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NAT (Network Address Translation) is a process that allows for devices with private IP addresses to connect to the Internet. At Middlebury College, we assign private IP addresses to your devices. This process can cause different gaming experiences than what you are used to on your home networks. This article will detail what each NAT type means, and what you can expect your experience to look like based on your NAT type.
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There are different NAT types for different gaming devices/consoles. Each is listed below with expected behaviors. More details about playing games with other NAT types and hosting can be found later in this article. If you have a console that is different to the ones listed below, please let us know and we can look into the NAT types for the device.
Xbox NAT Types
- Open NAT: you should be able to play any game with anyone, and you should have no problems hosting games.
- Moderate NAT: you should be able to play most games with most people, but you may not be able to host certain games.
- Strict NAT: you will only be able to play with certain people and you will not be able to host certain games.
- Unavailable NAT: your device is not able to connect, possibly due to another network issue.
Playstation/PC NAT Types
- NAT 1: similar expectations to Open NAT.
- NAT 2: similar expectations to Moderate NAT.
- NAT 3: similar expectations to Strict NAT.
Nintendo Switch NAT Types
- NAT Type A: similar to Open NAT.
- NAT Type B: similar to Open NAT, but there are more restrictions to online play.
- NAT Type C: similar to Moderate NAT.
- NAT Type D: similar to Strict NAT.
- NAT Type F: similar to Unavailable NAT.
Most of your devices will be connected to the MiddleburyIoT wireless network, or you've set up a wired Ethernet connection which operates over the MiddleburyCollege network. Regardless of how your device is connected to the network on campus, you can expect similar results.
Expected NAT Types
While on our network, you will not experience Open NAT or the equivalents listed above. This is due to the fact our enterprise network uses private IP addresses for your devices. These private IP addresses are translated used NAT into public IP addresses once your Internet traffic has left our servers. This is a setting we are not going to change. Due to this, you will likely experience Strict or equivalent NAT types. Having a Strict NAT type does limit certain aspects of online gaming, however you should still have access to some games and features which are outlined in the next section.
The reason you may experience some issues with online gaming usually stem from the specific game you are playing. Many games now offer online servers for playing and hosting, however there are some games that use peer-to-peer connections that require open NAT types. Additionally, certain NAT types are only compatible with one or two NAT types. Please note that while some testing has been done, not all games listed below have been tested on our networks.
Peer-to-Peer Games
Here are a few examples of games that require peer-to-peer connections. Please note that the single-player versions of the games listed below (like the Story mode of Red Dead Redemption 2) do not require an Internet connection to play, and therefore will not be impacted by NAT type.
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- GTA V Online
- Elder Scrolls Online
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Online
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Demon's Souls
- Call of Duty
- Destiny
Peer-to-peer games connect your device directly to another device. When devices have a Strict or Moderate NAT (or equivalent) type, they may not be able to host or even participate in the online multi-player aspects of certain games, like visiting a friend's island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Authoritative Games
There are several games that do not connect devices directly to each other, and instead the game is hosted on a remote server, which multiple devices can connect to in order to access the game. Here are some examples of Server Hosted, or Authoritative Server, games:
- World of Warcraft
- League of Legends
- Overwatch
- Apex Legends
- Roblox
- Rust
While these games should work on a Moderate or Strict NAT type, you may experience some issues with game play or voice chat.
NAT Type Compatibility
Certain NAT types are only compatible with one or two other types. Strict NAT types and equivalent are only compatible with Open NAT type equivalents. Moderate NAT equivalents are compatible with Open and other Moderate equivalents. Open NAT equivalents are compatible with all other NAT types. The table below illustrates this in a visual way.
If you are attempting to use a peer-to-peer connection with someone on a different network than you, you may be able to connect if you confirm NAT compatibility. Please note that NAT compatibility does not mean the game or in game feature will work on our network.
As stated previously in this article, you can expect to receive Strict and equivalent NAT types on both the wireless and wired Middlebury Internet connections. The NAT procedure we use will continue to stay in effect as is.
There are certain game features that will not work on our network. Unfortunately there is no list of all peer-to-peer and authoritative server based games for us to consult. Due to time and budget restrictions, we are unable to test every game on every console that game is available on. If you find that an online feature of one of your games isn't working, you may need to connect to a non-Middlebury wireless network to troubleshoot.
Please keep in mind that if a game has a local save mode you will be able to play that aspect of the game regardless of NAT type, as these modes often do not require a network connection to play.
Connecting to the wired network is not necessarily better/faster than connecting to the wireless networks we provide. If you find that your wireless connection is slow or lagging on just your gaming device, you can either use one of the blue ports on the bottom of the hospitality unit in your room or if you do not have a hospitality unit you can submit a request for a jack activation here. Hospitality units are white boxes that are about six inches tall that will be mounted on your wall about 18-24 inches up from the floor.
Instructions on how to connect to the MiddleburyIoT network on your gaming console can be found here. Submit a request for wireless support here.