Bypass Carrier Grade NAT limitations using CGNAT VPN

Are you part of CGNAT and need to enable a VPN Port Forwarding to bypass carrier grade NAT? Then, read this how-to, and I will explain the topic quickly and easily. But first, let’s define the problem.

Carrier Grade NAT – known as large-scale NAT (LSN), and implemented, for example, by Starlink or mobile network providers (3G, 5G, etc.), is a type of network address translation (NAT) designed to mitigate IPv4 address exhaustion. Unfortunately, users have some limitations using this network because CGNAT shifts the NAT function and configuration from the customer (you) to the Internet service provider network. This makes it difficult for you to use some services.

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What is CGNAT?

CGNAT (Carrier-grade Network Address Translation) is a two-state Network Address Translation (NAT) technology. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) use it to overcome the problem of the limited amount of IPv4 addresses and extend the life of their existing IPV4 infrastructure. This will give them time to transition to the new IPV6 protocol – which, to be honest, is taking longer than expected a long time ago. CGNAT is a shift of functionality from the smaller networks to the big ones allowing multiple users to share a single public IP address. This shift of NAT in scale will save some IPv4 addresses, therefore is also known as large-scale NAT (LSN).

Read more: What is Carrier Grade NAT

CGNAT Advantages

This type of network configuration has some advantages allowing ISPs to use IPv4 infrastructure and provide services to the customers already on IPv6.

Moreover, CGNAT allows handling multiple users with IPv4 sharing the same public IP address assigned to your ISP. Therefore, your private IP address is translated to a public IP address while passing CGNAT.

Cell phone operators first used CGNAT techniques in 2000 because they had to accommodate the growing demand for a large number of IPv4 addresses that came with the deployment of the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).
With mobile networks growth, CGNAT deployment increased from 1200 in 2014 to 3400 in 2016 and keeps growing.

Why do we have a CGNAT instead of IPv6?

CGNAT provides advantages to ISPs. The major one is that they can continue using their existing IPV4 infrastructure without needing expensive and time-consuming replacements with IPv6 infrastructure. Moreover, there is no need to allocate so many public IP addresses to their customers, so it saves IPv4. But unfortunately, CGNAT is a short-term solution before the IPv6 transition is complete.

Why is Port Forwarding not possible on CGNAT?

Carrier-grade NAT usually prevents you from using port forwarding because CGNAT maps ports of the NAT devices in the network to ports in the external interface. This technique allows routers to map the responses to the correct device inside the CGNAT network. Therefore, even if you configure your router for port forwarding, it will be blocked by the main CGN router that belongs to your ISP because the Port Control Protocol (PCP), standardized in the RFC 6887, controls port forwarding to overcome any disadvantages.

Now, if you try to configure port forwarding, you might be actually forwarding your traffic to another user’s IP address because of the IP addresses and port number assignments.

How can I bypass CGNAT limitations with VPN Port Forwarding?

As explained, CGNAT will not allow you to forward any of your ports because of the network configuration and implemented standards. Nevertheless, VPN is a technique to pass through different networks, firewalls, and routers using standard communication protocols.

VPN tunnel allows you to create your own virtual private network that bypasses limitations because the content inside the tunnel is invisible to other devices or users.

SEE ALSO: What is a VPN

Therefore, whenever you are behind the VPN, your internal network and devices are invisible to ISP, whether you use Starlink or any other provider that implemented CGNAT, like mobile network operators.

Use dedicated IP to bypass carrier grade NAT

You must use Dedicated IP and port forwarding for multiplayer gaming, P2P networks, or to gain remote access to your house surveillance camera. Only the proper configuration of these two services with a VPN will let you bypass carrier grade NAT.

How does VPN let direct connections bypass carrier grade NAT (CGNAT)?

VPN with a static public IP removes all devices and networks between your device and the VPN service provider’s server that you are connected to. VPN networks use a VPN tunnel set up between your device (computer, mobile, gaming console, router, etc.) and the VPN server via an encrypted tunnel. Therefore, any traffic sent to this IP address (the VPN server IP) and optionally dedicated port, will bypass the NAT rules of any network, regardless of whether it is CGNAT, office, school, or your ISP.

It’s important to mention that your dedicated IP will be visible publically, and you need to have an exemplary firewall configuration and antivirus enabled to protect your VPN network from cybercriminals. In most cases, a good VPN service offering Dedicated IP provides the option to configure the firewall settings to define which ports can receive incoming traffic.

The best solution to bypass CGNAT using VPN dedicated IP

With CGNAT providers, it would be best to use your VPN-enabled router with dedicated IP and port forwarding in case you require one. That router would take care of your virtual private network traffic and route it through the tunnel to the public network, bypassing your ISP’s limitations.

In this scenario, you would use an internal network like there was nothing between you and the public part of the internet.

This configuration opens new possibilities but, at the same time, creates the risk of revealing your router to the public. Luckily, most routers implement firewalls that protect your internal network devices.

SEE ALSO: How to install VPN on router

You might need different solutions in different scenarios, and with PureVPN, you can cover most, if not all, of them.
PureVPN, contrary to other VPN providers, offers a Dedicated IP explicitly assigned to you with optional port forwarding. As explained, dedicated IP from PureVPN can help you overcome issues with CGNAT.

Step-by-step to Bypass Carrier Grade NAT (updated)

Let me briefly explain how it works when you use a public IP address from a VPN network and configure port forwarding to offer a connection from the public network to your dedicated server or computer:

Establishing a VPN connection

First, you need to establish a VPN connection to a server that has a public IP address – dedicated IP. This allows you to establish a connection through NAT to the internet via the VPN network. You get connected to the server and start using its public IP address as your own.

Setting up cgnat VPN with port forwarding

Next, you need to configure port forwarding on the VPN server. This involves specifying which ports you want to forward incoming traffic to and which IP address on your network you want the traffic to be forwarded to. This allows making the internal IP and port visible outside the CG-NAT. If you know this combination, then you can establish a connection with your computer from the public internet.

Bypass Carrier Grade NAT and connect to the server or computer

Once you have set up port forwarding with internal IP, you can use the public IP address, which is VPN’s dedicated IP, to connect to your dedicated server or computer from the public internet. The incoming traffic will be forwarded to your device by the VPN server, allowing you to access your server or computer as if it had a direct connection to the internet.

Using your dedicated server or computer

Once you have established a connection to your dedicated server or computer, you can use it to host a website, run a server application, or access it remotely. It’s also possible to use services like P2P or others requiring both-direction connections.

IMPORTANT: if you configure port forwarding with a dedicated IP, you open it not only for yourself but others as well. This can be a security risk if not set up correctly, as it opens up a direct path from the public internet to your device. To reduce this risk, you should use a strong password for any services you run on your server or computer and ensure your VPN connection is encrypted and secure. On a daily basis, I use PureVPN with dedicated IP and port forwarding – they are paid add-ons but solve all of my problems. Therefore, I recommend this service because it works, and if you use the code, you will receive an additional 10% discount. Try it for 31 days – you can always cancel it if you do not like it.

Bypass Carrier Grade NAT and protect your connection with VPN Suite

With PureVPN full Suite, you can get a complete connection that is a very good solution for you if you want to Bypass Carrier Grade NAT and have secure remote access to your computer or server.

PureVPN full suite includes:

1. VPN
2. Password Manager
3. File Encryption
4. Digital Security

Don’t forget to add dedicated IP and port forwarding as add-ons – they are crucial. Remember that without a public IP address and port forwarding service, you will not be able to Bypass Carrier Grade NAT and have access from the internet to your computer that is behind the firewalls. Use this code – usesecurevpn10 to get an additional 10% discount if you want to test it for 1 month for a lower price. If you need help, use our chatbot to contact me, and I will help you set up the connection. Click this link to get the PureVPN.

As you can see, the VPN with a dedicated IP setup is pretty straightforward. Read the PureVPN review and check what it can offer.

Remember, a VPN is an intermediary service that uses encrypted tunnels to bypass CGNAT and protect your communication.

If you still don’t have it, get the PureVPN and pay less.

Don’t forget to select a Dedicated IP and Port forwarding for Carrier Grade NAT limitation bypass. They are available as add-ons.