IOSR Journal of Computer Engineering (IOSR-JCE) e-ISSN: 2278-0661,p-ISSN: 2278-8727, Volume 17, Issue 1, Ver. IV (Jan – Feb. 2015), PP 76-79 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0661-17147679 ww.iosrjournals.org 76 | Page Performance Evaluation of Ipv4, Ipv6 Migration Techniques Abass Mohamed Ahmed Kapashi Ahmed 1 , Dr. Amin Babiker A/Nabi Mustafa 2 Dr. Ashraf A. Osman 3 Faculty Of Engineering, Neelain University, Khartoum -Sudan Abstract: The Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) has gained popularity with companies, organizations and Internet service providers (ISPs) due to its enhancements over IPv4 such as (IPv6 128bit compared to of ipv4(32 bit). When migrating from IPv4 to IPv6, one should be careful about interruptions of service. In this paper, three mechanisms that can be employed to provide a smooth migration process. Results are verified with the Optimized Network Engineering Tool (OPNET) version 17.5 network simulation tool. Keywords: Dual Stack, Tunnelling, NAT-PT OPNET 17.5 modeller delay , packet loss, throughput I. Introduction In today’s communication systems, the Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) has reached it limits on various front, and a transition to the new version of IPv6 is imminent[1]. J. L. Shah et. al. [2] have listed various benefits of IPv6 over the IPv4 that include, a larger address space (128 bits), inbuilt stateless auto configuration support, smaller packet header size, inbuilt support for IPSec Security, efficient Support for Mobility, better packet forwarding, support for Real Time Multimedia and QoS, and support for Multicast and Any cast Traffic. The major challenge for deployment of IPv6 systems is the migration from IPv4 based systems[1]. The cost associated with the migration for equipment as well as operational downtime cost. As discussed in [3-8], various techniques have been proposed to minimize these impacts to existing systems. In this paper, an overview of the dual stack, tunneling, and translation techniques will be provided. Moreover, the open source OPNET network simulation tool is used to investigate performance of each of the aforementioned techniques. Simulation results of the network throughput, delay, and packet loss characteristics will be presented and analyzed. There are three main categories of transition techniques:  Dual-stack techniques: This technique allows for IPv4 and IPv6 to coexist on the same network infrastructure and there's no need to encapsulate IPv6 inside IPv4 (using tunneling) or vice-versa. This technique is not suitable for large networks such as the Internet due to its difficulty and cost to cover all the network nodes. However, this technique is suitable for smaller size networks that requires low management effort. The dual stack is considered to be the basis for inventing the two other techniques for transition between IPv4 and IPv6. Fig.1 shows a diagram of such configuration.  Tunnelling techniques: This technique allows transport of IPv6 traffic over the existing IPv4 network infrastructure. Tunnelling techniques can be used to deploy an IPv6 forwarding infrastructure while maintaining the basis IPv4 infrastructure such as in situations where there is no IPv6 support and can only reach IPv6 sites through encapsulating IPv6 packets within IPv4 link. Fig.2 shows a diagram of an IPv6 packets carried over an IPv4 tunnel configuration. Fig. 1. The Dual Stack Architecture. Fig. 2. The IPv6 over an IPv4 Tunnel Architecture