HERE IS WHAT NAT LOOKS LIKE IN A NUT SHELL.>>
To make this easy for everyone, we've created a chart for your use.>>
>>
To Open>>
To Moderate>>
To Strict>>
From Open>>
Yes>>
Yes>>
Yes>>
From Moderate>>
Yes>>
Yes>>
No>>
From Strict>>
Yes>>
No>>
No>>
>>
Suppose you want to host an Xbox Live game and you're using a router that's classified as open. Armed with that information and using the chart above, you can be confident that your router's NAT type will not keep your friends (who may also be using routers) from finding your session, hearing your voice, and enjoying a great game.>>
But let's say you're behind a router that's a strict NAT. When you want to host a game, you now have something to consider. Anyone else who's behind a router that uses a moderate or strict NAT may not be able to connect to your session.>>
Let's look at one final example going the other direction: you joining someone else's game. Will you be able to participate fully with everyone in the game? If you have a moderate NAT on your home network, you can get an idea of what may happen by looking at the chart. If the players you want to play with are using strict NATs, you will likely experience problems. You may not be able to hear them and they may not be able to hear you. You may not be able to see those players at all.>>
Note NATs don't affect lag; this is all about connecting to other players!>>
the weird thing is even if i host a game (i have an open nat) and i want to join ahbiao's game (he has an open nat also) it always fails.... sometimes i can't even find his game... same thing with marauderz...sometimes he can see my games but he can't join them even if he has an open nat....how come ah????