NAT64 vs SIIT: performance and scalability study for VoIP services

Abstract

The growing demand for IP addresses, driven by the proliferation of devices, has depleted the internet protocol (IP) version 6 (IPv6) reserves of some regional internet registries (RIRs). It is imperative to migrate to IPv6, offering an extended addressing space. This transition is no longer a choice but a necessity due to the exhaustion of IP version 4 (IPv4) addresses. The internet engineering task force (IETF) has implemented various transition strategies, such as the use of dual stack, IPv6-in-IPv4 tunnels, and address translation, due to the inconsistency between the two versions of the IP (IPv4 and IPv6). IPv4/IPv6 address translation mechanisms are crucial for the coexistence of networks using both protocols, with scalability playing a central role. Although these mechanisms offer advantages such as optimizing addressing space, their ability to scale effectively must be evaluated, especially in demanding scenarios such as voice over IP (VoIP). This article examines the scalability of two mechanisms, network address translation 64 (NAT64) and stateless IP/internet control message protocol (ICMP) translation (SIIT), in terms of VoIP clients in the graphical network simulator 3 (GNS3) environment. The results indicate that the SIIT mechanism is more performant and scalable than NAT64 in all measured parameters.