Enabling IPv6-only Network Internet Access via NAT64
Short answer
B NAT64 must be enabled to translate IPv6 packets to IPv4 packets, allowing the IPv6-only internal network to communicate with IPv4 servers on the internet.
Question
Key Takeaways
The question tests knowledge of IPv6 transition mechanisms, specifically identifying NAT64 as the required tool for IPv6-only clients to access IPv4-only destinations.
This question addresses how an IPv6-only network can reach IPv4 internet servers. The correct solution is NAT64, which performs necessary protocol translation between the two IP versions.
Common mistake: Many candidates choose GRE tunneling because it connects networks, but GRE does not translate IPv6 addresses to IPv4 addresses, leaving the internal clients unable to reach IPv4-only servers.
Expert Analysis
The core challenge in this scenario is bridging the gap between an IPv6-only internal network and the broader internet, which currently relies heavily on IPv4 infrastructure for many legacy servers. Because the internal network utilizes only IPv6 addressing, its clients cannot natively communicate with IPv4-only destination addresses without a translation mechanism.
While Static routing (D) is essential for directing traffic within a network or to a gateway, it does not perform protocol translation. A static route simply tells the router where to send packets; it does not change the IP version of those packets. Similarly, MPLS (A) is a carrier-grade technology for efficient packet switching across service provider networks and does not inherently solve IPv6-to-IPv4 compatibility issues for end-user connectivity. GRE (C), often cited by those favoring tunneling, creates a virtual point-to-point link but typically encapsulates one IP version inside another without translating the payload's addressing scheme for general internet access to mixed environments.
NAT64 (B) is the correct solution because it specifically functions as a transition technology that translates IPv6 packets to IPv4 packets (and vice versa). This allows IPv6-only internal clients to seamlessly connect to IPv4-only servers on the internet. By enabling NAT64 at the network boundary, the organization ensures that requests from modern IPv6 hosts are converted into IPv4 format before traversing the IPv4-centric parts of the internet, fulfilling the requirement for global connectivity.
The common trap here is focusing on connectivity methods like routing or tunneling while ignoring the fundamental address mismatch. The question explicitly states "IPv6 ONLY" internally, making translation mandatory rather than just routing.
Official Reference
https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc6146
This link opens the official vendor documentation in a new tab.
Exam Strategy
When faced with questions involving mixed IP versions (e.g., IPv6 clients accessing IPv4 resources), immediately look for transition technologies rather than standard routing protocols. Keywords like 'translation', 'mapping', or 'connectivity between different versions' should trigger your recall of NAT64, SIIT, or dual-stack configurations. Always verify if the environment is strictly one version or mixed, as this dictates whether translation is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between NAT64 and Dual Stack?
Can GRE tunneling solve IPv6-only to IPv4 internet access?
Discussion 3 contributions
Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.
From public community threads 3
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ERB14 👍 1 Answered BNAT64: A transition technology that translates IPv6 packets to IPv4 packets (and vice versa). This allows IPv6-only internal clients to connect seamlessly to IPv4-only servers on the internet.
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smittywerbenjagermanjensen 👍 1 Answered BIt says IPV6 ONLY. In this scenario you need to have NO ipv4 addresses, so nat64 is the right choice.
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Skri113xX 👍 1 Answered CI’d roll with C — seems like the most solid choice.
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