Cisco NAT operations: Which Cisco IOS command clears all currently active Network Address Translation (NAT) translations on the router (i.e., flushes the entire NAT table)?

Introduction / Context:
NAT (Network Address Translation) maintains a table of translations created as traffic flows through a Cisco router. During troubleshooting, you may need to flush all current entries to force new translations or to remove stale entries that cause connectivity issues. Knowing the exact command prevents accidental disruption or ineffective diagnostics.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• You are working on a Cisco IOS router performing IPv4 NAT.
• The goal is to remove all active NAT translations immediately.
• You have appropriate privilege (enable) to run exec-level clearing commands.

Concept / Approach:

Cisco IOS provides the exec command family clear ip nat translations. Appending an asterisk clears the entire translation table in one action. Other commands such as show only display status and debug enables verbose logs but does not alter state.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Immediately after execution, show ip nat translations should return no active entries (until new traffic arrives). show ip nat statistics reflects counters and active entries count dropping to zero.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

show ip nat translations (A) only displays current entries.

show ip nat statistics (B) displays counters and summary info.

debug ip nat (C) enables debugging output but does not clear translations.

Common Pitfalls:

Forgetting that clearing the table can momentarily interrupt flows; using pattern-matched clears (specific inside/outside/local/global) when a full flush is intended; running the command during peak hours without change control.

Final Answer:

clear ip nat translations *