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Using ubuntu 11.04, I run netstat -nplt the results for local address may be 

localhost:6666

or 

[::]:6666

What is the difference?

I believe that the [::]: binds the service at port xxxx to all interfaces, (lo, eth0, eth1 ) and localhost: only binds it to loopback interface (lo). I think I am missing something. How can I toggle between the two states?

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2 Answers

up vote 1 down vote accepted

[::] is an ipv6 notation and it's the same as 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000 , and it means any ip address.

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does this server the same function as 0.0.0.0 in ipv4? Bind to all interfaces? – Dave Feb 14 at 8:34
Does it bind to ip addresses or interfaces – Dave Feb 14 at 8:36
Yes, it's bind to all ip address, so all interfaces – 0wn3r Feb 14 at 8:38
Found a good explanation here: serverfault.com/questions/78048/… – Dave Feb 14 at 8:41
up vote 3 down vote

localhost:6666

This is the IPv4 loopback address 127.0.0.1

[::]:6666

This means port 6666 on all IP addresses (v4 and v6).

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