Dual Stack

What is IPv6 Dual Stack?

IPv6 Dual Stack is a transition mechanism where devices and networks run both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols simultaneously, allowing communication over either protocol as needed.

Why is IPv6 Dual Stack useful?

It ensures compatibility with existing IPv4 infrastructure while enabling adoption of IPv6, facilitating a smooth transition without service disruption.

How does IPv6 Dual Stack work?

Devices maintain both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses and can send or receive traffic using either protocol depending on the destination’s capabilities and network configuration.

Where is IPv6 Dual Stack used?

Dual Stack is commonly deployed in enterprise networks, ISPs, and internet service providers to support both legacy IPv4 and modern IPv6 clients.

Which OSI layer does IPv6 Dual Stack belong to?

Dual Stack operates at the Network Layer (Layer 3) by supporting simultaneous use of IPv4 and IPv6 protocols.

Is IPv6 Dual Stack Windows specific?

No, Dual Stack support is available on all major operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Is IPv6 Dual Stack Linux specific?

No, Linux has full support for Dual Stack configurations as part of its networking stack.

Which Transport Protocol is used by IPv6 Dual Stack?

Dual Stack supports transport protocols running over both IPv4 and IPv6, such as TCP, UDP, and ICMP/ICMPv6.

Is IPv6 Dual Stack using client-server model?

Dual Stack supports all communication models — client-server, peer-to-peer, and multicast — by enabling dual protocol stacks on devices.

Topics in this section,

  • In this section, you are going to learn

  • Terminology

  • Version Info

  • setup

  • Reference links