Enabling IPv6-only Network Internet Access via NAT64

N10-009 By islever Editorial Last updated

Summarize cloud concepts and connectivity options.

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

A company implements a new network utilizing only IPv6 addressing and needs to connect to the internet. Which of the following must be enabled in order for the internal network to contact servers on the internet?
  1. MPLS
  2. NAT64 Correct Answer
  3. GRE
  4. Static routing

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?

Dual Stack runs both IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously on devices. NAT64 allows IPv6-only devices to communicate with IPv4-only resources by translating the packets at the network boundary, requiring no IPv4 stack on the client.

Can GRE tunneling solve IPv6-only to IPv4 internet access?

No. GRE encapsulates packets but does not translate the IP header version. An IPv6-only client sending a GRE tunnel still needs an IPv6 path, and the endpoint would need to handle the translation separately.

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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

  1. ERB14 👍 1 Answered B
    NAT64: 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.
  2. smittywerbenjagermanjensen 👍 1 Answered B
    It says IPV6 ONLY. In this scenario you need to have NO ipv4 addresses, so nat64 is the right choice.
  3. Skri113xX 👍 1 Answered C
    I’d roll with C — seems like the most solid choice.

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