Configuring Cellular Interface Support for IPv6 on FortiGate

Published on: 01-03-2025 By Saurabh Yadav

Introduction

In today's interconnected world, enabling dual-stack IPv4 and IPv6 support is crucial for uninterrupted connectivity. This guide will walk you through the process of configuring the cellular interface on FG-40F-3G4G devices to support IPv6, ensuring your network is future-proofed against the need for extensive Internet Protocol support.

Understanding PDP Types

The cellular interface on FortiGate-40F-3G4G devices can be configured with different Packet Data Protocol (PDP) types. These are:

  • IPv4: Use only IPv4 addressing.
  • IPv6: Use only IPv6 addressing.
  • IPv4v6: Use both IPv4 and IPv6 addressing (default).

This flexibility allows network administrators to tailor connectivity options to their specific needs.

Configuring the Cellular Interface

Follow these steps to configure the cellular interface on the FortiGate-40F-3G4G for IPv4 and IPv6 support:

Step 1: Set up the wireless profile with the desired PDP type.

Use the execute lte-modem wireless-profile command to create or modify a wireless profile. In this example, we will set it to IPv4v6:

execute lte-modem wireless-profile
set pdptype ipv4v6
end

Refer to the 3G4G LTE Modem Operator's Manual for more details.

Step 2: List all available profiles.

You can list profiles by executing:

execute lte-modem wireless-profile list

Step 3: Select the correct profile and configure the APN settings.

In our example, we will select profile 2 with an APN configuration:

config sys lte-modem
set pdptype ipv4v6
set force-wireless-profile 2
set apn ota.bell.ca
end

Verifying Configuration

Once the configuration has been applied, it's important to verify that it is working correctly.

Verify IPv4:

Ensure that an IPv4 address is assigned to the wwan interface:

diagnose ip address list

Verify IPv6:

Similarly, verify the IPv6 configuration:

diagnose ipv6 address list

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully configure the cellular interface of your FortiGate-40F-3G4G device to support IPv6, securing dual-stack support for modern networking needs. This setup not only provides current robust network compatibility but also ensures preparedness for future shifts in internet protocols.

For more detailed and specific command options, refer to the FortiGate documentation at FortiGate Cellular Interface Support for IPv6.