# NAT Traversal

Netmaker makes it easy to create secure, peer-to-peer networks over the internet — even when nodes are behind NAT (Network Address Translation). This guide walks you through ensuring that your VPN network is taking advantage of the NAT Traversal functionalities of Netmaker.

NAT (Network Address Translation) traversal is a technique that allows devices behind NAT firewalls to establish direct connections with each other or with devices on the public internet. Netmaker leverages WireGuard, STUN, and TURN servers to achieve this when direct connections aren't possible.

### Use Gateways

{% content-ref url="/pages/8023dcd81897c9bc7f43477add0ae990e6caf0ac" %}
[Gateways](/features/gateways.md)
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### Ensure STUN Servers are Running

As of v0.18.0, Netmaker uses a STUN server (Session Traversal Utilities for NAT). STUN helps communications protocols detect and traverse NATs that are between two endpoints. By default, Netmaker uses publicly available STUN servers. You may set up your own STUN servers to augment or replace the public ones by updating the STUN\_LIST to include the STUN servers you want to use.

Two resources for installing your own STUN/TURN server:

* <https://github.com/coturn/coturn>
* <https://ourcodeworld.com/articles/read/1175/how-to-create-and-configure-your-own-stun-turn-server-with-coturn-in-ubuntu-18-04>
* <https://cloudkul.com/blog/how-to-install-turn-stun-server-on-aws-ubuntu-20-04/>

### References and Other Sources

* <https://learn.netmaker.io/how-to-guides/integrating-non-native-devices>
* <https://learn.netmaker.io/how-to-guides/how-to-setup-a-full-mesh-site-to-site-vpn-with-netmaker>
* <https://learn.netmaker.io/getting-started/server-and-client-management/client-installation/netclient-installation/stabilize-netclient-connections-behind-nat>
* <https://learn.netmaker.io/how-to-guides/securely-interconnecting-ec2-instances-across-private-amazon-vpc-subnets-using-netmaker>


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