IPv4-IPv6 Transition and Interoperability Using Available Transition Mechanisms

Army personnel need their tactical devices to work reliably in any deployment, whether IPv4 or IPv6-based devices, and whether fielded in an IPv4 or IPv6-dominant network. In addition, some of these devices use embedded systems, where it is impractical to "dual-stack" the applications or the node itself. This project will prototype a device that providesIPv4 and/or IPv6 connectivity to single or multiple devices, regardless of the upstream IP-protocol version. Nodes and applications that are capable of using either IPv4 or IPv6 (dual-stack) will be able to obtain network transport for both protocols. The project will deliver a testbed/prototype using a combination of FBCB2, Appliqué platform, SINCGARS, and commercial equipment (or other equipment as directed by the Army). Specifically, the project will: (1) Prototype deployment of an "outboard black-box" that delivers IPv4 capability to IPv4-only applications and devices across an IPv6-dominant network environment (DSTM), and IPv6 or dual-stack support to newer applications and devices across a mixed or IPv4-dominent network. (2) Test the ability for a set of IPv4 and IPv6 nodes to use the services of a single "tunnel concentrator" to obtain the IP-protocol (or both for dual-stack nodes) version needed for operation. (3) Evaluate the effort required and functional impact of providing dual-stack support and selected transition mechanism directly on Army end-node devices.