Using the service
The IPv4 to IPv6 multicast translation service translates any IPv4 multicast group automatically to IPv6 multicast. For each IPv4 multicast group the service creates a corresponding IPv6 group. To join the IPv6 group, the original IPv4 group address must be transformed to an IPv6 address.
An IPv4 multicast group address can be transformed to an IPv6 address easily by prepending the IPv4 address with the prefix: "ff7e:426:2001:708::". For example, ff7e:426:2001:708::233.6.205.100 is the IPv6 group address that corresponds to the IPv4 group 233.6.205.100.
In addition to the aforementioned ASM groups (Any-Source Multicast) the service also supports translation of any SSM channel (Source-Specific Multicast). An IPv4 SSM group address can be transformed to an IPv6 address by prepending the IPv4 address with the prefix "ff3e::". With SSM, also the IPv4 unicast source address must be transformed to an IPv6 address. This can be done by prepending the IPv4 source address with the prefix "2001:708:0:4::".For example, (2001:708:0:4::193.166.5.186, ff3e::232.1.2.3) is the IPv6 SSM channel that corresponds to the IPv4 SSM channel (193.166.5.186, 232.1.2.3).
Additional information
The multicast translation service translates all protocols running on top of IP. However, currently the header checksums are updated only for UDP packets. Other protocols may not work after translation, due to invalid header checksums.
The service is based on the master's thesis Implementation of an IPv4 to IPv6 Multicast Translator completed at CSC in fall 2009. The multicast translator is implemented as a new component of open source MRD6 multicast router on Linux.
| Kiviniemi Teemu | +358 9 457 2132 | Teemu.Kiviniemi at csc.fi |
