IPv6 Addressing - NAT (Network Address Translation)

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What is NAT (Network Address Translation)?

NAT is a method used in IPv4 networks to map multiple private IP addresses to a single public IP address, enabling devices on a local network to access external networks.

Why is NAT useful?

It conserves public IPv4 addresses and adds a layer of security by hiding internal network structure from external networks.

How does NAT work?

NAT modifies the source IP address and sometimes the port numbers of packets leaving a private network and keeps track of these translations to properly route return traffic.

Where is NAT used?

NAT is widely used in home routers, enterprise firewalls, and ISP networks to allow multiple devices to share a single public IPv4 address.

Which OSI layer does NAT belong to?

NAT operates at the Network Layer (Layer 3) and sometimes at the Transport Layer (Layer 4) due to port translation.

Is NAT Windows specific?

No, NAT functionality is implemented across all major operating systems and network devices.

Is NAT Linux specific?

No, Linux supports NAT through tools like iptables and nftables.

Which Transport Protocol is used by NAT?

NAT works with all transport protocols, including TCP, UDP, and ICMP, by translating IP addresses and ports.

Is NAT using client-server model?

No, NAT is a network function that translates addresses and ports but does not depend on any communication model.

Topics in this section,

  • In this section, you are going to learn

  • Terminology

  • Version Info

  • setup

  • Reference links