What is NAT!? and how to use it?!

[ricomania]

I've been hearing about NAT here and there lately and am wondering just what exactly is it and how do I get it (hopefully free) and how do I set it up?

Here's my set up. 4 boxes networked. 1-win2k box, 3winme boxes. Verizon DSL with modem attached to ethernet hub w/crossover cable (no router yet). Running zonealarm for at least some type of protection. Thinking of upgrading to zonealarm pro. I have an older version of winproxy that I was wondering if it could be run to add additional protection. This version of winproxy (ver.2) doesn't have NAT built in as does it's newer verion (3.0).

I have it set up this way because I don't want to have to leave a computer on for the other computers to connect to the internet. I like booting up whereever I am in the house and getting online. But I want some type of security too.

Planning on getting a router soon. Was buying one from someone else but that hasn't worked out yet for some reason. Until I get a router what's the safest set up?

Thanks in advance for any help I get.

[darrelld]

I can't explain it, but here's a definition.Short for Network Address Translation, an Internet standard that enables a local-area network (LAN) to use one set of IP addresses for internal traffic and a second set of addresses for external traffic. A NAT box located where the LAN meets the Internet makes all necessary IP address translations.

NAT serves two main purposes:

Provides a type of firewall by hiding internal IP addresses
Enables a company to use more internal IP addresses. Since they're used internally only, there's no possibility of conflict with IP addresses used by other companies and organizations.
Allows a company to combine multiple ISDN connections into a single Internet connection.

[jamis]

If you get a cable/dsl router, it will do NAT for you.

[DVNT1]

You may also benefit from reading http://whatis.techtarget.com/WhatIs_...214107,00.html

[ricomania]

Thanks for your help fellas. Going to check out this link now.

[brandon184]

My DSL modem is has NAT. Not the most convenient feature, but oh well.

Pretty much what it does is keep an internal and external IP address. You usually have a dynamic IP with this setup.

- Brandon

[ricomania]

Are there any free software programs out there that provide NAT capabilities? Trying to avoid spending more money... but will if I have too.

[DVNT1]

Not free with but not too expensive either ... http://www.nat32.com

[ricomania]

Thanks to all and thanks DVNT1 for both links. That first one really helped a lot. going to check out the second a little more. I already downloaded the file there.

[DVNT1]

Your Welcome! Please post a follow up especially if you find a free or better solution.

[ricomania]

If I find something I sure will.