Datatek IPv6 Transformer User Manual - Manual (Page 9)

S E C T I O N 1 F A Q
9
1 FAQ
Here are answers to some of your most frequently asked questions:
Q1.
What’s an IPv4-IPv6 Transformer?
A1.
The Datatek Applications IPv4-IPv6 Transformer changes a legacy IPv4-only device into a
dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 host.
Q2.
What’s a legacy IPv4-only device?
A2.
It could be a PC, a server, a printer, a network appliance - it’s anything with a LAN port
that doesn’t understand the new Internet Protocol Version 6, or IPv6. Virtually every device with
a LAN port understands Internet Protocol Version 4, or IPv4. Since the inception of the
Internet, IPv4 has become so ubiquitous that no one bothered to mention the version number
and simply referred to it as IP, or TCP/IP. One day IPv6 will completely replace IPv4. (Some
people think that the sun will burn out before this happens.) In the mean time, IPv6 and IPv4
will coexist and new devices will support both protocols. Legacy devices that only support IPv4
will be at disadvantage.
Q3.
How do I connect to your Transformer?
A3.
It’s simple. The Transformer has two LAN ports, a host-side port and a network-side
port. First, disconnect your legacy device from the network and plug it into the Transformer’s
host-side port. Next, hook the Transformer’s network-side port up to your network. Finally,
configure the Transformer using a web-browser and you’re done.
Q4.
Do I have to install your software on my legacy device?
A4.
No, there’s no software to install on the legacy device.
Q5.
Will I need to make any changes to my legacy device?
A5.
Typically, you will need to change the legacy device’s IPv4 address, subnet mask, default
router and DNS server. This is because the Transformer uses the legacy device’s original IPv4
address on its network-side port, and the legacy device will use a private address that’s only visible
on the host-side of the Transformer. However, if the legacy device is set up to get these
parameters from a DHCP server, the Transformer will automatically reconfigure the legacy
device.