CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71)InfrastructureMedium
A home router allows five different devices to access the internet simultaneously using only one public IP address assigned by the ISP. Which technology enables this sharing of a single public address?
- ANAT
- BVPN
- CDNS
- DDHCP
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. NAT
NAT (Network Address Translation) translates multiple private IP addresses used internally by devices into a single public IP address for internet communication, and vice versa for return traffic. DHCP assigns addresses, DNS resolves names, and VPN creates encrypted tunnels.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. A VPN creates a secure tunnel over a network but does not perform address translation for sharing.
- C. DNS resolves domain names to IP addresses and is unrelated to address sharing.
- D. DHCP automatically assigns private IP addresses to devices but does not translate them to a public address.
NAT (Network Address Translation)
A router function that translates private internal IP addresses into a single public IP address for internet communication.
- Commonly performed by home and small office routers
- Allows many private-network devices to share one public IP
- Helps conserve limited public IPv4 addresses
Memory trick: NAT = 'Neighborhood Address Translator' — many houses, one street sign.