Skip to content
Calcrivo

NAT64 Calculator

Synthesise the IPv6 address a NAT64 gateway maps an IPv4 destination to, and size the translator's state table.

Inputs

sessions
bytes

Synthesised IPv6 Address

64:ff9b:cb00:712a

Embedded IPv4 (hex)

cb00712a

Translator State Memory

38 MiB

Translation Ports Required

250,000

Step by step

  1. Values used

    IPv4 destination = 203.0.113.42; NAT64 prefix = 64:ff9b::; Concurrent sessions = 250,000 sessions; State per session = 160 bytes

  2. NAT64

    With the well-known /96 prefix the 32-bit IPv4 address is appended directly, giving prefix::a.b.c.d in hex form.

  3. Synthesised IPv6 Address

    = 64:ff9b:cb00:712a

  4. Embedded IPv4 (hex)

    = cb00712a

  5. Translator State Memory

    = 40,000,000

  6. Translation Ports Required

    = 250,000

How it works

RFC 6052 embeds the IPv4 address in the low bits of a NAT64 prefix. With a /96 the whole address fits in the last two groups, so the mapping is a direct hex conversion. Each translated flow consumes a state entry and a port on the translator. IPv6-only networks reach the legacy internet through NAT64, and the translator's state table — not bandwidth — is what fails first under load.

Formula

NAT64

With the well-known /96 prefix the 32-bit IPv4 address is appended directly, giving prefix::a.b.c.d in hex form.

64:ff9b::/96
Well-known prefix reserved by RFC 6052 for NAT64
sessions
Concurrent translated flows held in state

Frequently Asked Questions

How is NAT64 calculated?

With the well-known /96 prefix the 32-bit IPv4 address is appended directly, giving prefix::a.b.c.d in hex form. RFC 6052 embeds the IPv4 address in the low bits of a NAT64 prefix. With a /96 the whole address fits in the last two groups, so the mapping is a direct hex conversion. Each translated flow consumes a state entry and a port on the translator.

Why does NAT64 matter?

IPv6-only networks reach the legacy internet through NAT64, and the translator's state table — not bandwidth — is what fails first under load.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 4 inputs: IPv4 destination, NAT64 prefix, Concurrent sessions, State per session. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.

You might also need