Implementation and Evaluation of Protocols Translating Methods for IPv4 to IPv6 Transition

Abstract

Today millions of computers are interconnected using the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and can not switch to the new version, IPv6, simultaneously. For this reason the IETF has defined a number of mechanisms for transitioning to the new protocol in a progressively and controlled manner. On the other hand, Internet Service Providers (ISP) will not have new IPv4 global addresses to offer in the near future due to the fact that these addresses will be exhausted. A very interesting alternative for ISPs is to use IPv6 global addresses and, by some transitional method, access the current IPv4 backbone. This study aims to compare two methods of transparent access to the IPv4 Internet backbone, from networks that are "IPv6 only". To make the comparison, a software was developed, implementing an Application Layer Gateway (ALG), and Ecdysis was used to implement NAT64. Both trials used a network IPv6 Test Bed. This paper details the design principles and fundamental aspects of the ALG implementation, as well as the implementation of NAT64. Finally, we present the tests performed and conclusions drawn on the test platform.