Amazon Enables IPv6 for S3 Storage

Amazon has announced that its Simple Storage Service, better known as S3, is now also reachable via ipv6 via dual-stack endpoints. IPv6 access is not enabled by default, but can be turned on with a simple command.

Amazon’s Jeff Barr explains on the S3 blog how to enable the functionality, namely by switching to new dual-stack endpoints. This can be done by entering the ‘–enabledualstack’ flag via the AWS command line or via AWS Tools for the Windows PowerShell.

After enabling dual stack endpoints, the S3 server can be reached via both ipv4 and ipv6. However, Barr warns that it is important to add the desired ipv6 range to the range of IP addresses when using IP restrictions, otherwise certain clients may no longer be able to connect. It is also important to test end-to-end connections because in exceptional cases certain clients may be configured for ipv6, but will eventually not connect to the internet via ipv6.

The new capabilities can be used for all S3 options except web hosting, S3 Transfer Acceleration and BitTorrent access. Also, ipv6 access is not available in China. Availability of ipv6 is important because the number of ipv4 addresses is practically exhausted.