Which network technology allows devices to communicate using both IPv4 and IPv6 addressing at the same time?

Which network technology allows devices to communicate using both IPv4 and IPv6 addressing at the same time?

• A. Dual-stack
• B. VPN
• C. NAT64
• D. Tunneling

Answer: (A)

Running both IPv4 and IPv6 on devices at the same time is called dual-stack. This setup lets a device have an IPv4 address and an IPv6 address simultaneously and choose which protocol to use for each connection, ensuring access to networks and services that may still be IPv4 and those that are IPv6. This approach is ideal for gradual migration because it preserves existing IPv4 behavior while enabling IPv6 without translating or tunneling. Other options don’t describe this simultaneous, native support: a VPN creates a secure tunnel for remote access and isn’t about dual addressing; NAT64 translates IPv6 to IPv4 to reach IPv4 content but does not maintain dual-stack addressing on the endpoints; and tunneling carries one protocol inside another to traverse networks that don’t support that protocol, rather than enabling devices to speak both protocols directly.

Running both IPv4 and IPv6 on devices at the same time is called dual-stack. This setup lets a device have an IPv4 address and an IPv6 address simultaneously and choose which protocol to use for each connection, ensuring access to networks and services that may still be IPv4 and those that are IPv6. This approach is ideal for gradual migration because it preserves existing IPv4 behavior while enabling IPv6 without translating or tunneling. Other options don’t describe this simultaneous, native support: a VPN creates a secure tunnel for remote access and isn’t about dual addressing; NAT64 translates IPv6 to IPv4 to reach IPv4 content but does not maintain dual-stack addressing on the endpoints; and tunneling carries one protocol inside another to traverse networks that don’t support that protocol, rather than enabling devices to speak both protocols directly.