How to Implement intercommunication between IPv4 and IPv6 Networks

When designing IPv6 technology, the biggest mistake is that IPv4 is incompatible with IPv6. In fact, one Internet is actually converted into two Internet.

To promote IPv6 commercialization for carriers and service providers, a major challenge lies in how to ensure service continuity and minimize the impact on users. "It is very confusing for operators to spend more money to make IPv4 networks meet user needs or to build an IPv6 network ." Therefore, experts pointed out that IPv6's killer applications are actually interworking with IPv4. If IPv4 and IPv6 can communicate with each other globally, users do not need to care about their own IPv4 or IPv6, "it is a success ".

This challenge is exactly why BlueCoat has spent five and a half years developing technology. Now, they have been able to release the industry's first IPv6Web security gateway solution.

Implement transparent intercommunication between IPv4 and IPv6

According to Li Qing, Chief Scientist and senior technical expert of BlueCoat, In this security gateway solution, BlueCoatProxySG device-a secure acceleration proxy device-acts as an intelligent intermediary between access requests and content, make the applications, services, and data retrieval of IPv4 and IPv6 in the environment transparent to users. To avoid network interruptions and simplify migration, Blue Coat ProxySG devices can stably execute enterprise IT policies across IPv4 and IPv6 applications and content. This feature ensures the business continuity of the enterprise and will not be affected by address translation and other related issues, nor need to re-compile the application or upgrade the underlying network architecture.

"The most practical transition path from IPv4 to IPv6 at this stage is the transition from a user to an IPv6 network, and services, applications, and content can still be stored on an IPv4 network, maximize protection of the large amount of investment that has been made by carriers and service providers in the past." Li Qing said, "the BlueCoat security gateway solution can achieve this. With it, IPv4 users can access IPv6 applications. In turn, IPv6 users can also access IPv4 applications ."

"Eliminating the gap between applications and services in two domains can bring visibility, acceleration, and security levels to the enterprise at the same level, regardless of whether the content is delivered in IPv4 or IPv6 ." Li Qing introduction.

Make full use of IPv6 technical advantages

Japanese telecom operators and enterprises that are leading in the Global IPv6 deployment and application fields have adopted the BlueCoat solution on a large scale and implemented similar cases.

This solution opens a wider path for the application development of Japanese telecom operators-in Japan, IPv6 proxy servers are simply added to the backbone network port or gateway, ipvipv4 users can access and use many applications they previously could not use. At the same time, the IPv4 and IPv6 transformations on the backbone network can be launched by telecom operators as value-added services.

"Whether IPv6 is a channel for us to achieve our development goal, or simply to solve the problem of IP address depletion, this is the first thing we should think clearly when promoting IPv6 in the industry. This will determine how we work." Li Qing believes that "we should recognize that our ultimate goal is to take advantage of IPv6 technology. Therefore, when we consider migration, we should consider how to fully combine the most essential parts and advantages of IPv4 and IPv6."