Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What configuration is required to allow Internet users to access a local web server?

1. Set up a static route

2. Configure NAT

3. Implement DHCP

4. Ensure all IPs are public

The correct answer is: Configure NAT

To enable Internet users to access a local web server, configuring Network Address Translation (NAT) is essential. NAT allows devices on a private network to communicate with external networks, such as the Internet, by translating private IP addresses to a public IP address. When a web server is hosted on a local network with a private IP address, it is not directly reachable from the Internet. By configuring NAT on the router, the router will map the private IP address of the server to the public IP address that is routable on the Internet. This ensures that when external users send requests to the public IP, the router can then forward those requests to the correct private IP address of the web server. The other options, while they serve important roles in network configuration, do not directly address the requirement for Internet access to a local server. Static routing is primarily used for directing traffic within networks rather than facilitating Internet connectivity. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is focused on assigning IP addresses dynamically to devices on a local network and does not manage public Internet access. Lastly, ensuring all IPs are public is not a practical approach for most networks, as public IP addresses are a limited resource, and using private IP addresses with necessary NAT is a standardized and efficient method for