NAT Traversal
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8/28/2008
NAT Traversal enables network applications to detect the presence of a local NAT device. The application can then determine the external IP address, and configure the NAT, defining the port mappings to forward packets from the external port of the NAT to the internal port used by the application.
NAT Traversal relies on the NAT device providing Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support as defined by the Internet Gateway Device Working Committee of the UPnP Forum.
Adding UPnP support for NAT traversal to an Internet gateway device is not a complex process. By using UPnP, which is already based on Internet standards and protocols, the Internet gateway device vendor can solve the issue of NAT traversal and have those benefits extend to most any application that traverses their device. For more information about implementing NAT Traversal in Internet gateway devices, see the UPnP Forum Web site.
See Also
Concepts
Network Address Translation
NAT Traversal Operation
NAT Traversal in Internet Gateways