IPv6 Setup Guide

IPv6 provides a massive address space that’s perfect for IP rotation strategies in Lavalink. Most modern hosting providers offer IPv6 blocks (typically /64 or larger) for free with VPS plans, giving you access to billions of IP addresses for rate limit avoidance.

Why Use IPv6?

Massive Address Space

A /64 block provides 2^64 (18 quintillion) addresses

Free with Most VPS

Most providers include IPv6 at no extra cost

Better Rate Limiting

Rotate through billions of IPs to avoid bans

Future-Proof

IPv6 is the future of internet networking

Quick Check

Verify if your server already has IPv6 configured:

# Test IPv6 connectivity
ping6 google.com

# Or use numeric address
ping6 2001:4860:4860::8888

# Check for IPv6 addresses
ip a

Look for addresses starting with 2 or fd in the output. If you see an IPv6 address with /64 or larger, you’re ready to configure Lavalink!

Recommended Block Sizes

For Lavalink Route Planner, IPv6 blocks with /64 or larger are recommended. However, you can still use smaller blocks.

Block Size	Number of Addresses	Best Strategy	Use Case
/48	2^80	RotatingNanoSwitch	Production (recommended)
/56	2^72	RotatingNanoSwitch	High-traffic servers
/64	2^64	NanoSwitch or RotatingNanoSwitch	Standard deployment
Less than /64	Varies	RotateOnBan	Limited blocks

Provider-Specific Guides

Hetzner
Contabo
DigitalOcean
Ubuntu/Debian

Get Your IPv6 Block

Log into Hetzner Cloud panel
Go to your server
Click Networking tab
Under PUBLIC NETWORK → PRIMARY IP, find your IPv6 address

Expected format: 2a01:4f9:xxxx:xxxx::/64

Enable Nonlocal Bind

# Enable nonlocal binding
sysctl -w net.ipv6.ip_nonlocal_bind=1

# Make it persistent across reboots
echo 'net.ipv6.ip_nonlocal_bind=1' >> /etc/sysctl.conf

Configure Routing

Replace 2a01:4f9:xxxx:xxxx::/64 with your actual IPv6 block:

ip -6 route replace local 2a01:4f9:xxxx:xxxx::/64 dev lo

Test Configuration

# Replace with your IPv6 prefix
ping6 -I 2a01:4f9:xxxx:xxxx:: -c 2 google.com
ping6 -I 2a01:4f9:xxxx:xxxx::1 -c 2 google.com
ping6 -I 2a01:4f9:xxxx:xxxx::2 -c 2 google.com
ping6 -I 2a01:4f9:xxxx:xxxx:dead:beef:1234:1234 -c 2 google.com

All tests should succeed!

Hetzner setup is complete in just 3 commands! The VPS comes with IPv6 already enabled.

Enable IPv6

Contabo includes helpful auto-commands in .bashrc:

# Enable IPv6 (command provided by Contabo)
enable_ipv6

# Reboot as required by Contabo documentation
reboot

Find Your IPv6 Address

After reboot:

ip a

Look for output like:

2: eth0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel state UP
    inet6 2001:db8:1234:5678::1/64 scope global  # ← Copy this
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 fe80::xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx/64 scope link  # ← Ignore this
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever

Copy the address with scope global (not scope link).

Enable Nonlocal Bind

# Enable nonlocal binding
sysctl -w net.ipv6.ip_nonlocal_bind=1

# Make it persistent
echo 'net.ipv6.ip_nonlocal_bind=1' >> /etc/sysctl.conf

Configure Routing

Remove the ::1 suffix from your copied address:

# If your address was 2001:db8:1234:5678::1/64
# Use 2001:db8:1234:5678::/64 (remove the ::1)
ip -6 route replace local 2001:db8:1234:5678::/64 dev lo

Test Configuration

# Replace with your IPv6 prefix
ping6 -I 2001:db8:1234:5678:: -c 2 google.com
ping6 -I 2001:db8:1234:5678::1 -c 2 google.com
ping6 -I 2001:db8:1234:5678::2 -c 2 google.com
ping6 -I 2001:db8:1234:5678:dead:beef:1234:1234 -c 2 google.com

This guide is tested on Ubuntu and Debian systems.

DigitalOcean only provides 16 IPv6 addresses by default. For better rate limiting, consider using Tunnelbroker instead.

Enable IPv6

For new Droplets:

In Create Droplets panel
Go to Advanced Options
Click Enable IPv6 (free)

For existing Droplets:

Go to your Droplet panel
Turn off your Droplet
Click Networking
Under PUBLIC IPV6 ADDRESS, click Enable
Turn your Droplet back on
Follow DigitalOcean’s manual configuration guide

Reboot

reboot

Test Connectivity

ping6 google.com
# or
ping6 2001:4860:4860::8888

[Optional] Enable All 16 Addresses

See DigitalOcean’s guide for additional IPv6 addresses.Test each address:

# Replace with your actual addresses
ping6 -I 2400:6180:0:d0::fa6:2000 -c 2 google.com
ping6 -I 2400:6180:0:d0::fa6:2001 -c 2 google.com
ping6 -I 2400:6180:0:d0::fa6:2002 -c 2 google.com
...
ping6 -I 2400:6180:0:d0::fa6:200f -c 2 google.com

For larger IPv6 blocks (/64 or /48), see the Tunnelbroker guide below.

This is a general guide for Ubuntu and Debian systems. Check provider-specific guides first for optimized instructions.

Check for IPv6

ip a

Look for an IPv6 address with scope global:

inet6 2001:db8:xxxx:xxxx::1/64 scope global  # ← Your IPv6

If you don’t see one, contact your hosting provider about IPv6 availability.

Enable Nonlocal Bind

# Enable immediately
sysctl -w net.ipv6.ip_nonlocal_bind=1

# Persist across reboots
echo 'net.ipv6.ip_nonlocal_bind=1' >> /etc/sysctl.conf

Configure Routing

Remove the ::1 suffix from your IPv6 address:

# If your address is 2001:db8:xxxx:xxxx::1/64
# Use 2001:db8:xxxx:xxxx::/64
ip -6 route replace local 2001:db8:xxxx:xxxx::/64 dev lo

Test Configuration

# Replace with your IPv6 prefix
ping6 -I 2001:db8:xxxx:xxxx:: -c 2 google.com
ping6 -I 2001:db8:xxxx:xxxx::1 -c 2 google.com
ping6 -I 2001:db8:xxxx:xxxx::2 -c 2 google.com
ping6 -I 2001:db8:xxxx:xxxx:dead:beef:1234:1234 -c 2 google.com

Tunnelbroker Setup

Tunnelbroker provides free IPv6 tunnel service, perfect for providers that don’t offer IPv6 or only offer small blocks. You can get a free /48 or /64 block.

Ideal for:

Providers without native IPv6
DigitalOcean users wanting more than 16 addresses
Getting a /48 block for maximum rotation

Some providers (like DigitalOcean) may block Tunnelbroker initially. Contact support to unblock if needed.

Create Tunnel

Create account at Tunnelbroker.net
Click Create Regular Tunnel
Enter your server’s IPv4 address
Select the Tunnelbroker server with lowest ping to your server
```
# Test ping to find the best server
ping 216.218.142.50
```
(Optional) Click Assign /48 for a larger block

Get Configuration

Go to Example Configurations
Select Linux (netplan 0.103+)
Copy the entire configuration

Example configuration:

network:
  version: 2
  tunnels:
    he-ipv6:
      mode: sit
      remote: 216.218.142.50
      local: 195.xxx.xx.xxx
      addresses:
        - "2001:470:xxxx:xxx::2/64"
      routes:
        - to: default
          via: "2001:470:xxxx:xxx::1"

Configure Netplan

Create netplan configuration:

cd /etc/netplan
nano 99-he-tunnel.yaml

Paste the configuration from Tunnelbroker.For /64 block:

99-he-tunnel.yaml

network:
  version: 2
  tunnels:
    he-ipv6:
      mode: sit
      remote: 216.218.142.50
      local: 195.xxx.xx.xxx
      addresses:
        - "2001:470:xxxx:xxx::2/64"
      routes:
        - to: default
          via: "2001:470:xxxx:xxx::1"

For /48 block:

99-he-tunnel.yaml

network:
  version: 2
  tunnels:
    he-ipv6:
      mode: sit
      remote: 216.218.142.50
      local: 195.xxx.xx.xxx
      addresses:
        - "2001:470:xxxx::2/48"
      routes:
        - to: default
          via: "2001:470:xxxx::1"

[Optional] Remove Existing IPv6

If your provider already gives you IPv6 but you want to use Tunnelbroker instead:

nano /etc/netplan/50-cloud-init.yaml

Remove IPv6-related lines:

# Remove these lines:
- 2402:xxxx:xxxx::xx/128
- 2402:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx::a/56
gateway6: 2402:xxxx:xxxx::1

# And this route:
-   scope: link
    to: 2402:xxxx:xxxx::1
    via: ::0

Apply Configuration

# Test configuration (safe - will revert if issues)
netplan try

# Press Enter if no errors appear

# Reboot to ensure everything works
reboot

Verify Tunnelbroker

# Test basic connectivity
ping6 google.com

# Verify you're using Tunnelbroker IPv6
curl -6 https://ifconfig.co
# Should return: 2001:470:xxxx:xxx::2 (or 2001:470:xxxx::2 for /48)

Configure for Lavalink

# Enable nonlocal binding
sysctl -w net.ipv6.ip_nonlocal_bind=1
echo 'net.ipv6.ip_nonlocal_bind=1' >> /etc/sysctl.conf

# Configure routing
# For /64 block:
ip -6 route replace local 2001:470:xxxx:xxx::/64 dev lo

# For /48 block:
ip -6 route replace local 2001:470:xxxx::/48 dev lo

Test Full Range

# For /64:
ping6 -I 2001:470:xxxx:xxx:dead::beef google.com

# For /48:
ping6 -I 2001:470:xxxx:dead::beef google.com

You now have a full /64 or /48 IPv6 block ready for Lavalink Route Planner!

Configure Lavalink

Once IPv6 is set up on your server, configure Lavalink to use it:

application.yml

lavalink:
  server:
    ratelimit:
      ipBlocks:
        - "2001:470:xxxx::/48"  # Your IPv6 block
      strategy: "RotatingNanoSwitch"
      searchTriggersFail: true
      retryLimit: -1

See the Route Planner documentation for detailed strategy information.

Troubleshooting

No IPv6 Address Found

Verify your provider offers IPv6:
- Check your hosting panel
- Contact support to enable IPv6
Some providers require manual activation
Consider using Tunnelbroker if IPv6 isn’t available

ping6 Doesn't Work

Check:

# Verify IPv6 module is loaded
lsmod | grep ipv6

# Check IPv6 addresses
ip -6 addr show

# Check IPv6 routes
ip -6 route show

# Test with numeric address
ping6 2001:4860:4860::8888

Cannot Bind to Specific IPv6 Addresses

Ensure nonlocal bind is enabled:

# Check current setting
sysctl net.ipv6.ip_nonlocal_bind

# Should return: net.ipv6.ip_nonlocal_bind = 1

# If not, enable it:
sysctl -w net.ipv6.ip_nonlocal_bind=1
echo 'net.ipv6.ip_nonlocal_bind=1' >> /etc/sysctl.conf

Routing Not Working

Verify the route is configured:

# Check routes
ip -6 route show

# Should see: local 2001:xxxx::/64 dev lo ...

# Re-add if missing:
ip -6 route replace local 2001:xxxx::/64 dev lo

Tunnelbroker Not Working

Verify netplan configuration:
```
netplan get
```
Check tunnel status:
```
ip tunnel show
```

Test remote endpoint:

ping 216.218.142.50  # Or your endpoint

Check for firewall blocking protocol 41 (IPv6-in-IPv4)
Contact provider - they may block Tunnelbroker

Configuration Lost After Reboot

Make settings persistent:

Nonlocal bind:

echo 'net.ipv6.ip_nonlocal_bind=1' >> /etc/sysctl.conf

Route configuration - Create a systemd service:

nano /etc/systemd/system/ipv6-route.service

Add:

[Unit]
Description=IPv6 Route Configuration
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=/sbin/ip -6 route replace local 2001:xxxx::/64 dev lo

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Enable:

systemctl enable ipv6-route.service
systemctl start ipv6-route.service

Block Size Reference

Understanding CIDR notation:

CIDR	Number of Addresses	Number of /64 Blocks	Recommended For
/128	1	0	Single address
/64	18,446,744,073,709,551,616	1	Standard deployment
/56	4,722,366,482,869,645,213,696	256	High-traffic
/48	1,208,925,819,614,629,174,706,176	65,536	Production (best)

Even a single /64 block gives you more addresses than you’ll ever need. A /48 is recommended for maximum flexibility with RotatingNanoSwitch strategy.

Next Steps

After setting up IPv6:

Configure Route Planner

Set up Route Planner in your Lavalink configuration

Choose Strategy

Select the best IP rotation strategy for your block size

Test Thoroughly

Verify IP rotation is working correctly

Monitor

Watch for rate limits and adjust configuration as needed

Additional Resources

Route Planner

Configure IP rotation strategies

application.yml

Complete configuration reference

Tunnelbroker

Free IPv6 tunnel service

CIDR Calculator

Calculate IPv6 block sizes

Get Started

Configuration

Clients & Plugins

Why Use IPv6?

Massive Address Space

Free with Most VPS

Better Rate Limiting

Future-Proof

Quick Check

Recommended Block Sizes

Provider-Specific Guides

Tunnelbroker Setup

Configure Lavalink

Troubleshooting

Block Size Reference

Next Steps

Additional Resources

Route Planner

application.yml

Tunnelbroker

CIDR Calculator

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get Started

Configuration

Clients & Plugins

​Why Use IPv6?

Massive Address Space

Free with Most VPS

Better Rate Limiting

Future-Proof

​Quick Check

​Recommended Block Sizes

​Provider-Specific Guides

​Tunnelbroker Setup

​Configure Lavalink

​Troubleshooting

​Block Size Reference

​Next Steps

​Additional Resources

Route Planner

application.yml

Tunnelbroker

CIDR Calculator

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Why Use IPv6?

Quick Check

Recommended Block Sizes

Provider-Specific Guides

Tunnelbroker Setup

Configure Lavalink

Troubleshooting

Block Size Reference

Next Steps

Additional Resources