Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) NetworkingIP ConnectivityEasy
A network technician is configuring a new router to connect a small office network to the internet. The office uses private IP addresses, and the technician needs to ensure that internal hosts can access external resources. Which networking service should the technician configure on the router to allow multiple internal private IP addresses to share a single public IP address for outbound internet access?
- ANAT (Network Address Translation)
- BDNS (Domain Name System)
- CVPN (Virtual Private Network)
- DDHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. NAT (Network Address Translation)
Network Address Translation (NAT) allows multiple devices on a private network, each with a private IP address, to share a single public IP address when communicating with external networks, such as the internet. This conserves public IP addresses and enhances security.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. DNS translates domain names to IP addresses, facilitating human-readable web navigation, but not address translation for internet access.
- C. VPN creates a secure, encrypted connection over a public network, but its primary function is not private-to-public IP translation.
- D. DHCP dynamically assigns IP addresses to devices on a local network, but it doesn't translate private to public IPs.
Network Address Translation (NAT)
A method of remapping an IP address space into another by modifying network address information in the IP header of packets while they are in transit across a traffic routing device.
- Enables multiple devices on a private network to share a single public IP address.
- Conserves public IPv4 addresses.
- Provides a layer of security by hiding internal network topology.
Memory trick: NAT is like a translator for your house's private language to the public internet's language.