Network Address Translation (NAT)
Network Address Translation (NAT) is a technique used by network devices like routers to enable multiple hosts on a private network with non-routable IP addresses to communicate with the internet. NAT allows the sharing of one public IP address among multiple private IP addresses by modifying the source and destination IP addresses in outgoing packets. This ensures the correct mapping of connections and helps conserve the limited pool of IPv4 addresses. NAT also increases security for the internal network by only exposing the public IP address to external hosts, making it more difficult for attackers to target individual devices on the private network.
Guide: Network Address Translation (NAT)
What is NAT:
Network Address Translation (NAT) is a mechanism that helps in the conservation of public IP addresses by allowing multiple devices on a local network to use one public IP address while connecting to the Internet. It is crucial for mitigating the exhaustion of IPv4 address space.
How NAT Works:
NAT modifies the source and/or destination addresses of IP packets as they traverse through a router or firewall. It maintains a translation table that maps the internal private addresses to the external public address and vice-versa. NAT can operate in several modes, most notably static NAT, dynamic NAT, and Port Address Translation (PAT).
Importance of NAT:
NAT is vital as it allows multiple devices to communicate over the internet using a single public IP address. In doing so, it conceals private IP addresses, adding a layer of security.
Exam tips:
Understanding the Types of NAT: Learn the differences between static NAT, dynamic NAT, and PAT. Remember that static NAT creates a one-to-one mapping between private and public addresses, dynamic NAT maps unregistered IP addresses to registered IP addresses from a pool, and PAT assigns multiple private IPs to a single public IP using different ports.
Understanding NAT Terminology: Familiarize yourself with terms like inside local, inside global, outside local, and outside global.
Practice NAT Configuration: Understand how to configure NAT on a router or firewall. Practice with several examples.
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