Similar to many of the solutions proposed to extend the life of the IPv4 address space, a variety of proposal exist for the purpose of translating IPv6 to IPv4 addresses as a method of migrating networks to IPv6. The common thread with these solutions is that rather than use the dual-stack or tunneling techniques outlined earlier, a company would instead run IPv6 internally on its network, and then use some type of translation server or gateway for continued access to the IPv4 Internet.
Although this method would break the “end-to-end” connectivity that is a central premise of IPv6, it does present an interesting solution that many companies may choose to employ as a migration strategy. One such recommendation is outlined in RFC 2766 is known as Network Address Translation – Protocol Translation (NAT-PT). A variety of IPv6 translation RFCs are currently under consideration, but the ultimate standards are still largely yet to be determined.
