Cisco "clear ip nat translation" Command Explained
clear ip nat translation — manually removes entries from the NAT translation table — useful when testing NAT changes or clearing stuck/stale sessions. Runs in privileged EXEC mode.
Syntax and common variants
| Variant | Purpose |
|---|---|
clear ip nat translation * | Clear ALL dynamic translations |
clear ip nat translation inside 10.1.1.5 … | Clear one specific entry |
Reading the output
| Output / element | Meaning |
|---|---|
(no output on success) | The table is cleared silently — verify with show ip nat translations |
When to use it
After changing a NAT configuration (a new ACL, a different pool), old translations can linger and confuse testing — clearing them forces fresh translations on the next packet, giving you a clean test. Note active connections through cleared entries typically need to re-establish. Browse more in the command reference or practise in the free labs.
Frequently asked questions
When should I clear NAT translations?
After changing NAT configuration, to remove stale entries and force clean, fresh translations for testing.
Does clearing translations disconnect users?
Active sessions through cleared entries usually need to reconnect, since their translation mapping disappears — do this outside of critical usage windows if possible.
How do I verify the table is actually cleared?
Run show ip nat translations immediately after — it should show an empty or reduced table depending on new traffic.
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