NAT64 Test

Large scale NAT64 is an IPv6 transition solution for ISPs with IPv6 infrastructure to connect their IPv6-only subscribers to the IPv4 Internet.

The NAT64 architecture of an ISP using a Citrix ADC appliance consists of IPv6 subscribers accessing the IPv4 Internet through a Citrix ADC appliance deployed in the ISP’s core network. IPv6 subscribers are connected to the ISP core network through the ISP’s IPv6-only access network.

The large scale NAT64 functionality of a Citrix ADC appliance enables communication between IPv6 clients and IPv4 servers through IPv6-to-IPv4 packet translation, and vice versa, while maintaining session information on the Citrix ADC appliance.

Using the NAT64 test, administrators can determine how many sessions of what types (TCP, UDP, and ICMP) were facilitated by NAT64 between IPv6 clients and IPv4 servers. This way, administrators can assess the session load imposed by NAT64 on the appliance, and what type of sessions contributed the maximum to this load.

Target of the test : A Citrix ADC VPX/MPX

Agent deploying the test : A remote agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results for the Citrix ADC VPX/MPX appliance being monitored.

Configurable parameters for the test

Parameter	Description
Test Period	How often should the test be executed.
Host	The IP address of the host for which the test is being configured.
NetScaler Username, NetScaler Password, and Confirm Password	To monitor a ADC device, the eG agent should be configured with the credentials of a user with read-only privileges to the target ADC device. Specify the credentials of such a user in the NetScaler Username and NetScaler Password text boxes. Then, confirm the password by retyping it in the Confirm Password text box.
SSL	The eG agent collects performance metrics by invoking NITRO (ADC Interface Through Restful interfaces and Objects) APIs on the target ADC device. Typically, the NITRO APIs can be invoked through the HTTP or the HTTPS mode. By default, the eG agent invokes the NITRO APIs using the HTTPS mode. This is why, the SSL flag is set to Yes by default. If the target ADC device is not SSL-enabled, then the NITRO APIs can be accessed through the HTTP mode only. In this case, set the SSL flag to No.

Measurements made by the test

Measurement	Description	Measurement Unit	Interpretation
TCP sessions	Indicates the number of TCP sessions created by NAT64 during the last measurement period.	Number
UDP sessions	Indicates the number of UDP sessions created by NAT64 during the last measurement period.	Number
ICMP sessions	Indicates the number of ICMP sessions created by NAT64 during the last measurement period.	Number
NAT64 total sessions	Indicates the total number of NAT64 sessions created during the last measurement period.	Number	This is a good indicator of the NAT64 session load on the appliance. If the value of this measure is unusually high, compare the value of the TCP sessions, UDP sessions, and ICMP sessions measures to know which type of sessions contributed to the heavy workload.