IP Enabled Network, IANA and NAT overview

Well, today's enterprise network is called as the IP enabled network because each and every device in the network have the unique IP address (Internet Protocol Address) through which the devices can communicate.

But, if one wants to communicate outside the network, then device will require globally unique public IP address.

If we buy the facility of using the internet, it is mandatory for a service provider (SP) to provide us at least one single public IP address to go outside our network.

In this case, service provider (SP) will provide us IP. But, what if we need the bundle of IPs?

Service providers (SP) and internet service providers (ISP) are retailers basically, then who is providing the IPs to SPs and ISPs?

The answer is internet assigned numbers authority (IANA)

What is IANA?

It is an organization that oversees global IP address allocation, autonomous system number allocation, root zone management in the domain name system, media type and other internet protocol related symbols.

So, if we want IPs in bundles, we have to contact IANA and have to justify as well that why we require X amount of IPs.

We use the private IPs within the network and public IPs to go outside local network. Then how it is possible that a user streaming the video online which is outside the network by having the same IP?

The answer is network address translation (NAT)

NAT Overview -

The primary function of NAT is when a user from within the network requests to go outside the network, it will be assigned a globally unique public IP to surf on the global network. And when the user returns to the local network, private IP will be handed to the user.

In short, the functionality of switching the IP from public to private and private to public is called as natting. Here, switching can also be considered as translating.

So! This was the brief explanation about IP enabled network, IANA and NAT overview. See you in the next article!