Tunneling encapsulates the packets of a network protocol within the packets of a second network protocol and transfers them over a virtual point-to-point connection. The virtual connection is called a tunnel. Packets are encapsulated at the tunnel source and de-encapsulated at the tunnel destination.

Supported tunneling technologies

Tunneling supports the following technologies:

· GRE tunneling.

· IPv6 over IPv4 tunneling and IPv4 over IPv4 tunneling.

Restrictions and guidelines: Tunnel interface configuration

Do not specify the same tunnel source and destination addresses for the tunnel interfaces on the same device.

Configuring a tunnel interface

About tunnel interface configuration

Configure a tunnel interface (Layer 3 virtual interface) at both ends of a tunnel. The devices use the tunnel interface to identify, process, and send packets for the tunnel.

Tunnel interface configuration tasks at a glance

To configure a tunnel interface, perform the following tasks:

1. Creating a tunnel interface

2. (Optional.) Specifying traffic processing slots for the tunnel interface

3. (Optional.) Configuring parameters for tunneled packets

4. (Optional.) Specifying the tunnel destination VPN instance

5. (Optional.) Restoring the default settings of the tunnel interface

Creating a tunnel interface

1. Enter system view.

system-view

2. Create a tunnel interface, specify the tunnel mode, and enter tunnel interface view.

interface tunnel number mode { gre | ipv4-ipv4 | ipv6-ipv4 }

For packet tunneling to succeed, the two ends of a tunnel must use the same tunnel mode.

3. Configure a source address or source interface for the tunnel interface.

source { ipv4-address | interface-type interface-number }

By default, no source address or source interface is configured for the tunnel interface.

If you specify a source address, it is used as the source address of tunneled packets.

If you specify a source interface, the primary IP address of this interface is used as the source IP address of tunneled packets.

4. Configure a destination address for the tunnel interface.

destination ipv4-address

By default, no destination address is configured for the tunnel interface.

The tunnel destination address must be the IP address of the receiving interface on the tunnel peer. It is used as the destination IP address of tunneled packets.

5. (Optional.) Configure a description for the interface.

description text

By default, the description for a tunnel interface is Tunnel number Interface.

6. (Optional.) Set the MTU of the tunnel interface.

mtu size

The default settings are as follows:

¡ If the tunnel interface has never been up, the MTU is 64000 bytes.

¡ If the tunnel interface is up, its MTU is identical to the outgoing interface's MTU minus the length of the tunnel headers. The outgoing interface is automatically obtained through routing table lookup based on the tunnel destination address.

7. (Optional.) Set the expected bandwidth for the tunnel interface.

bandwidth bandwidth-value

The default expected bandwidth (in kbps) is the interface maximum rate divided by 1000.

The expected bandwidth is an informational parameter used only by higher-layer protocols for calculation. You cannot adjust the actual bandwidth of an interface by using this command.

8. Bring up the tunnel interface.

undo shutdown

By default, a tunnel interface is up.

Specifying traffic processing slots for the tunnel interface

About traffic processing slots

Specify a traffic processing slot if a feature (for example, IPsec antireplay) requires that all traffic on a tunnel interface be processed on the same slot.

Procedure

1. Enter system view.

system-view

2. Enter tunnel interface view.

interface tunnel number

3. Specify a traffic processing slot for the tunnel interface.

service slot slot-number

By default, no traffic processing slot is specified.

Configuring parameters for tunneled packets

1. Enter system view.

system-view

2. Enter tunnel interface view.

interface tunnel number

3. Set the ToS for tunneled packets.

tunnel tos tos-value

The default setting is the same as the ToS of the original packets.

4. Set the TTL for tunneled packets.

tunnel ttl ttl-value

The default TTL for tunneled packets is 255.

Specifying the tunnel destination VPN instance

Restrictions and guidelines

For a tunnel interface to come up, the tunnel source and destination must belong to the same VPN instance. To specify a VPN instance for the tunnel source, use the ip binding vpn-instance command on the tunnel source interface. For more information about this command, see MCE Command Reference.

Procedure

1. Enter system view.

system-view

2. Enter tunnel interface view.

interface tunnel number

3. Specify the VPN instance to which the tunnel destination belongs.

tunnel vpn-instance vpn-instance-name

By default, the tunnel destination belongs to the public network.

Restoring the default settings of the tunnel interface

Restrictions and guidelines

CAUTION:

This operation might interrupt ongoing network services. Make sure you are fully aware of the impact of this operation when you perform it on a live network.

This operation might fail to restore the default settings for some commands for reasons such as command dependencies or system restrictions. Use the display this command in interface view to identify these commands. Use their undo forms or follow the command reference to restore their default settings. If your restoration attempt still fails, follow the error message instructions to resolve the problem.

Procedure

1. Enter system view.

system-view

2. Enter tunnel interface view.

interface tunnel number

3. Restore the default settings of the tunnel interface.

default

Display and maintenance commands for tunnel interface configuration

Execute display commands in any view and reset commands in user view.

Task	Command	Remarks
Display information about tunnel interfaces.	display interface [ tunnel [ number ] ] [ brief [ description \| down ] ]	N/A
Display IPv6 information on tunnel interfaces.	display ipv6 interface [ tunnel [ number ] ] [ brief ]	For more information about this command, see IPv6 basics in Layer 3—IP Services Command Reference.
Clear statistics on tunnel interfaces.	reset counters interface [ tunnel [ number ] ]	N/A
Clear IPv6 statistics on tunnel interfaces.	reset ipv6 statistics [ slot slot-number ]	For more information about this command, see IPv6 basics in Layer 3—IP Services Command Reference.

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Troubleshooting tunnel interface configuration

Tunnel interface not up

Symptom

A tunnel interface configured with related parameters such as tunnel source address, tunnel destination address, and tunnel mode cannot come up.

Analysis

The physical interface of the tunnel does not come up, or the tunnel destination is unreachable.

Solution

1. To resolve the problem:

¡ Use the display interface command to verify that the physical interface of the tunnel is up. If the physical interface is down, check the network connection.

¡ Use the display ipv6 routing-table or display ip routing-table command to verify that the tunnel destination is reachable. If the route is not available, configure a route to reach the tunnel destination.

2. If the problem persists, contact H3C Support.

IPv6 over IPv4 tunneling

About IPv6 over IPv4 tunneling

IPv6 over IPv4 tunneling enables isolated IPv6 networks to communicate, as shown in Figure 1.

NOTE:

The devices at both ends of an IPv6 over IPv4 tunnel must support the IPv4/IPv6 dual stack.

Figure 1 IPv6 over IPv4 tunnel

The IPv6 over IPv4 tunnel processes packets by using the following steps:

1. A host in the IPv6 network sends an IPv6 packet to Device A at the tunnel source.

2. After Device A receives the IPv6 packet, it processes the packet as follows:

a. Searches the routing table to identify the outgoing interface for the IPv6 packet.

The outgoing interface is the tunnel interface, so Device A knows that the packet needs to be forwarded through the tunnel.

b. Adds an IPv4 header to the IPv6 packet and forwards the packet through the physical interface of the tunnel.

In the IPv4 header, the source IPv4 address is the IPv4 address of the tunnel source, and the destination IPv4 address is the IPv4 address of the tunnel destination.

3. Upon receiving the packet, Device B de-encapsulates the packet.

4. If the destination address of the IPv6 packet is itself, Device B forwards it to the upper-layer protocol. If it is not, Device B forwards it according to the routing table.

IPv6 over IPv4 tunneling tasks at a glance

To configure IPv6 over IPv4 tunneling, perform the following tasks:

1. Configuring an IPv6 over IPv4 tunnel

2. (Optional.) Enabling dropping IPv6 packets that use IPv4-compatible IPv6 addresses

Configuring an IPv6 over IPv4 tunnel

Restrictions and guidelines

When you perform tasks in this section, follow these restrictions and guidelines:

· The tunnel destination address specified on the local device must be identical with the tunnel source address specified on the tunnel peer device.

· Do not specify the same tunnel source and destination addresses for the tunnel interfaces in the same mode on a device.

· To ensure correct packet forwarding, identify whether the destination IPv6 network and the IPv6 address of the local tunnel interface are on the same subnet. If they are not, configure a route reaching the destination IPv6 network through the tunnel interface. You can configure the route by using one of the following methods:

¡ Configure a static route, and specify the local tunnel interface as the egress interface or specify the IPv6 address of the peer tunnel interface as the next hop.

¡ Enable a dynamic routing protocol on both the local and remote tunnel interfaces.

For more information about route configuration, see Layer 3—IP Routing Configuration Guide.

Procedure

1. Enter system view.

system-view

2. Enter IPv6 over IPv4 tunnel interface view.

interface tunnel number [ mode ipv6-ipv4 ]

3. Specify an IPv6 address for the tunnel interface.

See "Configuring basic IPv6 settings."

4. Configure a source address or source interface for the tunnel interface.

source { ipv4-address | interface-type interface-number }

By default, no source address or source interface is configured for the tunnel interface.

If you specify a source address, it is used as the source IP address of tunneled packets.

If you specify a source interface, the primary IP address of this interface is used as the source IP address of tunneled packets.

5. Configure a destination address for the tunnel interface.

destination ipv4-address

By default, no destination address is configured for the tunnel interface.

The tunnel destination address must be the IP address of the receiving interface on the tunnel peer. It is used as the destination IP address of tunneled packets.

6. (Optional.) Set the DF bit for tunneled packets.

tunnel dfbit enable

By default, the DF bit is not set for tunneled packets.

Example: Configuring an IPv6 over IPv4 tunnel

Network configuration

As shown in Figure 2, configure an IPv6 over IPv4 tunnel between Switch A and Switch B so the two IPv6 networks can reach each other over the IPv4 network.

Figure 2 Network diagram

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Procedure

Make sure Switch A and Switch B have the corresponding VLAN interfaces created and can reach each other through IPv4.

· Configure Switch A:

# Add GigabitEthernet 1/0/2 (the physical interface of the tunnel) to VLAN 100.

<SwitchA> system-view

[SwitchA] vlan 100

[SwitchA-vlan100] port gigabitethernet 1/0/2

[SwitchA-vlan100] quit

# Specify an IPv4 address for VLAN-interface 100.

[SwitchA] interface vlan-interface 100

[SwitchA-Vlan-interface100] ip address 192.168.100.1 255.255.255.0

[SwitchA-Vlan-interface100] quit

# Add GigabitEthernet 1/0/1 to VLAN 101.

[SwitchA] vlan 101

[SwitchA-vlan101] port gigabitethernet 1/0/1

[SwitchA-vlan101] quit

# Specify an IPv6 address for VLAN-interface 101.

[SwitchA] interface vlan-interface 101

[SwitchA-Vlan-interface101] ipv6 address 3002::1 64

[SwitchA-Vlan-interface101] quit

# Create IPv6 over IPv4 tunnel interface Tunnel 0.

[SwitchA] interface tunnel 0 mode ipv6-ipv4

# Specify an IPv6 address for the tunnel interface.

[SwitchA-Tunnel0] ipv6 address 3001::1/64

# Specify VLAN-interface 100 as the source interface of the tunnel interface.

[SwitchA-Tunnel0] source vlan-interface 100

# Specify the destination address for the tunnel interface as the IP address of the VLAN-interface 100 on Switch B.

[SwitchA-Tunnel0] destination 192.168.50.1

[SwitchA-Tunnel0] quit

# Configure a static route destined for IPv6 network 2 through tunnel 0.

[SwitchA] ipv6 route-static 3003:: 64 tunnel 0

· Configure Switch B:

# Add GigabitEthernet 1/0/2 (the physical interface of the tunnel) to VLAN 100.

<SwitchB> system-view

[SwitchB] vlan 100

[SwitchB-vlan100] port gigabitethernet 1/0/2

[SwitchB-vlan100] quit

# Specify an IPv4 address for VLAN-interface 100.

[SwitchB] interface vlan-interface 100

[SwitchB-Vlan-interface100] ip address 192.168.50.1 255.255.255.0

[SwitchB-Vlan-interface100] quit

# Add GigabitEthernet 1/0/1 to VLAN 101.

[SwitchB] vlan 101

[SwitchB-vlan101] port gigabitethernet 1/0/1

[SwitchB-vlan101] quit

# Specify an IPv6 address for VLAN-interface 101.

[SwitchB] interface vlan-interface 101

[SwitchB-Vlan-interface101] ipv6 address 3003::1 64

[SwitchB-Vlan-interface101] quit

# Create IPv6 over IPv4 tunnel interface Tunnel 0.

[SwitchB] interface tunnel 0 mode ipv6-ipv4

# Specify an IPv6 address for the tunnel interface.

[SwitchB-Tunnel0] ipv6 address 3001::2/64

# Specify VLAN-interface 100 as the source interface of the tunnel interface.

[SwitchB-Tunnel0] source vlan-interface 100

# Specify the destination address for the tunnel interface as the IP address of VLAN-interface 100 of Switch A.

[SwitchB-Tunnel0] destination 192.168.100.1

[SwitchB-Tunnel0] quit

# Configure a static route destined for IPv6 network 1 through tunnel 0.

[SwitchB] ipv6 route-static 3002:: 64 tunnel 0

Verifying the configuration

# Use the display ipv6 interface command to display tunnel interface status on Switch A and Switch B. Verify that the interface tunnel 0 is up. (Details not shown.)

# Verify that Switch B and Switch A can ping the IPv6 address of VLAN-interface 101 of each other. This example uses Switch A.

[SwitchA] ping ipv6 3003::1

Ping6(56 data bytes) 3001::1 --> 3003::1, press CTRL_C to break

56 bytes from 3003::1, icmp_seq=0 hlim=64 time=45.000 ms

56 bytes from 3003::1, icmp_seq=1 hlim=64 time=10.000 ms

56 bytes from 3003::1, icmp_seq=2 hlim=64 time=4.000 ms

56 bytes from 3003::1, icmp_seq=3 hlim=64 time=10.000 ms

56 bytes from 3003::1, icmp_seq=4 hlim=64 time=11.000 ms

--- Ping6 statistics for 3003::1 ---

5 packet(s) transmitted, 5 packet(s) received, 0.0% packet loss

round-trip min/avg/max/std-dev = 4.000/16.000/45.000/14.711 ms

Enabling dropping IPv6 packets that use IPv4-compatible IPv6 addresses

1. Enter system view.

system-view

2. Enable dropping IPv6 packets that use IPv4-compatible IPv6 addresses.

tunnel discard ipv4-compatible-packet

By default, IPv6 packets that use IPv4-compatible IPv6 addresses are not dropped.

IPv4 over IPv4 tunneling

About IPv4 over IPv4 tunneling

IPv4 over IPv4 tunneling (RFC 1853) enables isolated IPv4 networks to communicate. For example, an IPv4 over IPv4 tunnel can connect isolated private IPv4 networks over a public IPv4 network.

Figure 3 IPv4 over IPv4 tunnel

Figure 3 shows the encapsulation and de-encapsulation processes.

· Encapsulation:

a. Device A receives an IP packet from an IPv4 host and submits it to the IP protocol stack.

b. The IPv4 protocol stack determines how to forward the packet according to the destination address in the IP header. If the packet is destined for the IPv4 host connected to Device B, Device A delivers the packet to the tunnel interface.

c. The tunnel interface adds a new IPv4 header to the IPv4 packet and submits it to the IP protocol stack.

In the new header, the source IP address specifies the tunnel source, and the destination IP address specifies the tunnel destination.

d. The IP protocol stack uses the destination IP address of the new IP header to look up the routing table, and then sends the packet out.

· De-encapsulation:

a. After receiving the packet, Device B delivers it to the IP protocol stack.

b. If the protocol number is 4 (indicating an IPv4 packet is encapsulated within the packet), the IP protocol stack delivers the packet to the tunnel module for de-encapsulation.

c. The tunnel module de-encapsulates the IP packet and sends it back to the IP protocol stack.

d. The protocol stack forwards the de-encapsulated packet.

Restrictions and guidelines: IPv4 over IPv4 tunnel configuration

Follow these guidelines when you configure an IPv4 over IPv4 tunnel:

· The tunnel destination address specified on the local device must be identical with the tunnel source address specified on the tunnel peer device.

· Do not specify the same source and destination addresses for local tunnel interfaces in the same tunnel mode.

· The IPv4 address of the local tunnel interface cannot be on the same subnet as the destination address configured on the tunnel interface.

· To ensure correct packet forwarding, identify whether the destination IPv4 network and the IPv4 address of the local tunnel interface are on the same subnet. If they are not, configure a route reaching the destination IPv4 network through the tunnel interface. You can configure the route by using one of the following methods:

¡ Configure a static route, and specify the local tunnel interface as the egress interface or specify the IPv4 address of the peer tunnel interface as the next hop.

¡ Enable a dynamic routing protocol on both the local and remote tunnel interfaces.

For more information about route configuration, see Layer 3—IP Routing Configuration Guide.

· The destination address of the route passing the tunnel interface cannot be on the same subnet as the destination address configured on the tunnel interface.

Configuring an IPv4 over IPv4 tunnel

1. Enter system view.

system-view

2. Enter IPv4 over IPv4 tunnel interface view.

interface tunnel number [ mode ipv4-ipv4 ]

3. Configure an IPv4 address for the tunnel interface.

ip address ip-address { mask | mask-length } [ sub ]

4. Configure a source address or source interface for the tunnel interface.

source { ipv4-address | interface-type interface-number }

By default, no source address or source interface is configured for the tunnel interface.

If you specify a source address, it is used as the source IP address of tunneled packets.

If you specify a source interface, the primary IP address of this interface is used as the source IP address of tunneled packets.

5. Configure a destination address for the tunnel interface.

destination ipv4-address

By default, no destination address is configured for the tunnel interface.

The tunnel destination address must be the IP address of the receiving interface on the tunnel peer. It is used as the destination IP address of tunneled packets.

6. (Optional.) Set the DF bit for tunneled packets.

tunnel dfbit enable

By default, the DF bit is not set for tunneled packets.

IPv4 over IPv4 tunnel configuration examples

Example: Configuring an IPv4 over IPv4 tunnel

Network configuration

As shown in Figure 4, the two subnets IPv4 group 1 and IPv4 group 2 use private IPv4 addresses. Configure an IPv4 over IPv4 tunnel between Switch A and Switch B to make the two subnets reachable to each other.

Figure 4 Network diagram

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Procedure

Make sure Switch A and Switch B have the corresponding VLAN interfaces created and can reach each other through IPv4.

· Configure Switch A:

# Add GigabitEthernet 1/0/1 to VLAN 100.

<SwitchA> system-view

[SwitchA] vlan 100

[SwitchA-vlan100] port gigabitethernet 1/0/1

[SwitchA-vlan100] quit

# Specify an IPv4 address for VLAN-interface 100.

[SwitchA] interface vlan-interface 100

[SwitchA-Vlan-interface100] ip address 10.1.1.1 255.255.255.0

[SwitchA-Vlan-interface100] quit

# Add GigabitEthernet 1/0/2 (the physical interface of the tunnel) to VLAN 101.

[SwitchA] vlan 101

[SwitchA-vlan101] port gigabitethernet 1/0/2

[SwitchA-vlan101] quit

# Specify an IPv4 address for VLAN-interface 101.

[SwitchA] interface vlan-interface 101

[SwitchA-Vlan-interface101] ip address 2.1.1.1 255.255.255.0

[SwitchA-Vlan-interface101] quit

# Create IPv4 over IPv4 tunnel interface Tunnel 1.

[SwitchA] interface tunnel 1 mode ipv4-ipv4

# Specify an IPv4 address for the tunnel interface.

[SwitchA-Tunnel1] ip address 10.1.2.1 255.255.255.0

# Specify the IP address of VLAN-interface 101 as the source address for the tunnel interface.

[SwitchA-Tunnel1] source 2.1.1.1

# Specify the IP address of VLAN-interface 101 on Switch B as the destination address for the tunnel interface.

[SwitchA-Tunnel1] destination 3.1.1.1

[SwitchA-Tunnel1] quit

# Configure a static route destined for IPv4 group 2 through the tunnel interface.

[SwitchA] ip route-static 10.1.3.0 255.255.255.0 tunnel 1

· Configure Switch B:

# Add GigabitEthernet 1/0/1 to VLAN 100.

<SwitchB> system-view

[SwitchB] vlan 100

[SwitchB-vlan100] port gigabitethernet 1/0/1

[SwitchB-vlan100] quit

# Specify an IPv4 address for VLAN-interface 100.

[SwitchB] interface vlan-interface 100

[SwitchB-Vlan-interface100] ip address 10.1.3.1 255.255.255.0

[SwitchB-Vlan-interface100] quit

# Add GigabitEthernet 1/0/2 (the physical interface of the tunnel) to VLAN 101.

[SwitchB] vlan 101

[SwitchB-vlan101] port gigabitethernet 1/0/2

[SwitchB-vlan101] quit

# Specify an IPv4 address for VLAN-interface 101.

[SwitchB] interface vlan-interface 101

[SwitchB-Vlan-interface101] ip address 3.1.1.1 255.255.255.0

[SwitchB-Vlan-interface101] quit

# Create IPv4 over IPv4 tunnel interface Tunnel 2.

[SwitchB] interface tunnel 2 mode ipv4-ipv4

# Specify an IPv4 address for the tunnel interface.

[SwitchB-Tunnel2] ip address 10.1.2.2 255.255.255.0

# Specify the IP address of VLAN-interface 101 as the source address for the tunnel interface.

[SwitchB-Tunnel2] source 3.1.1.1

# Specify the IP address of VLAN-interface 101 on Switch A as the destination address for the tunnel interface.

[SwitchB-Tunnel2] destination 2.1.1.1

[SwitchB-Tunnel2] quit

# Configure a static route destined for IPv4 group 1 through the tunnel interface.

[SwitchB] ip route-static 10.1.1.0 255.255.255.0 tunnel 2

Verifying the configuration

# Use the display interface tunnel command to display the status of the tunnel interfaces on Switch A and Switch B. Verify that the tunnel interfaces are up. (Details not shown.)

# Verify that Switch A and Switch B can ping the IPv4 address of the peer interface VLAN-interface 100. This example uses Switch A.

[SwitchA] ping -a 10.1.1.1 10.1.3.1

Ping 10.1.3.1 (10.1.3.1) from 10.1.1.1: 56 data bytes, press CTRL_C to break

56 bytes from 10.1.3.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=255 time=2.000 ms

56 bytes from 10.1.3.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=255 time=1.000 ms

56 bytes from 10.1.3.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=255 time=0.000 ms

56 bytes from 10.1.3.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=255 time=1.000 ms

56 bytes from 10.1.3.1: icmp_seq=4 ttl=255 time=1.000 ms

--- Ping statistics for 10.1.3.1 ---

5 packet(s) transmitted, 5 packet(s) received, 0.0% packet loss

round-trip min/avg/max/std-dev = 0.000/1.000/2.000/0.632 ms

04-Layer 3-IP Services Configuration Guide

About tunneling

About traffic processing slots

Procedure

Restrictions and guidelines

Procedure

Restrictions and guidelines

Procedure

Display and maintenance commands for tunnel interface configuration

Symptom

Analysis

Solution

IPv6 over IPv4 tunneling

Network configuration

Procedure

Verifying the configuration

Enabling dropping IPv6 packets that use IPv4-compatible IPv6 addresses

Network configuration

Procedure

Verifying the configuration

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