Network Address Translation (NAT) works by modifying the IP address information in the headers of IP packets while they are in transit across a router or firewall. When a device within a private network sends a packet to a device on the internet, NAT changes the private IP address in the packet to the public IP address of the router. When a response packet returns, NAT translates the public IP address back to the private IP address of the original device, allowing communication to occur while hiding the internal network structure.
Network Address Translation (NAT) is a method used to map multiple private IP addresses to a single public IP address or a few public IP addresses. This process conserves public IP addresses and enhances security by masking the internal IP addresses of devices within a private network. NAT works by rewriting the IP address information in packet headers, allowing multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address for accessing external networks, such as the internet.
A NAT firewall is a type of firewall that combines the functions of NAT with traditional firewall features. It works by inspecting incoming and outgoing traffic, translating private IP addresses to public IP addresses and vice versa, and enforcing security policies. The NAT firewall only allows traffic that is part of an active connection initiated from within the private network to pass through, providing an additional layer of security by blocking unsolicited incoming traffic and hiding the internal network structure from external entities.
