Knowledge Base Double NAT
What is NAT?
Network address translation (NAT) is a function how the network gateway performs to create a local network. NAT changes the wide area network (WAN) IP address that the Internet service provider (ISP) assigns you from public to private, which allows multiple devices in your network to share it. NAT also secures your network by blocking direct access to your local IP addresses. For more information, see Network Address Translation.
What's the difference between NAT and double NAT? Is double NAT bad?
Your internet service provider (ISP) usually assigns your home internet connection a single public and globally unique IP address. In the meantime, Internet providers usually provide a modem or gateway, which is a modem and router combo, that converts the signal that comes into your home internet connection. In many cases, the gateway is set up to perform NAT. A double NAT happens if another router, for example, Deco, is connected to the ISP gateway.
With double NAT, your network is split into two different private networks, and the different network data is going through a NAT process twice, which might cause a very small delay, of the order of milliseconds to data getting in and out of your home. You might experience problems with:
- Online Gaming
- Port forwarding
- DDNS Connection
How to find out whether you have a double NAT?
Compare the IP address on whatismyipaddress with the IPV4 address on the Deco APP>More>Internet Connection>IPV4.
If they are different, you are very likely to have a double NAT.
How to fix double NAT when two routers run at the same time?
The typical diagrams that can cause double NAT:
Internet---> ISP provided wireless modem/router combo--- >Deco
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Option 1. Remove ISP-provided router from your network
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Option 2. Enable Bridge mode on the ISP-provided router.
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Option 3. Set Deco into Access Point---How to set up Deco to work in Access Point mode
