To migrate networks from IPX to IP and maximize the return on your investment, you will want to take advantage of the functionality provided by the IPX Compatibility drivers and the Migration Agents. The IPX Compatibility feature is critical in this scenario because it allows migration without losing connectivity and without having to upgrade existing applications.Administrators wanting to migrate networks using the IPX Compatibility feature must understand that the IPX Compatibility drivers are dependent upon the functions of SLP, and that there are costs associated with setting up an SLP infrastructure. Additionally, setting up an SLP infrastructure is an investment in the future because SLP is an emerging Internet standard that will be leveraged by future applications and devices.When using the IPX Compatibility feature to migrate, start the migration with the leaves of the network and finish with the backbone of the network, or vice-versa. Complex network environments are characterized by a backbone formed by a variety of systems interconnected with a combination of WAN and LAN links. The following topics describe three ways to migrate: