Question 1,356 of 1,819
Network Services and SecurityhardConfigurationObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The correct answer is to configure the static NAT mapping with the command `ip nat inside source static 172.16.1.100 10.0.0.3`, then designate GigabitEthernet0/1 as `ip nat inside` and GigabitEthernet0/0 as `ip nat outside`, and finally add a static route `ip route 10.0.0.3 255.255.255.255 10.0.0.2`. This configuration is correct because static NAT creates a permanent one-to-one translation between a private host and a public IP, and the inside/outside interface designations are mandatory for the router to know which traffic to translate and which to leave unchanged. The static route is essential here because the public IP 10.0.0.3 is not directly attached to any interface, so the router needs an explicit path to send return traffic back through the ISP next-hop. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that NAT is not just about the translation command—it also requires proper interface roles and routing for the mapped address. A common trap is forgetting the static route or misplacing the inside/outside labels on the wrong interfaces. Remember the memory tip: "Inside is your private side, outside is the public ride, and if the public IP isn't on a link, a route is the missing link."

CCNA Network Services and Security Practice Question

This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network services and security. 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.

Network Topology
G0/1172.16.1.1/24172.16.1.100G0/010.0.0.1/30HostLANR1ISPServer (10.0.0.2,

You are connected to R1 via console. R1 connects two networks: GigabitEthernet0/0 (10.0.0.1/30) to the ISP, and GigabitEthernet0/1 (172.16.1.1/24) to an internal network. The internal hosts (172.16.1.0/24) need to communicate with a server at 10.0.0.2 (ISP side) using a static NAT mapping. Configure static NAT so that internal host 172.16.1.100 is mapped to public IP 10.0.0.3 (which is not assigned to any interface; assume ISP routes 10.0.0.3 to R1). Also configure a static route to reach 10.0.0.3 via the ISP router (next-hop 10.0.0.2).

Question 1hardConfiguration
Read the full NAT/PAT explanation →

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

ip nat inside source static 172.16.1.100 10.0.0.3 interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip nat outside interface GigabitEthernet0/1 ip nat inside ip route 10.0.0.3 255.255.255.255 10.0.0.2

Static NAT provides a one-to-one mapping between a private and public IP. The inside/outside interface designations are critical for NAT to function. The static route ensures that return traffic to 10.0.0.3 is routed via the ISP.

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.

  • ip nat inside source static 172.16.1.100 10.0.0.3 interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip nat outside interface GigabitEthernet0/1 ip nat inside ip route 10.0.0.3 255.255.255.255 10.0.0.2

    Why this is correct

    This configuration correctly defines the static NAT mapping from inside local 172.16.1.100 to inside global 10.0.0.3, designates the correct interfaces as inside and outside, and adds a host route for 10.0.0.3 via the ISP next-hop 10.0.0.2.

    Related concept

    Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.

  • ip nat inside source static 10.0.0.3 172.16.1.100 interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip nat inside interface GigabitEthernet0/1 ip nat outside ip route 10.0.0.3 255.255.255.255 10.0.0.2

    Why it's wrong here

    This is incorrect because the static NAT command has the inside local and inside global addresses reversed, and the interface NAT designations are swapped.

  • ip nat inside source static 172.16.1.100 10.0.0.3 interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip nat inside interface GigabitEthernet0/1 ip nat outside ip route 10.0.0.3 255.255.255.255 10.0.0.2

    Why it's wrong here

    This is incorrect because the interface NAT designations are swapped; the inside interface should be G0/1 (internal) and the outside interface should be G0/0 (ISP).

  • ip nat outside source static 172.16.1.100 10.0.0.3 interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip nat outside interface GigabitEthernet0/1 ip nat inside ip route 10.0.0.3 255.255.255.255 10.0.0.2

    Why it's wrong here

    This is incorrect because the static NAT command uses 'outside source' instead of 'inside source', which is used for translating the source address of traffic coming from the outside, not from the inside.

Option-by-option analysis

Why each answer is right or wrong

Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.

ip nat inside source static 172.16.1.100 10.0.0.3 interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip nat outside interface GigabitEthernet0/1 ip nat inside ip route 10.0.0.3 255.255.255.255 10.0.0.2Correct answer

Why this is correct

This configuration correctly defines the static NAT mapping from inside local 172.16.1.100 to inside global 10.0.0.3, designates the correct interfaces as inside and outside, and adds a host route for 10.0.0.3 via the ISP next-hop 10.0.0.2.

ip nat inside source static 10.0.0.3 172.16.1.100 interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip nat inside interface GigabitEthernet0/1 ip nat outside ip route 10.0.0.3 255.255.255.255 10.0.0.2Wrong answer — click to see why

Why this is wrong here

The static NAT command syntax is 'ip nat inside source static [inside-local] [inside-global]'. Here, the inside local (private) should be 172.16.1.100 and inside global (public) should be 10.0.0.3. Also, the inside interface is the one facing the internal network (G0/1) and outside is facing the ISP (G0/0).

Why candidates choose this

Candidates might confuse the order of addresses in the static NAT command or think that the outside interface should be the one with the public IP.

ip nat inside source static 172.16.1.100 10.0.0.3 interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip nat inside interface GigabitEthernet0/1 ip nat outside ip route 10.0.0.3 255.255.255.255 10.0.0.2Wrong answer — click to see why

Why this is wrong here

NAT requires that the interface facing the internal network be marked as 'ip nat inside' and the interface facing the external network be marked as 'ip nat outside'. Here, G0/0 connects to the ISP (outside) and G0/1 connects to the internal network (inside).

Why candidates choose this

Candidates might think that the interface with the public IP should be inside, or they may misread the topology.

ip nat outside source static 172.16.1.100 10.0.0.3 interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip nat outside interface GigabitEthernet0/1 ip nat inside ip route 10.0.0.3 255.255.255.255 10.0.0.2Wrong answer — click to see why

Why this is wrong here

The command 'ip nat outside source static' translates the source address of packets arriving on the outside interface. For translating internal host addresses to a public IP, 'ip nat inside source static' must be used.

Why candidates choose this

Candidates might confuse inside and outside source NAT, or think that because the public IP is on the outside, the command should be 'outside source'.

Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”

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.

Trap categories for this question

  • Command / output trap

    This is incorrect because the static NAT command has the inside local and inside global addresses reversed, and the interface NAT designations are swapped.

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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.

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 200-301 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.

Related practice questions

Related 200-301 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 200-301 question test?

Network Services and Security — This question tests Network Services and Security — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: ip nat inside source static 172.16.1.100 10.0.0.3 interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip nat outside interface GigabitEthernet0/1 ip nat inside ip route 10.0.0.3 255.255.255.255 10.0.0.2 — Static NAT provides a one-to-one mapping between a private and public IP. The inside/outside interface designations are critical for NAT to function. The static route ensures that return traffic to 10.0.0.3 is routed via the ISP.

What should I do if I get this 200-301 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 200-301 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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Last reviewed: Jun 7, 2026

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