What are two benefits of nat?
NAT conserves the limited IP address space, which is essential for modern networks.
It also simplifies network reconfiguration and provides a basic level of security.
NAT is also a cost-effective way to share a single Internet connection with a single public IP address, avoiding the need for a second routable IP address in most cases.
The simplest example is when an internal Wi-Fi router connects to a DSL modem through the same Internet connection. The DSL modem will have a private IP address and the router will have a public IP address assigned from the service provider.
However, the NAT process is time-consuming and can cause unexpected delays in communication. This can make troubleshooting and end-to-end traceability a challenge in a remote location.
There are also compatibility issues when using NAT with some applications and protocols that require end-to-end communication. This can be especially problematic with tunneling protocols, like IPsec.
Moreover, NAT modifies values in the headers that interfere with integrity verifications done by IPsec and other tunneling protocols. This makes NAT less useful for some applications and can lead to a decrease in network performance.
Despite these drawbacks, NAT is still a useful tool for many small to medium-sized networks. For instance, it allows workstations to connect to servers and applications that require a public IP address. NAT is also commonly used for load balancing.