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IPv6 basics

addr/route.

Networking2026-02-10

In this guide: IPv6 basics. addr/route.

Debug networking issues layer by layer: DNS, routing, firewall, then the application. First confirm the server is reachable, then move to service-level checks.

If something goes wrong: check the service is running, listening on the expected port, and that your firewall allows the connection. For web services, `nginx -t` and `journalctl -u nginx` are good starting points. Do not forget IPv6 firewall rules. A common mistake is securing IPv4 and leaving IPv6 wide open.

After completing the steps below, verify the result: service status, logs, and network reachability. This saves hours when an issue shows up later.

Below you’ll find a quick checklist, verification commands, and common pitfalls. This helps you not only “do it”, but also confirm what a correct outcome looks like.

Quick checklist

  • Split the problem: DNS → routing → firewall → application.
  • First verify server reachability (ping/ssh), then services.
  • Save command outputs so you can compare before/after.
  • Make one small change at a time and verify the result immediately.
  • Keep notes of what you changed (file/command/time).

Verify the result

# Verify / sanity checks
ip r
ping -c 1 1.1.1.1 || true
resolvectl status 2>/dev/null | head -n 50 || true
getent hosts example.com || true

Common pitfalls

  • Debugging from the app layer instead of DNS/routing first.
  • Ignoring IPv6 (ports may be open on IPv6).
ip -6 addr
ip -6 route

UFW

Check IPV6=yes in /etc/default/ufw.

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