Prestige 2602H/HW Series User’s Guide

With the Any IP feature and NAT enabled, the Prestige allows a computer to access the Internet without changing the network settings (such as IP address and subnet mask) of the computer, when the IP addresses of the computer and the Prestige are not in the same subnet. Whether a computer is set to use a dynamic or static (fixed) IP address, you can simply connect the computer to the Prestige and access the Internet.

The following figure depicts a scenario where a computer is set to use a static private IP address in the corporate environment. In a residential house where a Prestige is installed, you can still use the computer to access the Internet without changing the network settings, even when the IP addresses of the computer and the Prestige are not in the same subnet.

Figure 25 Any IP Example

The Any IP feature does not apply to a computer using either a dynamic IP address or a static IP address that is in the same subnet as the Prestige’s IP address.

Note: You must enable NAT/SUA to use the Any IP feature on the Prestige.

4.6.1 How Any IP Works

Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is a protocol for mapping an Internet Protocol address (IP address) to a physical machine address, also known as a Media Access Control or MAC address, on the local area network. IP routing table is defined on IP Ethernet devices (the Prestige) to decide which hop to use, to help forward data along to its specified destination.

The following lists out the steps taken, when a computer tries to access the Internet for the first time through the Prestige.

1When a computer (which is in a different subnet) first attempts to access the Internet, it sends packets to its default gateway (which is not the Prestige) by looking at the MAC address in its ARP table.

2When the computer cannot locate the default gateway, an ARP request is broadcast on the LAN.

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Chapter 4 LAN Setup