Transition from IPv4 to IPv6: Importance and Implementation of Dual Stack Approach
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Abstract
The rapid growth of the Internet and the increasing number of connected devices have led to the exhaustion of IPv4 address space, making the transition to IPv6 inevitable. However, due to technical, economic, and infrastructural challenges, IPv4 and IPv6 must coexist for a certain period, requiring effective transition mechanisms. This study examines the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 with a particular focus on the Dual Stack approach. Theoretical aspects such as the limitations of IPv4, the advantages of IPv6, and commonly used transition techniques, including tunneling and translation, are discussed. Among these, Dual Stack is identified as the most practical and widely adopted solution due to its ability to support both protocols simultaneously while preserving end-to-end communication. To support the theoretical analysis, a practical implementation was carried out using Cisco Packet Tracer, where a network topology was designed and configured with both IPv4 and IPv6 addressing. The results of connectivity tests confirm that Dual Stack enables successful and reliable communication across both protocols. Overall, the findings highlight that Dual Stack is an effective strategy for ensuring a smooth and gradual transition to IPv6.
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References
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