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What is Dynamic NAT?
Dynamic NAT, also known as Pool NAT or Overload NAT, is a method of Network Address Translation (NAT) in which multiple private IP addresses are translated into a smaller number of public IP addresses. It allows a network to share a limited number of public IP addresses among a larger number of devices.
In Dynamic NAT, a pool of public IP addresses is created, and each private IP address is dynamically assigned a public IP address from that pool when it accesses the internet. When a private IP address finishes its communication session, the public IP address is released back to the pool, making it available for another private IP address to use.
How does Dynamic NAT work?
Dynamic NAT uses a translation table, also known as a NAT table or NAT mapping table, to keep track of the IP addresses being translated. The translation table maintains a record of the private IP addresses, their corresponding assigned public IP addresses, and the communication session information.
When a device with a private IP address initiates a connection to the internet, the Dynamic NAT device looks for an available public IP address from the pool and assigns it to the private IP address. The translation table is updated with the entry of the private IP address, its assigned public IP address, and the corresponding session information.
During the communication session, when packets flow between the private network and the internet, the Dynamic NAT device modifies the source and/or destination IP addresses in the packet headers to ensure that the packets are correctly routed. This allows the private IP addresses to be concealed, and the internet sees only the public IP addresses.
Once the communication session is terminated, the translation table entry for that session is removed, and the public IP address is released back to the pool for future use.
Benefits of Dynamic NAT
1. IP address conservation: Dynamic NAT allows a network to use a smaller number of public IP addresses to accommodate a larger number of private IP addresses.
2. Enhanced security: By hiding the private IP addresses behind public IP addresses, Dynamic NAT provides an additional layer of security as it prevents direct access to the private network from external sources.
3. Scalability: Dynamic NAT can easily scale to handle a large number of devices by assigning public IP addresses dynamically from the pool.
4. Cost-effectiveness: With Dynamic NAT, organizations can minimize the number of public IP addresses required, reducing cost implications.
Overall, Dynamic NAT is an effective method for conserving public IP addresses, improving network security, and ensuring scalability in an organization’s network infrastructure.
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