| IPv6 is a new version of the internetworking protocol designed to address the scalability and service shortcomings of the current standard, IPv4. IPv6 not only extends the addressing space. By overhauling the IP, it makes configuration easy and automatic. It also makes the IP more robust, extensible, and mobile, and adds security features, quality-of-service support, and faster and simpler routing. IPv6 is becoming increasingly important, not only for its benefits but also because of government-mandated adoption plans in several countries. Unfortunately, IPv4 and IPv6 are not directly compatible, so programs and systems designed to one standard can not communicate with those designed to the other. IPv4 systems, however, are ubiquitous and are not about to go away "over night" as the IPv6 systems are rolled in. Consequently, it is necessary to develop smooth transition mechanisms that enable applications to continue working while the network is being upgraded.A lot of new services and network protocols come forth while the bursting increment of Internet. The network equipments based on the software running on general purpose processor or the hardware of ASIC are difficult to meet flexibility and performance both. A new processor based on ASIP named network processor appeared. It provides the network facilitise flexibility like general purpose processor and high performance like ASIC, reduces the time to market and time to money by handling 2-7 level packets in line rate.Several research institutions and companies in the world are doing the research of IPv4/IPv6 translation systems. But most of them are running on general purpose processor. They are too unefficient to meet the demand of Internet backbone. There are limited achievements about applying network processor to IPv4/IPv6 translation system.In this paper we present the design and implementation of a transparent transition service mat translates packet headers as they cross between IPv4 and IPv6 networks based on Intel IXP2400 network processor. The main purpose of this paper is to present the solution of NAT-PT and how to implement it on EXP2400 network processor card. The measurement proves it can translate the address and protocol correctly and forword packets in line rate between ports. It can be applied to high speed backbone. |
