Network Address Translation (NAT): How to Avoid IP Address Conflicts | Fortinet

What is NAT in networking? One of the most common problems that can occur when setting up a home or office network is an Internet Protocol (IP) address conflict. IP addresses are assigned to each device on a network, and no two devices can have the same IP address. If two devices on the same network carry the same IP address, connection issues will arise.

There are a few ways you can avoid IP address conflicts. One is through network address translation (NAT). 

What Is Network Address Translation (NAT)?

Network address translation (NAT) is a technique commonly used by internet service providers (ISPs) and organizations to enable multiple devices to share a single public IP address. By using NAT, devices on a private network can communicate with devices on a public network without the need for each device to have its own unique IP address.

NAT was originally intended as a short-term solution to alleviate the shortage of available IPv4 addresses. By sharing a single IP address among multiple computers on a local network, NAT conserves the limited number of publicly routable IPv4 addresses. NAT also provides a layer of security for private networks because it hides devices’ actual IP addresses behind a single public IP address. 

How Does Network Address Translation Work?

NAT is typically implemented on a router, a device that connects two networks. When a device on the private network sends data to a device on the public network, the router intercepts the data and replaces the source IP address with its own public IP address. The router then sends the data to the destination device.

When the destination device sends data back to the router, the router intercepts this data and replaces the public IP address with the original source IP address. The router then sends the data to the original source device. This process is transparent to the devices on both networks.