Wi-SUN is fundamentally an IPv6-based wireless mesh networking technology. By leveraging IPv6, Wi-SUN enables direct addressing, efficient routing, and seamless integration with modern IP-based infrastructure. This native use of IPv6 means that all devices within a Wi-SUN network communicate using IPv6 addresses and protocols, even when the upstream network may be IPv4-only.

In some deployment scenarios, the XBee Hive for Wi-SUN is connected to an upstream network that supports only IPv4 addressing. In this configuration, if Wi-SUN nodes must communicate with the outside world, the network’s border router must act as an intermediary between the IPv6-based Wi-SUN mesh and the IPv4-only external network. To enable communication between Wi-SUN devices and services or hosts on the outside network, the border router may provide NAT64 translation, and might also provide DNS64 to resolve domain names to IPv6 addresses that can be translated to IPv4.

Example use cases

  • Legacy infrastructure integration: Many enterprise, industrial and residential networks still operate exclusively on IPv4. When deploying a Wi-SUN network in such environments, the XBee Hive for Wi-SUN enables connectivity to existing IPv4-only systems and services.

  • Remote or managed networks: Some ISPs or managed network providers may offer only IPv4 connectivity, requiring NAT64/DNS64 for any IPv6-based devices to reach the outside world.

  • Transitional deployments: During phased migrations from IPv4 to IPv6, NAT64 and DNS64 allow Wi-SUN devices to operate in mixed environments where only IPv4 is available upstream.

Practical implications and caveats

When the XBee Hive for Wi-SUN is deployed in an IPv4-only environment:

  • NAT64 translation required: The border router must perform NAT64 to translate IPv6 traffic from the Wi-SUN network to IPv4 for upstream communication. This translation is necessary for Wi-SUN devices to access external IPv4 services.

  • DNS64 for name resolution: If Wi-SUN devices need to communicate with external hosts by domain name, and the corresponding IPv4 address is not known in advance, DNS64 functionality must be enabled on the XBee Hive for Wi-SUN. DNS64 synthesizes IPv6 addresses from IPv4 DNS records, allowing NAT64 to perform the necessary translation.

  • Firewall and security considerations: Firewall rules on the border router and elsewhere in the network must account for the border router’s role as a translator and intermediary. Outbound and inbound traffic may appear to originate from or terminate at the border router’s IPv4 address, so rules should be adjusted accordingly.

  • Limitations of translation: Some protocols or applications may not function correctly through NAT64, especially those that embed IP addresses at the application layer or require end-to-end IPv6 connectivity. Testing and validation are recommended for critical use cases.

Deploying the XBee Hive for Wi-SUN in an IPv4-only environment with NAT64/DNS64 enables continued operation of Wi-SUN networks in legacy or transitional networks, but requires careful configuration and awareness of the translation’s limitations.

Next steps

Explore the sub-topics below to learn more about using XBee Hive for Wi-SUN in an IPv4 environment.