Homework Help: Questions and Answers: Which statement best describes Network Address Translation (NAT)?
A. It allows private IP addresses to be translated to a single public IP address.
B. It is used to extend the IPv4 address space without IPv6.
C. It is used to check the integrity of IP datagrams.
D. It is a process where IP datagrams are fragmented and reassembled.
E. It enables the assignment of unique IP addresses to every device.
F. It defines the flow of packets in a network.
Answer:
First, let’s understand NAT (Network Address Translation) is:
NAT is a process used in networking to map multiple private IP addresses within a local network to a single public IP address (or a few public addresses). This is commonly done to allow devices in a private network to access the internet while using a single public IP address, typically provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Given Options: Step by Step Answering
a) It allows private IP addresses to be translated to a single public IP address.
- This accurately describes the main function of NAT.
b) It is used to extend the IPv4 address space without IPv6
- While NAT indirectly helps with IPv4 address exhaustion by enabling multiple devices on a private network to share a single public IP, it does not “extend” the IPv4 address space. IPv6 was specifically designed to address this issue. NAT just allows better use of the existing space.
c) It is used to check the integrity of IP datagrams
- NAT does not deal with checking the integrity of IP datagrams. That function is handled by other protocols, such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) with error-checking mechanisms, like checksums.
d) It is a process where IP datagrams are fragmented and reassembled
- IP datagram fragmentation and reassembly are handled by IP itself, not NAT. NAT does not fragment or reassemble IP packets.
e) It enables the assignment of unique IP addresses to every device.
- NAT actually allows multiple devices in a private network to share a single public IP address rather than assigning unique IP addresses to each device for public use.
f) It defines the flow of packets in a network.
- NAT does not define the flow of packets in a network. That responsibility falls to routing protocols and other network management processes. NAT primarily translates IP addresses.
Final Answer:
Based on the above analysis, the correct answer is:
a) It allows private IP addresses to be translated to a single public IP address.
The best description of NAT is that it translates private IP addresses to a single public IP address, allowing devices on a private network to communicate with the wider internet using fewer public IP addresses.
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