The NAT Handbook: Implementing and Managing Network Address Translation

by Bill Dutcher

To use or not to use NAT? If you're a network manager or administrator eager to embrace network address translation (NAT) as a security and connectivity solution, yet are wary of its temperamental reputation, Bill Dutcher's roadmap to NAT strategy is for you. Drawing on his practical addressing experience at one of the world's largest ISPs, Dutcher provides all the information you need to evaluate NAT's suitability for your network, implement and manage it, and justify its use.You'll find clear explanations of NAT techniques, advantages and disadvantages, as well as how to deploy it with different technologies-from routers, firewalls, and proxies to VPNs.

The book includes two detailed case studies demonstrating how to implement NAT on a firewall in order to move your network to private addressing and how to use NAT to balance the load on a group of servers. Other essential topics
* How NAT works to translate IP addresses from private to public domains
* NAT solutions in connectivity, routing, load balancing, and security
* Why NAT interferes with certain applications and how to overcome these problems
* Static or dynamic NAT-which is the right method for your situation
* The effects of NAT on DNS services and how to make them work together
* How NAT works in VPN environments and with VPN security techniques
* The future of NAT and the public address crisis

Networking Council Books put technology into perspective for decision-makers who need an implementation strategy, a vendor and outsourcing strategy, and a product and design strategy. The Council of series advisors is comprised of three of the most influential leaders of the networking community.

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2000