Assigning a source address to a data packet based on the destination of the data packet

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for sending a data packet through a network. The network has public and private realms separated by an interface device. A client in the private realm performs the method. The method includes determining if a destination address of the data packet corresponds to the private realm or to the public realm and retrieving a source address for the client based on the destination address of the packet. The method also includes assigning a retrieved address to be the source address of the data packet.