The correct choice is to use Network Load Balancers as endpoints in Global Accelerator because NLB preserves the client source IP address by forwarding packets at the transport layer without terminating the connection, unlike an Application Load Balancer which terminates the client TCP session and replaces the source IP with its own. This configuration directly satisfies the requirement for client IP preservation in backend logs, as Global Accelerator passes traffic to the NLB, which then forwards the original source IP to the backend instances. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of how Global Accelerator interacts with different endpoint types, and a common trap is assuming ALB preserves IPs by default—remember that ALB requires X-Forwarded-For headers, while NLB inherently preserves the client IP. A helpful memory tip: NLB stands for “No Loss of IP” in the context of Global Accelerator, reinforcing that the source IP stays intact.
ANS-C01 Network Design Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network design. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company is deploying a web application across multiple AWS Regions using an Application Load Balancer (ALB) in each Region. The company wants to use AWS Global Accelerator to provide a static IP address and accelerate traffic. The application requires that client IP addresses be preserved in the backend logs. Which configuration should the network engineer use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Network Load Balancers as endpoints in Global Accelerator.
Global Accelerator preserves the client IP address when using a Network Load Balancer (NLB) as the endpoint because NLB preserves the source IP. ALB terminates the client connection, so client IP is not preserved unless using X-Forwarded-For headers. Option A is correct because NLB with Global Accelerator preserves client IP. Option B is incorrect because ALB does not preserve client IP by default. Option C is incorrect because CloudFront does not provide static IP and adds complexity. Option D is incorrect because VPC endpoints are not for internet-facing traffic.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Use Network Load Balancers as endpoints in Global Accelerator.
Why this is correct
NLB preserves source IP addresses when used as a Global Accelerator endpoint.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Use VPC endpoints and AWS PrivateLink to route traffic through the Global Accelerator.
Why it's wrong here
PrivateLink is for internal connectivity, not internet-facing.
✗
Use Amazon CloudFront in front of the ALBs with origin protocol policy set to HTTPS.
Why it's wrong here
CloudFront does not provide static IP addresses for the application.
✗
Use Application Load Balancers as endpoints and enable X-Forwarded-For header logging.
Why it's wrong here
Global Accelerator with ALB does not preserve client IP; the ALB sees the accelerator's IP.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related ANS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Network Design — This question tests Network Design — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Network Load Balancers as endpoints in Global Accelerator. — Global Accelerator preserves the client IP address when using a Network Load Balancer (NLB) as the endpoint because NLB preserves the source IP. ALB terminates the client connection, so client IP is not preserved unless using X-Forwarded-For headers. Option A is correct because NLB with Global Accelerator preserves client IP. Option B is incorrect because ALB does not preserve client IP by default. Option C is incorrect because CloudFront does not provide static IP and adds complexity. Option D is incorrect because VPC endpoints are not for internet-facing traffic.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related ANS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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