Toonshorty
June 17th, 2010, 21:09
Since this is a fairly difficult topic to explain I'll mainly use diagrams to explain what is happening.
Your PC has hundreds and thousands of virtual ports, think of them as tunnels between your PC and the internet.
If these ports were open then anyone could just wonder in to your computer via those ports if they knew the location of them (your IP address).
By default all the ports are closed for security reasons so port forwarding for an RSPS opens tunnel number 43594 so to speak.
Once this tunnel is open people just need to know your IP; or if you're using a No-IP DNS then they'll need to know that in order to locate the tunnel.
Hope fully you'll understand port forwarding a little better after this guide, I'm about to start writing a guide on actually port forwarding so in the meantime may this enlighten you as to what your actually doing when port forwarding.
Before we begin may I recommend reading my thread on what port forwarding is and how it works here (Only the registered members can see the link.).
Table of contents:
1 - Configuring your computers connection (Computer)
2 - Port Forwarding 43594 (Router)
1 - Configuring your computers connection
In my 'Port Forwarding Explained' thread I mentioned port forwarding opens the tunnel between your PC and the internet however your PC needs a static location and unless you configure it the location/IP address of your PC will constantly move around.
This guide will be for Windows 7 although the concept is very similar for XP users.
Step 1) Click the internet icon in the task bar, it should look like this:
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 2) Click 'Open Network and Sharing'
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 3) Click 'change adapter settings' from the menu to the left of the interface that appears.
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 4) Right click the wireless adapter or Ethernet connection you use to connect to the internet and select 'Properties'
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 5) The interface below will appear; select 'Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)' and then click the properties button.
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 6) The properties window will appear, select the 'Use the following IP address:' radio button and type in the required information. (If you do not know the information you can type: IPCONFIG into command prompt)
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 7) Press OK and close all the windows you opened in part 1.
2 - Port Forwarding 43594
This is the key part of the guide, the actual opening of the port.
The problem here is that everyone here will have a different router make/model and each interface is different so unless you own a NETGEAR router you'll need to work out how to port forward by checking things like gaming and firewall; checking out Only the registered members can see the link. (Only the registered members can see the link.) may also help.
Step 1) Enter the IP for your router - listed as default gateway in part 1. You should already know this if you followed part 1 successfully. My default gateway is 192.168.0.1 so I enter Only the registered members can see the link. (Only the registered members can see the link.) in the address bar.
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 2) There is a 99.9% chance you'll be asked for a password - usually it's one of the following but if not it should be listed on the label stuck to the bottom of your router.
Common logins
Username: Admin
Password: Password
OR
Username: Admin
Password: Admin
Step 3) You should be welcomed by the routers home screen, here you can modify all sorts - don't. Leave everything as you found it other than the settings this guide asked you to change, messing with certain settings may break your connection to the internet permanently unless you revert the change.
The NETGEAR welcome screen looks like this:
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 4) Select 'Services' from the left hand side menu.
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 5) Click the 'Add Custom Services' button.
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 6) Enter the following information and click Apply:
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 7) Click 'Firewall Rules' from the left hand side menu.
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 8) Click the 'Add' button below the list of outbound services
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 9) Set the following settings:
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 10) Repeat from step 8 but for inbound settings, the settings for inbound are the same as outbound but 'Send to LAN server' should be set to the IP address you entered in part 1. The IP address not the default gateway!
You have now port forwarded your computer, congratulations.
Known Problems
PortForward Port Checker (PFPortChecker) uses a port scan to check to see if the port is open. I'd recommend booting the server and getting a friend to connect rather than use PFPC because most routers block port scans.
Many of you have been plagued with the idea that uTorrent will port forward your router for you. I'm not a networking nerd but I know my stuff and I can tell you know that it's an outright lie.
Here's how a typical networking setup will work:
COMPUTER -- COMPUTER FIREWALL ------ ROUTER/MODEM ------ INTERNET.
When you haven't port forwarded it could be blocked at the computer firewall, router/modem or both.
Let's discuss scenario 1 first:
Scenario 1
COMPUTER -- COMPUTER FIREWALL ------ ROUTER/MODEM ------ INTERNET.
The connection is being blocked by the firewall on your Router/Modem.
To fix this you will need conventional port forwarding, this requires logging into the router and allowing the port.
Scenario 2
COMPUTER -- COMPUTER FIREWALL ------ ROUTER/MODEM ------ INTERNET.
The connection is being blocked by the firewall on your computer.
This is called the Windows Firewall, you can either allow the port in Windows Firewall OR get uTorrent to allow the port in Windows Firewall.
That's important! uTorrent does not port-forward, it allows an exception in the WINDOWS FIREWALL.
Scenario 3
COMPUTER -- COMPUTER FIREWALL ------ ROUTER/MODEM ------ INTERNET.
The connection is being blocked by the firewall on your Router/Modem and the Windows Firewall.
To fix this you will need to port forward and add an exception to the Windows Firewall.
But before uTorrent my port was closed, now it's open?
A lot of routers will use UPnP to automatically open required ports, many routers don't actually do this properly though - which is why I've found in most cases it doesn't actually work.
So, you've port-forwarded or your router has UPnP working the way you want and your port still is closed then you'll need to clear the Windows Firewall.
uTorrent then adds the Windows Firewall exception and the connection can now move freely between your computer and the internet.
So uTorrent hasn't port-forwarded, you have. uTorrent just fixed the Windows Firewall side of things.
Conclusion
So, if you come away with anything from this thread it should be this:
uTorrent does not port-forward, it creates a WINDOWS FIREWALL EXCEPTION; which is not the same as your router's firewall.
Hope this guide helps clear the uTorrent and port-forwarding confusion.
Your PC has hundreds and thousands of virtual ports, think of them as tunnels between your PC and the internet.
If these ports were open then anyone could just wonder in to your computer via those ports if they knew the location of them (your IP address).
By default all the ports are closed for security reasons so port forwarding for an RSPS opens tunnel number 43594 so to speak.
Once this tunnel is open people just need to know your IP; or if you're using a No-IP DNS then they'll need to know that in order to locate the tunnel.
Hope fully you'll understand port forwarding a little better after this guide, I'm about to start writing a guide on actually port forwarding so in the meantime may this enlighten you as to what your actually doing when port forwarding.
Before we begin may I recommend reading my thread on what port forwarding is and how it works here (Only the registered members can see the link.).
Table of contents:
1 - Configuring your computers connection (Computer)
2 - Port Forwarding 43594 (Router)
1 - Configuring your computers connection
In my 'Port Forwarding Explained' thread I mentioned port forwarding opens the tunnel between your PC and the internet however your PC needs a static location and unless you configure it the location/IP address of your PC will constantly move around.
This guide will be for Windows 7 although the concept is very similar for XP users.
Step 1) Click the internet icon in the task bar, it should look like this:
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 2) Click 'Open Network and Sharing'
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 3) Click 'change adapter settings' from the menu to the left of the interface that appears.
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 4) Right click the wireless adapter or Ethernet connection you use to connect to the internet and select 'Properties'
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 5) The interface below will appear; select 'Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)' and then click the properties button.
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 6) The properties window will appear, select the 'Use the following IP address:' radio button and type in the required information. (If you do not know the information you can type: IPCONFIG into command prompt)
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 7) Press OK and close all the windows you opened in part 1.
2 - Port Forwarding 43594
This is the key part of the guide, the actual opening of the port.
The problem here is that everyone here will have a different router make/model and each interface is different so unless you own a NETGEAR router you'll need to work out how to port forward by checking things like gaming and firewall; checking out Only the registered members can see the link. (Only the registered members can see the link.) may also help.
Step 1) Enter the IP for your router - listed as default gateway in part 1. You should already know this if you followed part 1 successfully. My default gateway is 192.168.0.1 so I enter Only the registered members can see the link. (Only the registered members can see the link.) in the address bar.
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 2) There is a 99.9% chance you'll be asked for a password - usually it's one of the following but if not it should be listed on the label stuck to the bottom of your router.
Common logins
Username: Admin
Password: Password
OR
Username: Admin
Password: Admin
Step 3) You should be welcomed by the routers home screen, here you can modify all sorts - don't. Leave everything as you found it other than the settings this guide asked you to change, messing with certain settings may break your connection to the internet permanently unless you revert the change.
The NETGEAR welcome screen looks like this:
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 4) Select 'Services' from the left hand side menu.
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 5) Click the 'Add Custom Services' button.
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 6) Enter the following information and click Apply:
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 7) Click 'Firewall Rules' from the left hand side menu.
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 8) Click the 'Add' button below the list of outbound services
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 9) Set the following settings:
Only the registered members can see the link.
Step 10) Repeat from step 8 but for inbound settings, the settings for inbound are the same as outbound but 'Send to LAN server' should be set to the IP address you entered in part 1. The IP address not the default gateway!
You have now port forwarded your computer, congratulations.
Known Problems
PortForward Port Checker (PFPortChecker) uses a port scan to check to see if the port is open. I'd recommend booting the server and getting a friend to connect rather than use PFPC because most routers block port scans.
Many of you have been plagued with the idea that uTorrent will port forward your router for you. I'm not a networking nerd but I know my stuff and I can tell you know that it's an outright lie.
Here's how a typical networking setup will work:
COMPUTER -- COMPUTER FIREWALL ------ ROUTER/MODEM ------ INTERNET.
When you haven't port forwarded it could be blocked at the computer firewall, router/modem or both.
Let's discuss scenario 1 first:
Scenario 1
COMPUTER -- COMPUTER FIREWALL ------ ROUTER/MODEM ------ INTERNET.
The connection is being blocked by the firewall on your Router/Modem.
To fix this you will need conventional port forwarding, this requires logging into the router and allowing the port.
Scenario 2
COMPUTER -- COMPUTER FIREWALL ------ ROUTER/MODEM ------ INTERNET.
The connection is being blocked by the firewall on your computer.
This is called the Windows Firewall, you can either allow the port in Windows Firewall OR get uTorrent to allow the port in Windows Firewall.
That's important! uTorrent does not port-forward, it allows an exception in the WINDOWS FIREWALL.
Scenario 3
COMPUTER -- COMPUTER FIREWALL ------ ROUTER/MODEM ------ INTERNET.
The connection is being blocked by the firewall on your Router/Modem and the Windows Firewall.
To fix this you will need to port forward and add an exception to the Windows Firewall.
But before uTorrent my port was closed, now it's open?
A lot of routers will use UPnP to automatically open required ports, many routers don't actually do this properly though - which is why I've found in most cases it doesn't actually work.
So, you've port-forwarded or your router has UPnP working the way you want and your port still is closed then you'll need to clear the Windows Firewall.
uTorrent then adds the Windows Firewall exception and the connection can now move freely between your computer and the internet.
So uTorrent hasn't port-forwarded, you have. uTorrent just fixed the Windows Firewall side of things.
Conclusion
So, if you come away with anything from this thread it should be this:
uTorrent does not port-forward, it creates a WINDOWS FIREWALL EXCEPTION; which is not the same as your router's firewall.
Hope this guide helps clear the uTorrent and port-forwarding confusion.