On a router performing NAT, where should ip nat inside be applied?
The interface facing the internal private network is the inside side of the NAT boundary. By issuing the `ip nat inside` command on it, the router identifies the interface through which privately addressed hosts originate traffic. This designation enables the NAT process to translate source addresses as packets exit and to reverse translations when returning traffic arrives. Without this marking, the router cannot determine which interface is internal, so translation for internal-originated flows fails.
Why this answer
The inside designation belongs on the interface facing the private internal network. The outside designation belongs on the interface facing the public or external network.
Exam trap
A frequent exam trap is misapplying the ip nat inside command to the interface facing the ISP or external network. This mistake reverses the NAT boundary, causing translation to fail because the router expects private addresses on the inside interface only. Another trap is assuming all interfaces require NAT configuration, leading to unnecessary or incorrect commands on unrelated interfaces.
Additionally, some candidates incorrectly think loopback interfaces should be marked inside or outside, but NAT operates on interfaces connected to actual networks. Recognizing that ip nat inside must be on the internal private network interface prevents these common errors.
Why the other options are wrong
Incorrect. The interface facing the ISP is typically marked with ip nat outside, not ip nat inside, because it represents the public or external side of the NAT boundary.
Incorrect. Not every routed interface requires NAT configuration. Only interfaces that participate in NAT translation should be marked as inside or outside to define the translation boundaries.
Incorrect. NAT is not limited to loopback interfaces, and loopbacks are generally not used for NAT inside or outside designation since NAT operates on interfaces connected to real networks.