Description of NAT and how it impacts your online experience

This article defines Network Address Translation, or NAT, and helps you figure out if you have a NAT issue.

What is NAT?

NAT, or Network Address Translation, is a networking concept that allows your router to share a single IP address across multiple devices. Instead of your Internet service provider (ISP) assigning an IP address to every device that connects to the Internet, NAT allows your ISP to assign a single IP address to your router. The router then manages a set of IP addresses for all the devices on your home network.

How does NAT affect Xbox LIVE gaming?

Symptoms

• When you try to join an online game or party, you receive an error.
• You are frequently disconnected from a game or party.
• You cannot hear or communicate with someone in an online game.

If you have any of the above symptoms or you receive a NAT error while playing, use the following article to resolve the problem:

Good to know

• NAT does not affect lag within gameplay. NAT only affects the ability to connect with other players. If you are having problems with lag, please see:
  909817  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909817/ ) You experience slow performance playing on Xbox LIVE
• If you are connected to a network at your workplace, school, or residence (for example, an apartment complex), you might be behind a proxy server or firewall. To resolve this type of NAT issue, you will need to speak to your network administrator about opening the required network ports. For information on network ports used by Xbox LIVE, please see the following article:
  908874  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/908874/ ) Network ports used by Xbox LIVE
• If you are using the network at your workplace or college, you are probably behind a proxy server or firewall, which is why you are experiencing NAT issues. Contact your network administrator for help.
• If you are using hardware that is compatible with Windows Vista or Windows 7, you should not experience NAT issues.
• If you connect to Xbox LIVE by using a direct modem connection (as opposed to connecting to the modem through a router), you should not experience NAT issues.