A dual-stack host (430) is provided on a multicast network (470) using first and second protocols (450, 460). The dual-stack host (430) detects a first multicast request from a source host (410) to a destination host (420) using a first protocol. The dual-stack host (430) initiates a timer. When the timer expires, the dual-stack host (430) sends a second multicast request message to the destination host (420) using each of the first and second protocols. The dual-stack host (430) monitors whether the destination host (420) responds using one or both of the first and second protocols and determines whether protocol translation is necessary to allow the source and destination hosts to communicate. If required, the dual-stack host (430) then invokes protocol translation to provide the source host (410) with a synthesized address for communicating with the destination host (420).