Traditional Workflow (Without NAT)
This topic describes the traditional workflow without NAT Protocol
Translations.
| Where Can I Use This? | What Do I Need? |
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Without the implementation of NAT protocol translation, the workflow for inter-IP family
communication is severely constrained or entirely non-existent.
- Direct Communication Failure: An IPv6-only device attempting to reach an
IPv4-only server simply fails, as the IPv6 packet structure is incomprehensible to
the IPv4 network, and vice-versa.
- Fragmented Network Access: Users or applications are restricted to accessing
resources only within their native IP address family, leading to a fragmented and
inefficient network experience.
- Manual Workarounds: Workarounds might include dual-stack deployment on every
device (running both IPv4 and IPv6 stacks simultaneously), which is
resource-intensive and often not feasible for legacy devices. Alternatively,
application-layer proxies can be used, adding significant latency and complexity,
and requiring per-application configuration.
- Costly Infrastructure Overhauls: Organizations are forced into costly and
disruptive "big bang" upgrades to move entirely to IPv6, rather than a phased
approach. This can involve replacing a significant portion of network infrastructure
and applications.
- Limited Scalability: Managing two entirely separate and uncommunicative
networks (IPv4 and IPv6) significantly complicates network management and limits
overall scalability.
