Network Address Translation (NAT) is a process that allows a device, typically a firewall or router, to map private IP addresses to public IP addresses. This enables internal network devices to communicate over the internet using a single or a limited number of public IP addresses.
Static NAT (One-to-One Mapping): Maps a single private IP address to a single public IP address, commonly used for servers that need to be accessible from the internet.
Dynamic NAT (Many-to-Many Mapping): Dynamically assigns a public IP from a pool to internal devices.
PAT (Port Address Translation): A type of NAT where multiple private IPs share a single public IP using different port numbers.
Incorrect Options:
B. VIP (Virtual IP Address): Used in load balancing and high-availability configurations, not for NAT.
C. PAT (Port Address Translation): A specific form of NAT, but the question refers to general NAT, making option A the best choice.
D. BGP (Border Gateway Protocol): A routing protocol used to exchange information between different networks, not related to NAT.
[Reference:, CompTIA Network+ N10-009 Official Study Guide – Chapter on Network Address Translation (NAT), , , ]
