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300-410 Practice Question: Which TWO configuration steps are required to…
Which TWO configuration steps are required to implement static NAT on a Cisco IOS router? (Choose TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that static NAT requires an access list (like dynamic NAT) or that a global 'ip nat service' command must be enabled, when in fact static NAT only needs the static mapping and the correct interface designations (inside/outside).
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
✓
Configure ip nat inside source static <inside-local> <inside-global> in global configuration mode.
Option A is correct because static NAT is created with the global configuration command ip nat inside source static <inside-local> <inside-global>, which permanently maps one inside local address to one inside global address. Option B is correct because the router must know which interface is the internal side, and that is done by entering the interface configuration and issuing the ip nat inside command on the interface facing the internal network. Option C is wrong because ip nat outside must be applied to the external-facing interface, not the internal one. Option D is wrong because an access list is used for dynamic NAT or PAT with the pool/overload syntax, not for a static one-to-one mapping. Option E is wrong because there is no global ip nat service command required to activate NAT on Cisco IOS; NAT is enabled by the inside/outside interface designations and the translation statements themselves.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Configure ip nat inside source static <inside-local> <inside-global> in global configuration mode.
Why this is correct
Static NAT requires the global-configuration mapping that pairs the inside local address with its inside global address. This command creates that fixed one-to-one entry, which is the defining configuration element of static NAT on Cisco IOS.
- ✓
Apply the ip nat inside command on the interface facing the internal network.
Why this is correct
Static NAT still depends on interface role designation. Marking the internal-facing interface with 'ip nat inside' tells the router which traffic is subject to translation, and it is a mandatory step alongside the static mapping statement.
- ✗
Apply the ip nat outside command on the interface facing the internal network.
Why it's wrong here
The ip nat outside command belongs on the external-facing interface, not the internal one; applying it there inverts the NAT domain mapping and breaks translation. It is tempting because outside designation is genuinely required for static NAT, but on the interface connected to the internet, where the global address is reachable.
- ✗
Configure an access list to match the inside local addresses for translation.
Why it's wrong here
Static NAT maps a fixed inside local address to a fixed inside global address using ip nat inside source static; no access list is referenced, so this step belongs to dynamic NAT with a pool or PAT. It is tempting because ACLs commonly accompany NAT configuration, but static entries match addresses directly.
- ✗
Enable the ip nat service command globally to activate NAT.
Why it's wrong here
NAT activates automatically once ip nat inside and ip nat outside are applied to the relevant interfaces; no global ip nat service command exists on Cisco IOS. It is tempting because other IOS features require global enablement, but static NAT needs only the inside source static mapping plus interface designations.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 300-410 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 300-410 exam.