NAT Configuration Purpose
- Allow internal users’ internet access.
- Allow internet access to internal devices like a mail server.
- Allow overlapping networks to communicate with one another.
- Allow networks with various address schemes to communicate with one another.
- TCP traffic is redirected to another TCP port or address.
- NAT should be used during a network transition.
Configuring NAT For IP Address Conservation in Cisco
IP address conservation is the goal of Network Address Translation (NAT). It makes it possible for private IP networks to connect to the Internet using unregistered IP addresses. Before packets are routed to another network, NAT acts as a router, typically connecting two networks, and converts the private (not globally unique) addresses in the internal network into lawful addresses. NAT can be set up to only advertise one address to the outside world for the entire network as part of this functionality. Effectively concealing the entire internal network behind one address, boosts security. NAT is frequently used in contexts with remote access because it provides the combined benefits of security and address conservation.