NAT
What is NAT
NAT (Network Address Translation) is a technology used in network devices to translate private (local) IP addresses to and from public (global) IP addresses. This technology allows multiple devices on a local network to use the same public IP address to access the Internet, which is especially useful when there are a limited number of public IP addresses available.
Basic functions and features of NAT
- Address Translation: NAT translates the private IP addresses of devices on the LAN into one or more public IP addresses when they are sent to the Internet, and vice versa - the public IP addresses of packets coming from the Internet into private IP addresses.
- IP address savings: NAT reduces the need for public IP addresses because multiple devices on a LAN can use the same public IP address.
- Increased security: NAT hides the internal network structure from outside users, making it difficult for unauthorized access from the outside.
Varieties of NAT
There are several types of NAT, including static, dynamic, and NAT with congestion (PAT - Port Address Translation).
- Static NAT maps one private IP address to one public IP address.
- Dynamic NAT uses a pool of public IP addresses to map to private IP addresses.
- PAT(Nat with Overload) allows multiple devices to use a single public IP address by distinguishing them by port number.
Benefits of NAT
- Reduced need for public IP addresses: With address translation, devices on the LAN can use a single public IP address to access the Internet.
- Improved security: NAT improves network security by hiding internal IP addresses from external users.
- Ease of deployment: NAT is easy to configure and use in network devices such as routers and firewalls.
NAT and Serverpace
With Serverspace and their gateways, you can secure your data by configuring local network security elements such as NAT and Firewall.
Shield servers within your private network and gain Internet access through a singular external IP address.