Skip to main content

RFC 5766 - Traversal Using Relays around NAT (TURN): Relay Extensions to Session Traversal Utilities for NAT (STUN)

  • Status: Proposed Standard
  • Published: April 2010
  • Stream: IETF
  • Obsoleted by: RFC8656
  • Errata: No Errata

Abstract​

If a host is located behind a NAT, in certain situations, it may be impossible for that host to communicate directly with other hosts (peers). In these situations, it is necessary for the host to use the services of an intermediate node that acts as a communication relay. This specification defines a protocol, called TURN (Traversal Using Relays around NAT), that allows the host to control the operation of the relay and to exchange packets with its peers using the relay. TURN differs from some other relay control protocols in that it allows a client to communicate with multiple peers using a single relay address.

The TURN protocol was designed to be used as part of the ICE (Interactive Connectivity Establishment) approach to NAT traversal, though it can also be used without ICE.

Table of Contents​