Analysis on IPv6 Transition in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Networks
RFC 4215

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Network Working Group                                   J. Wiljakka, Ed.
Request for Comments: 4215                                         Nokia
Category: Informational                                     October 2005

                    Analysis on IPv6 Transition in
         Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Networks

Status of This Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  It does
   not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2005).

Abstract

   This document analyzes the transition to IPv6 in Third Generation
   Partnership Project (3GPP) packet networks.  These networks are based
   on General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology, and the radio
   network architecture is based on Global System for Mobile
   Communications (GSM) or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
   (UMTS)/Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) technology.

   The focus is on analyzing different transition scenarios and
   applicable transition mechanisms and finding solutions for those
   transition scenarios.  In these scenarios, the User Equipment (UE)
   connects to other nodes, e.g., in the Internet, and IPv6/IPv4
   transition mechanisms are needed.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................2
      1.1. Scope of This Document .....................................3
      1.2. Abbreviations ..............................................3
      1.3. Terminology ................................................5
   2. Transition Mechanisms and DNS Guidelines ........................5
      2.1. Dual Stack .................................................5
      2.2. Tunneling ..................................................6
      2.3. Protocol Translators .......................................6
      2.4. DNS Guidelines for IPv4/IPv6 Transition ....................6
   3. GPRS Transition Scenarios .......................................7
      3.1. Dual Stack UE Connecting to IPv4 and IPv6 Nodes ............7
      3.2. IPv6 UE Connecting to an IPv6 Node through an IPv4
           Network ....................................................8

Wiljakka                     Informational                      [Page 1]
RFC 4215            IPv6 Transition in 3GPP Networks        October 2005

           3.2.1. Tunneling Inside the 3GPP Operator's Network ........9
           3.2.2. Tunneling Outside the 3GPP Operator's Network ......10
      3.3. IPv4 UE Connecting to an IPv4 Node through an IPv6
           Network ...................................................10
      3.4. IPv6 UE Connecting to an IPv4 Node ........................11
      3.5. IPv4 UE Connecting to an IPv6 Node ........................12
   4. IMS Transition Scenarios .......................................12
      4.1. UE Connecting to a Node in an IPv4 Network through IMS ....12
      4.2. Two IPv6 IMS Connected via an IPv4 Network ................15
   5. About 3GPP UE IPv4/IPv6 Configuration ..........................15
   6. Summary and Recommendations ....................................16
   7. Security Considerations ........................................17
   8. References .....................................................17
      8.1. Normative References ......................................17
      8.2. Informative References ....................................18
   9. Contributors ...................................................20
   10. Authors and Acknowledgements ..................................20

1.  Introduction

   This document describes and analyzes the process of transition to
   IPv6 in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) General Packet
   Radio Service (GPRS) packet networks [3GPP-23.060], in which the
   radio network architecture is based on Global System for Mobile
   Communications (GSM) or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
   (UMTS)/Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) technology.

   This document analyzes the transition scenarios that may come up in
   the deployment phase of IPv6 in 3GPP packet data networks.

   The 3GPP network architecture is described in [RFC3314], and relevant
   transition scenarios are documented in [RFC3574].  The reader of this
   specification should be familiar with the material presented in these
   documents.

   The scenarios analyzed in this document are divided into two
   categories: general-purpose packet service scenarios, referred to as
   GPRS scenarios in this document, and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)
   scenarios, which include Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
   considerations.  For more information about IMS, see [3GPP-23.228],
   [3GPP-24.228], and [3GPP-24.229].

   GPRS scenarios are the following:

      - Dual Stack User Equipment (UE) connecting to IPv4 and IPv6 nodes
      - IPv6 UE connecting to an IPv6 node through an IPv4 network