Is public IP address really required for Open NAT Type?

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Cortez-sennin

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Sep 15, 2016
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Hi all!
So, recently literally every online game I play started to notify me that my NAT Type is "Strict". I've never had such a problem before and my NAT Type was always Open. I've jumped on the call with my ISP customer service line and they stated that this is happening because they've stopped providing me with "public IP address" service on free-of-charge basis. And If I want this problem to be gone - then I must order this service on paid basis.

What makes me think that this is some kind of fraud:
I have one more internet connection at home from a different ISP (with no public IP address as well). And when I switch to those connection - the NAT Type becomes Open. Also some time ago while living on a different physical address I've been using services of a different ISP (also with no public IP) and my NAT type was Open all the time.

I am not any kind of network engineer, but from my point of view NAT type should depend on ISP network architecture and hardware configurations rather then on having or not having public IP address.
Is that so?

Thanks!
 
Solution
BuddhaSkoota


When you are assigned a public IP address from your ISP, only your router is performing NAT. Your router has control over forwarding ports to specific devices on your network, allowing an Open NAT type.

When an ISP assigns a private IP address, that means NAT is also being performed at the ISP level, so data must go through two layers of...
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das_stig

das_stig

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Jul 24, 2009
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To make the firewall/router from strict to open, actually Microsoft′s devices looking for three UDP ports to be properly routed. If you can add following ports to the NAT rules on the router, it will be considered open, UDP port 5060; UDP port 5061; UDP port 3074

Of course, this only works if they are not blocked by your ISP.
 
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bill001g

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Aug 9, 2012
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Mostly your problem is this only affects people who play games. It is not even most games it is only games that do not have a central server so a large number of these games are console based peer-peer games. Pretty much the ISP knows that most people don't actually need a public ip address

No matter what you think you did not have a open nat on private ip address. This is one of those fundamental things that is key to how internet works. Only public addresses can be routed over the internet so you MUST have one to talk to any one else on the internet.

The NAT is just a bandaid that hides that everyone really has a public IP. When the ISP is doing nat many people are sharing the same IP address. Most people do not know and do not care it just magically works for them. The only people this causes problems for is someone who wants/needs to run some form of server in their house.

IPv4 addresses are in short supply and the ISP likely can not get more and even if they could they are quite costly now days. They are just making the customers that need a public ip all to themselves pay for it rather than raising the costs for everyone. Pretty much they can get away with it because the vast majority of people are not affected.

Maybe IPv6 will some day solve all this but again the NAT works fine for almost everyone so there is little actual need.

 
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Cortez-sennin

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Sep 15, 2016
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Thank you guys for quick replies. But unfortunately they do not answer my question. I've asked some of my friends and all of them do not have public IP but have Open NAT type. So this explanation from my ISP sounds like an attempt to draw more money from their clients. I want to know if I can go to my ISP office and beat <mod edit> out of them. Or if I am mistaken and public IP address is really required for Open NAT type.

<Moderator Warning: Watch your language in these forums>
 
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bill001g

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Aug 9, 2012
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Your only option appears to be to pay your ISP.

No matter how much your friends think they only have a private IP and still have open nat it can not be true. Maybe your friends will tell you their car can fly too. This is one of those fundamental things. A private IP is not routable and to get open nat you must have control of the router doing the nat to the puiblic ip.
 
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BuddhaSkoota

BuddhaSkoota

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Aug 16, 2014
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When you are assigned a public IP address from your ISP, only your router is performing NAT. Your router has control over forwarding ports to specific devices on your network, allowing an Open NAT type.

When an ISP assigns a private IP address, that means NAT is also being performed at the ISP level, so data must go through two layers of NAT. It is difficult or impossible to have data sent to a specified port on your network without intervention by your provider.

You can find if you have a public IP address from your provider by logging in to your Internet-facing router's GUI. When you Google "what is my IP", the address shown should match the WAN address assigned to the router. If it does not match, you likely have a private IP via NAT by your provider.
 
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