Merit Network
Can't find what you're looking for? Search the Mail Archives.
  About Merit   Services   Network   Resources & Support   Network Research   News   Events   Home

Discussion Communities: Merit Network Email List Archives

North American Network Operators Group

Date Prev | Date Next | Date Index | Thread Index | Author Index | Historical

Re: v6 & DSL / Cable modems [was: Private use of non-RFC1918 IP space

  • From: Owen DeLong
  • Date: Mon Feb 09 17:48:40 2009

On Feb 9, 2009, at 2:11 PM, Ricky Beam wrote:

On Sat, 07 Feb 2009 14:31:57 -0500, Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> wrote:
Non-NAT firewalls do have some appeal, because they don't need to mangle
the packets, just passively observe them and open pinholes when
appropriate.
This is exactly the same with NAT and non-NAT -- making any anti-NAT arguments null.

And making the PRO-NAT arguments in this respect equally NULL.

This was being touted as a benefit of NAT, not a reason not to do NAT.

Your statement proves my point... It is NOT a reason to do NAT or a
benefit derived from NAT.

In the case of NAT, the "helper" has to understand the protocol to know what traffic to map.

In the case of a stateful firewalling ("non-NAT"), the "helper" has to understand the protocol to know what traffic to allow.

Subtle difference, but in the end, the same thing... if your gateway doesn't know what you are doing, odds are it will interfere with it. In all cases, end-to-end transparency doesn't exist. (as has been the case for well over a decade.)
Right. This is the counterpoint to the argument that NAT is needed. You have
now agreed that it is not.

Owen






Discussion Communities


About Merit | Services | Network | Resources & Support | Network Research
News | Events | Contact | Site Map | Merit Network Home


Merit Network, Inc.