I've had my domain for eons (actually decades) with Network Solutions. I have a linode with my IP4 address (assigned by Linode) pointed to via the A records at NetSol.

So, if I wish to add an IP6 address to my single linode, I want to know what I would do after getting one assigned from Linode: Would I simply add new my linode IP6 A records to my current IP4 A records (thereby having two sets of {www, @, *} entries in NetSol)?

Or, am I missing the way a webserver with IP4 and IP6 should be used?

Thanks.

Lester

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http://www.ingber.com

You've pretty much got it, with the one clarification that you are adding AAAA records for your IPv6 address, not A records (which only hold IPv4 addresses). You can do this in the advanced DNS manager within the Network Solutions interface.

Also, one thing to be slightly cautious of - in general, IPv6 devices are supposed to prefer IPv6 addresses when both are available in DNS. However, there is a chance that some client devices may prefer the IPv6 address even if they don't really have a functional end-to-end IPv6 path to your server, which could then entail (potentially lengthy) timeouts before they fall back to IPv4.

What complicates this failure mode is it's not really something you can detect from the server side, unless some of your clients complain. Nor may they even understand why things are delayed, so on their part they may just assume it's the network.

In some cases, in the near term services are choosing to publish slightly different addresses (e.g., "www6" or using a ".v6.xxx.com" subdomain) for users who know they wish to use IPv6.

This should become a decreasing issue over time, and it's one of the things, among others, that IPv6 day in June is hoping to shed more light on. But in the near term, it's something to be cognizant of.

-- David

db31:

I appreciate your detailed and knowledgeable reply.

Unfortunately, it seems that even common vendors of domains are not quite up to speed. I just called NetSol since there is no place under my Advanced DNS page to enter AAAA records. Instead, at least for now, I have to send them the IP 6 address and their tech enters it manually, within 24-48 hours. The only info online from them was sent to me:

http://www.networksolutions.com/support ... v6-record/
The info at this URL is misleading at best, and probably incorrect, as the form page alluded to cannot be reached with that info. I called NetSol back to confirm their errors. I was told that their engineers would be contacted to correct these problems.

I hope IP 6 day in June is well attended, e.g., by domain vendors!

Lester

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http://www.ingber.com

Oops, that's the same page I had referenced before writing my response, so sorry about that. I do still have a domain with NS as a registrar, but have delegated DNS to a combination of Linode's DNS servers and my own Linodes. Delegation precludes seeing the old NS management interface, so I couldn't double check the interface and missed the email part from the help page.

-- David

Unlike NetSol apparently does, Linode's DNS manager supports AAAA records just fine. Perhaps you should move your DNS to it.

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Matt Nordhoff (aka Peng on IRC)

Just to follow up. I got this email from NetSol:



Thank you for contacting Network Solutions Technical Support Department.

We reviewed your service request which indicates your concern to allow the use of IPv6 address in your ADNS records for INGBER.COM .

Network Solutions currently do not support IPv6 address within our systems.

We only offer the service to enter a IPv6 address to and existing name server in the com/net registry as the com/net registry does allow adding of IPv6 address to a name server.
If you have any other questions please visit our comprehensive support section at http://www.networksolutions.com/support/ or contact our Support Center and refer to Service Request 1-522619779 and a specialist will be happy to further assist you and ensure that we completely resolve your issue as quickly as possible. You can reach us toll free at 1.866.391.4357 or Internationally at 1.570.708.8788.
Sincerely,

Rudy
Technical Services
Network Solutions
http://www.networksolutions.com/support/
US/Can: 1.866.391.4357
International: 1.570.708.8788

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http://www.ingber.com

You can change your name servers to Linode's, they support AAAA records.

Wow, ok, time to delegate then :-)

-- David

If a major provider like NetSol does not yet support IP6, isn't this an indication that IP6 is not yet well supported over the internet. Some limitations have already been discussed above, but perhaps this is just not ready for prime time?

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http://www.ingber.com

I'd say maybe NetSol isn't ready for prime time.

Cannot decipher this "sentence":

Netsol, like several other "major providers" are pretty piss-poor companies and really don't care about keeping current because that means spending money.

GoDaddy, 1&1, Yahoo, NetSol, are all in the same category IMNSHO, utter garbage providing little to no value to anyone. They just bilk their customers for money. If a "major provider" like Netsol can't keep current, it's time to switch. AAAA records are something they should've implemented years ago.

For instance, here's a company that provides real value to their customers who implemented AAAA records in 2004:
http://www.pair.com/insider/january-february2004.html

You can get better service and also cheaper (in the case of NetSol) from so many other companies it's not even funny. It's not just time to delegate, it's time to switch companies.

Nah, I just think it means one company doesn't yet support IPv6 records in their DNS hosting service (which is just one part of their product line). In any event, I'm sure it just indicates that not enough of their own customers care yet, which is probably a fair representation of the vast majority of Internet customers, but there are also plenty (and I'd guess a majority) of DNS providers that do support IPv6 records.

It's certainly true (and well documented) that IPv6 penetration in general is quite low, and until recently the cost/benefit has been unfortunately biased towards not doing anything about that. But that's going to have to change and I'm sure Network Solutions will eventually catch up.

In the meantime, there are plenty of other options for DNS hosting, including, as a Linode customer, their completely free service. It's simple to switch to, while keeping Network Solutions as your registrar.

-- David

I believe they're talking about the root delegation records - that is, if you want to have your primary DNS for a domain hosted (or have at least one of its servers) on an IPv6 address. In this case, the IPv6 information is being installed in the root servers, not in Network Solutions' servers.

-- David

I do not know how simple this is for a provider that holds my domain name. (a) I'm signed up for almost another decade and have also (b) signed up for their private listing service. I'd even consider switching (a) and re-paying for (b).

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http://www.ingber.com

You don't need to worry about any of that if you just change your name servers to Linode's. That's just a technical change you make through the web config that does not affect your billing or WHOIS info.