Step 1: Log in to the Palo Alto Firewall Web Interface
Open a web browser
Navigate to the firewall’s management IP address
Enter admin credentials
Step 2: Navigate to NAT Configuration
Go to Policies > NAT
Click “Add” to create a new NAT rule
Step 3: Configure Basic NAT Rule Parameters
General Settings:
Name: Give the NAT rule a descriptive name
Type: Select NAT type
Source NAT (SNAT)
Destination NAT (DNAT)
Bidirectional NAT
Source Zone:
Select the zone where the original source traffic originates
Destination Zone:
Select the zone where the translated traffic will be sent
Step 4: Define Source and Destination Criteria
Source Address:
Specify the original source IP or network
Can use predefined address objects or create new ones
Destination Address:
Specify the original destination IP or network
Can use predefined address objects or create new ones
Step 5: Configure Translation Settings
Translation Type:
Dynamic IP and Port (DIPP)
Static IP
Dynamic IP (DIP)
Translation Address:
Select the IP address or pool to translate to
Can use interface IP, specific IP, or IP pool
Step 6: Set Additional NAT Options
Service: Select specific service/port (optional)
Bi-directional: Enable for return traffic translation
Translate From: Specify source interface
Translate To: Specify destination interface
Step 7: Configure NAT Method
Choose NAT method:
Use Egress Interface IP
Specify specific translation IP
Use IP pool
Use DIP pool
Step 8: Define NAT Rule Sequence
Determine rule priority
Use “Move” option to adjust rule order
More specific rules should be placed higher
Step 9: Advanced NAT Configuration (Optional)
NAT64
NAT46
IPv6 translation
Specific protocol handling
Step 10: Verify and Commit
Review NAT rule configuration
Click “Commit”
Confirm changes in pop-up window
Example NAT Rule Scenarios:
Scenario 1: Source NAT (Internet Access)
Source: Internal Network (192.168.1.0/24)
Destination: Any
Translation: Egress Interface IP
Purpose: Allow internal hosts to access internet using firewall’s public IP
Scenario 2: Destination NAT (Port Forwarding)
Source: Any
Destination: Public IP, specific port
Translation: Internal server IP and port
Purpose: Redirect external traffic to internal server
Scenario 3: Bidirectional NAT
Translate between two different network ranges
Maintain connection state in both directions
Best Practices:
Use descriptive rule names
Be specific with source/destination criteria
Minimize the number of NAT rules
Regularly audit NAT configuration
Test thoroughly before production deployment
Troubleshooting Tips:
Check NAT rule order
Verify zone and interface configurations
Use packet tracing for complex scenarios
Review logs for NAT-related issues
Common Challenges:
Overlapping network ranges
Asymmetric routing
Complex translation requirements
Performance impact with many NAT rules
Recommended Tools:
Packet Tracer
Log Viewer
NAT analysis tools in Panorama (for managed environments)
Remember that NAT configuration can vary based on specific network requirements and Palo Alto firewall model/version.
Always test NAT rules in a staged environment before production deployment.