3 NAT Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

Insights from Stuart Fordham (CCIE), Gregor Purdy (Linux security consultant), and Waldemar Quevedo (NATS engineer) on NAT Books

Updated on June 23, 2025
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What if your understanding of NAT could unlock new levels of network performance and security? NAT remains a cornerstone in networking, yet mastering its complexities often eludes many. As networks evolve, grasping NAT’s nuances becomes vital for professionals building resilient, scalable infrastructures.

Industry experts like Stuart Fordham, a CCIE-certified engineer focusing on Cisco architectures, Gregor Purdy, a seasoned Linux security consultant, and Waldemar Quevedo, a key contributor to NATS messaging systems, have shaped the way NAT is applied in modern networks. Their experience spans secure tunneling, firewall management, and cloud-native communication.

While these expert-curated books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific environment, skill level, and goals might consider creating a personalized NAT book that builds on these insights and adapts to evolving technologies.

Best for Cisco network engineers
Stuart Fordham is a CCIE Certified Network Engineer with deep experience in Cisco networking technologies. His credentialed background informs this book's focused approach to VPNs and NAT, making it a practical guide for engineers seeking to build and secure networks using Cisco equipment and protocols.
2015·258 pages·Cisco, NAT, Networking, VPNs, DMVPN

VPNs and NAT for Cisco Networks offers a detailed dive into tunneling, DMVPN, VPNs, and NAT as outlined by Stuart Fordham, a CCIE Certified Network Engineer. Drawing from his extensive expertise, Fordham guides you through building networks from the ground up, beginning with GRE tunnels and advancing to phase 3 DMVPN solutions for both IPv4 and IPv6. You gain hands-on understanding of routing protocols like EIGRP, OSPF, and BGP, alongside quality of service implementation. The book also explores IPv6 transition mechanisms such as 6over4 and 6to4, making it a solid pick if you're aiming to master Cisco networking with a focus on secure, scalable architectures.

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Best for Linux firewall administrators
Gregor N. Purdy is a consultant, author, trainer, and lecturer specializing in large-scale decision support system design and implementation. His extensive experience with software development, including authoring Perl modules and contributing to the Perl 6 virtual machine, Parrot, uniquely positions him to unpack the complexities of iptables and NAT. His background informs this focused pocket reference, making it a practical tool for those managing Linux firewalls and network address translation.
2004·96 pages·NAT, Iptables, Networking, Network Security, Firewall Configuration

What if everything you knew about managing Linux firewalls and NAT was wrong? Gregor N. Purdy challenges conventional wisdom by diving deep into Linux's Netfilter system through the lens of iptables, a command-line interface renowned for its complexity and power. You’ll learn how to handle stateful filtering, manage large rule sets effectively, and even monitor network traffic accounting—skills crucial for securing and optimizing Linux network environments. The book’s chapters carefully break down challenging syntax and provide a practical reference for tasks like opening ports or blocking suspicious ICMP traffic. If you’re tasked with Linux network security or NAT, this concise guide puts essential commands and strategies within easy reach.

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Best for personalized NAT strategies
This personalized AI book about NAT networking is created based on your current knowledge, network environment, and specific challenges you face with NAT. You share the areas you want to focus on and your professional goals, and the book is crafted to meet those needs precisely. NAT configurations can vary widely depending on infrastructure and use cases, so having a tailored resource helps you avoid unnecessary information and concentrate on mastering the skills that matter most to you.
2025·50-300 pages·NAT, Network Address Translation, NAT Traversal, Address Mapping, Security Integration

This personalized book provides a focused exploration of Network Address Translation (NAT) challenges, offering tailored strategies to help you master NAT networking complexities relevant to your specific environment. It emphasizes practical problem-solving for advanced NAT scenarios, including address mapping techniques, traversal issues, and integration with security policies. The tailored framework cuts through generic advice by focusing on your unique network architecture, skill level, and operational goals. By addressing real-world use cases and troubleshooting methodologies, this book enables you to deepen your NAT expertise efficiently without sifting through broad, less relevant material.

Tailored Framework
NAT Challenge Solutions
3,000+ Books Created
Best for cloud native developers
Waldemar Quevedo is a Senior Software Engineer at Apcera and a member of the NATS team. Drawing on his experience operating NATS at Rakuten and presenting at major industry events like StrangeLoop and GopherCon, he crafted this book to share practical knowledge about using NATS effectively. His deep hands-on expertise makes this a valuable resource for developers looking to harness NATS for reliable, scalable messaging in cloud native environments.
Practical NATS: From Beginner to Pro book cover

by Waldemar Quevedo··You?

2018·278 pages·NAT, Messaging, Networking, Cloud Native, Microservices

When Waldemar Quevedo first discovered NATS while working with CloudFoundry at Rakuten, he recognized its potential as a lightweight messaging system ideal for cloud native and microservices architectures. This book walks you through the fundamentals of NATS, from its protocol and communication styles to configuring servers and operating them in production. You'll find practical examples, including how to implement advanced client features like failure detection and tracing, helping you transition from REST APIs to messaging-based designs. If you're developing microservices and want a solid grasp of NATS to improve service discovery, load balancing, and low latency communication, this book matches those needs well.

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Conclusion

These three NAT books collectively underscore critical themes: practical application, security, and modern messaging architectures. Fordham’s guide equips Cisco engineers with the tactical skills to secure and route traffic effectively. Purdy’s pocket reference distills Linux firewall and NAT commands into a manageable toolkit essential for system admins. Quevedo’s work bridges messaging protocols with NAT, enabling cloud-native microservices to communicate reliably.

If you’re refining Cisco network deployments, start with Fordham’s detailed approach. For Linux-based NAT and firewall challenges, Purdy’s concise guide is invaluable. Developers aiming to integrate messaging with NAT should turn to Quevedo’s practical lessons. Combining these perspectives accelerates your mastery.

Once you've absorbed these expert insights, create a personalized NAT book to bridge the gap between general principles and your specific situation. Tailored guidance can sharpen your skills and address unique challenges in your network environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with the book that matches your current focus. For Cisco network engineers, begin with "VPNs and NAT for Cisco Networks." Linux administrators should pick "Linux iptables Pocket Reference," while cloud-native developers will benefit most from "Practical NATS." Each offers targeted insights for its audience.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to NAT?

Not at all. Each book starts with foundational concepts before exploring advanced topics. For example, Fordham’s book builds up from basic GRE tunnels, while Quevedo’s explains NATS fundamentals clearly. Beginners can follow along and grow their skills systematically.

What's the best order to read these books?

Read based on your environment. If you manage Cisco gear, start with Fordham’s guide. For Linux firewall tasks, Purdy’s pocket reference comes next. Finally, explore Quevedo’s book to understand messaging systems in cloud-native applications. This sequence builds layered understanding.

Do these books assume I already have experience in NAT?

They assume some networking knowledge but introduce NAT concepts accessibly. For instance, Purdy explains iptables syntax step-by-step, making it approachable even if you’re new to Linux firewalls. Quevedo’s explanations suit developers transitioning from REST to messaging.

Which book gives the most actionable advice I can use right away?

"Linux iptables Pocket Reference" is packed with commands and practical examples you can apply immediately to firewall and NAT configuration. Fordham’s book also provides step-by-step Cisco configurations, while Quevedo offers coding examples for messaging clients.

Can personalized NAT books help me learn more efficiently?

Yes! While these expert books offer solid foundations, a personalized NAT book can tailor content to your background, goals, and focus areas, saving time and boosting relevance. Explore custom NAT books here.

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