Anycast addresses in IPv6 are useful in several scenarios within networks using MikroTik's RouterOS, especially to optimize routing and improve service availability and redundancy. Here I detail some specific use cases:

Routing Optimization

Anycast addresses allow multiple devices to share the same IPv6 address. Routers send packets to the closest instance (in terms of the routing path), which can reduce latency, improve load balancing, and increase the efficiency of network traffic.

High Availability of Critical Services

You can use Anycast addresses for critical services like DNS, web servers, or email gateways. By having multiple servers in different physical locations using the same IPv6 Anycast address, you can ensure greater availability and redundancy. If a server fails, traffic is automatically redirected to the nearest operational server without the need for manual intervention or DNS configuration changes.

DDoS Mitigation

Anycast addresses can be effective in mitigating distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. By dispersing traffic destined for a single address across multiple servers, you can reduce the impact of a DDoS attack because malicious traffic is more easily distributed and managed.

Improved User Experience

For global web services, using Anycast addresses can significantly improve the end-user experience. Users connect to the nearest server, reducing latency and improving web page loading times.

To implement Anycast addresses over IPv6 in MikroTik RouterOS, you will need to configure multiple devices to respond to the same IPv6 address and appropriately adjust routing within your network.

This involves configuring routers and switches to correctly recognize and direct traffic to the most appropriate instance of the Anycast address.

Important

Keep in mind that the success of anycast deployment depends largely on careful planning, especially when it comes to network design and routing configuration.

You may also need to work with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or an Internet Transit Provider to ensure that Anycast routes are advertised correctly over the Internet.