Does the Kubernetes network model allow pods to communicate across the cluster without NAT?

Does the Kubernetes network model allow pods to communicate across the cluster without NAT?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not Applicable
• D. Depends

Answer: (A)

Kubernetes assumes a flat, routable network where every pod gets its own IP from a cluster-wide range, and any pod can reach any other pod directly across nodes without address translation. A CNI network plugin ensures that pods on different nodes can route to each other using their Pod IPs, so pod-to-pod communication does not require NAT. NAT might come into play only for traffic leaving the cluster (egress) or when accessing through Services, but not for the basic pod-to-pod connectivity inside the cluster.

Kubernetes assumes a flat, routable network where every pod gets its own IP from a cluster-wide range, and any pod can reach any other pod directly across nodes without address translation. A CNI network plugin ensures that pods on different nodes can route to each other using their Pod IPs, so pod-to-pod communication does not require NAT. NAT might come into play only for traffic leaving the cluster (egress) or when accessing through Services, but not for the basic pod-to-pod connectivity inside the cluster.