IPv6 Tunnel on Windows XP Using Freenet6

Almost two years ago I described testing IPv6 using Freenet6 on FreeBSD. This morning I decided to try the same on Windows XP and document the process here.

I needed to use a tunnel method like Freenet6 because the test host is behind NAT.

First, visit go6.net and click "Free IPv6 Connectivity with Freenet6". Register yourself a user account. To install on my Windows XPSP3 32-bit system I downloaded "Gateway6 Client 6.0-BETA4 Windows Installer 32-bit". I installed and accepted the defaults:



When I first tried installing the software I got an error which denied installing the TUN driver. I had to back out of the installation and change this local group policy key using gpedit.msc:



I changed "Do not allow installation" to "Warn but allow installation" under Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> Devices: Unsigned driver installation behavior.



Once The Freenet6 client was running I configured it with the username and password I registered, and I set broker.freenet6.net as my Gateway6 address. Once I connected I could visit ipv6.google.com, and even check my IPv6 address online.



You may notice I installed the ShowIP Firefox addon. I learned about that from Command Information. It's a good way to try to keep track of the IP address you're using to access IPv4 or IPv6 sites.

I was also able to access sites from cmd.exe, using ping6 to ping ipv6.google.com and ftp to connect to the IPv6-only FTP server at ftp6.netbsd.org.



I think the Freenet6 client is a good way for people behind NAT (or in the case of the test VM here, two NATs) to access IPv6-enabled sites.

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Richard Bejtlich is teaching new classes in DC and Europe in 2009. Register by 1 Jan and 1 Feb, respectively, for the best rates.