e” and press enter.
3. You will enter the vi(1) editor. Edit the file with the following line (change “mvneta0.490” to your Starlink WAN ID):

javascriptCopy code*/1 * * * * /sbin/rtsol mvneta0.4090

4. Save the file and exit the editor.
5. IPv6 should now be up and running. If it’s still showing as “Pending,” try rebooting.

Step 6: Save your changes.

If you are still getting problems with it, Just mail us or comment below. We will resolve your issue in another way.

Conclusion

Does Starlink support IPv6? Yes and no. IPv6 is enabled as a beta version in some service locations with Starlink. They are now providing a CGNAT IPv4 address. Starlink’s built-in router does not support IPv6; you’ll need to use a different router and bridge it to Starlink’s using an ethernet adapter.