Uses of NAT
The following circumstances can benefit from NAT:
- Connect to the internet if none of your hosts has a globally unique IP address. Private IP networks that employ unregistered IP addresses can connect to the Internet via Network Address Translation (NAT). NAT is set up on a device at the boundary between a stub domain (referred to as the inner network) and a public network such as the Internet (mentioned as the outside network). Before transmitting packets to the outside network, NAT converts internal local addresses to globally unique IP addresses. NAT is only useful as a connectivity solution when only a few hosts in a stub domain communicate outside the domain at the same time. Only a little portion of the domain’s IP addresses must be converted into globally unique IP addresses when external communication is required. Additionally, once these addresses are no longer needed, they can be utilized again.
- Replace the internal addresses. Instead of updating the internal addresses, which can require a lot of work, you can use NAT to translate them.
- For TCP traffic’s fundamental load-sharing. TCP Load Distribution allows you to map a single global IP address to many local IP addresses.
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.