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Visitor

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8 Messages

Monday, July 5th, 2021 8:37 PM

Closed

IPv6 Subnet PD Nightmare With Comcast's Recent Network Upgrade

Hi,

As you may know, Xfinity recently graded it's network speed to 2.5gbs.

That change obsoleted my Motorola MB8600 cable modem, and altered my IPv6 subnet mask from a /64 to a subnet mask of /128, assigning a single external ip address. The MB8600 was quickly replaced with a 2.5gbs capable Motorola MB8611.

I had a career in IT; senior network and systems administration at various companies around around the SF Bay Area, with my homelab/network, which drives home automation, security, and networking a reflection of those interests.

The network is built around a pfSense Firewall/Router, v2.5.2, Unifi switches and WAPs (wireless access points), and is configured with dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 addressing supporting 7 internal VLANS.

pfSense's WAN interface is configured for both IPv4 (DHCP) and IPv6 (DHCP6). The VLAN interfaces are configured with a static, private IPv4 address block, with local DHCP providing clients with addressing information. The IP/v6 interfaces are configured to track the WAN address, which when combined with an IPv6 prefix ID, determines the configurable network ID based on the dynamic IPv6 connection. 

For the past 3 years this configuration has run successfully with no errors or problems.

Numerous hours have been spent with Customer Service being escalated and generally run around, but yielding NO solution. Has anyone else experienced similar issues? Were able to resolve the problems? If so, how?

Your input is welcome.

Problem Solver

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948 Messages

4 years ago

Comcast didn’t upgrade to 2.5 gig at all, it was to 1200 Mbps, the mb 8600 linked to the right router and configured correctly can achieve those speeds 

Visitor

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8 Messages

4 years ago

You are correct. The MB8600, according to will connect properly, just not deliver the 1.2gps.

Xfinity unequivocally labelled my device as non-compatible. They would be delighted to supply me with a new modem.

Visitor

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8 Messages

4 years ago

EG made a comment, but I can't view it.

Problem Solver

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948 Messages

4 years ago

With my asus rt-ax 86u router using dual wan setup, it can achieve 1400 Mbps, I believe the mb 8600 has a hidden panel on the back of it covering extra Ethernet ports, I am kinda curious with all your upper level IT experience, with such a impressive elaborate setup, how a Comcast representative reading from a script could possibly be able to help you, just saying

(edited)

Visitor

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8 Messages

@jlavaseur 

"Let me speak with your manager..."  "I want to be escalated to 2nd tier..."

I never hesitate to say those words. That being said, the front line folks are stuck with the scripts, and you can burn a lot of time trying to get to someone.

This forum looks like it might hold possibility.

Visitor

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8 Messages

The extra ports of the back support link aggregation (lagg). I doubt that Comcast supports lagg, and the 2.5gbs ethernet port on the MB8611 smokes lagg.

Our neighborhood has too many work from home folks now. A Comcast technician came and checked the lines (I was getting the same data rate I got with DSL), and told me that Comcast had been caught flat footed with the extra pandemic traffic. Depending on the time of day, I might get in the high 900s.

The 2.5gbs upgrade I spoke is a higher speed bone for people who have Cat5 cabling. Cat5 is, apparently, good for 2.5gbs at 100 meters and maybe 5gbs depending on "conditions."

Problem Solver

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948 Messages

The extra ports can be used for dual wan setup, I get 1500 Mbps,

(edited)

Expert

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110K Messages

@wlp94611

Cat5e 

.......................

I am not a Comcast Employee.
I am a Customer Expert volunteering my time to help other customers here in the Forums.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.

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Problem Solver

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948 Messages

4 years ago

So, i was looking at my ipv6 addresses, i never really paid attention to them before, so depending on which device i check, i can have 3-4 ipv6 /64, a combination of 3-4  /64 /128, or just 2 /128, on a Xfinity Hotspot  i get 2 /64, I also noticed that i can change connection settings for ipv6 on a device, it all changes, i don't understand it, maybe you can make some sense of it, also this is all on my same network

Official Employee

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1.9K Messages

Hello @jlavaseur A device generates new 64 bits every once in a while and uses that in the IPv6 address, so due to the new addresses generating regularly, the addresses are marked as temporary.

 

With that being said, since the address are marked as temporary, your ipv6 can be modified when you change the connection settings. Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns. 

I am an Official Xfinity Employee.
Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.
Was your question answered? Please, mark a reply as the Accepted Answer.tick

Contributor

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68 Messages

4 years ago

Hello @wlp94611 

I have a similar setup at home with pfSense router/firewall and UniFi switches & APs. When I enabled IPv6 on more than one internal interface, I had to change my DHCP6 Prefix Delegation Size from 64 to 62. Currently I am only providing IPv6 to two internal interfaces but if I wanted to extend IPv6 support to additional interfaces I would need to use a smaller number than 62.

 

The setting is in Interfaces/WAN/DHCP6 Client Configuration

 

You also have to check the box: Send IPv6 prefix hint  

Visitor

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8 Messages

4 years ago

I want to share new information regarding the IPv6 problems I am experiencing per my original post.

Part of Comcast's service upgrade included a modem firmware update, which obsoleted non-DOCSIS 3.1 compatible modems. Also obsoleted are DOCSIS 3.1 modems that do not support >1gbs speeds; my Motorola MB8600 fell into that group. (I have the Gigabit Internet Plan; 1200mbs down, 35mbs up.)

I was lucky enough to speak with a Comcast tech who verified that my current MB8611 has a valid IPv6 /64 address. The WAN interface on my router receives an IPv6 /128 address. Inasmuch as this suggests a firmware issue, the tech suggested I touch bases with Motorola. I currently have an open ticket and am awaiting their response.

I will update when there is more news.

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Follow-on: IPv6 Subnet PD Nightmare With Comcast's Recent Network Upgrade
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