Port Forwarding / Port Triggering Help

Port triggering is an advanced feature that you can use for gaming and other Internet applications. Port forwarding can typically be used to enable similar functionality, but it is static and has some limitations.

Port triggering opens an incoming port temporarily and does not require the server on the Internet to track your IP address if it is changed by DHCP, for example.

Port triggering monitors outbound traffic. When the router detects traffic on the specified outbound port, it remembers the IP address of the computer that sent the data and triggers the incoming port. Incoming traffic on the triggered port is then forwarded to the triggering computer.

Using the Port Forwarding / Port Triggering screen, you can make local computers or servers available to the Internet for different services (for example, FTP or HTTP), to play Internet games (like Quake III), or to use Internet applications (like CU-SeeMe).

Port forwarding is designed for FTP, Web server, or other server-based services. Once port forwarding is set up, requests from the Internet are forwarded to the proper server.

Port triggering allows requests from the Internet only after a designated port is triggered. Port triggering applies to chat and Internet games.

Port Forwarding

For the services, applications, or games that already exist in the drop-down list, you need to specify only the computer's IP address. Otherwise, you should specify the port number and computer's IP address for each service, game, or application by clicking the Add Custom Service button.

Port Assignment

You can make up to 20 different port assignments for Internet services, applications, or games. In the Service Namelists, you can select a service, an application, or a game. If you do not see an item that you want to use in any of the lists, check with the software or game developer for the correct port numbers to use.

For Internet Services

Before starting, you need to determine which type of services you will provide and the IP address of the computer that will provide those services. The most common services you would provide are a Web (HTTP) server or FTP server.

To set up a computer or server to be accessible to the Internet for an Internet service:

  1. Select the Internet service you want to use from the Service Name list.
  2. Type the IP address of the computer in the Internal IP Addressfield.
  3. Click Add.

Note: You might have a single computer or server available for more than one type of service. To do that, select another service, and type the same IP address for that computer or server.

For Internet Games or Applications

Before starting, you need to know which service, application, or game you will be configuring. Also, you need to have the IP address for the computer that you want to use.

To set up a computer to play Internet games or use Internet applications:

  1. Select the Internet application or game you want to use from one of the relevant lists.
    The External Start Port, External End Port, Internal Start Port and Internal End Port fields are filled in.
    b>Note: If you cannot find the game or application you want in one of the lists, click the Add Custom Service button, and enter the service name, external starting port, external ending port, internal starting port, internal ending port, and internal IP address.
  2. Type the IP address of the computer in the Internal IP Address field.
  3. Click Add.

To set up an additional computer to play, for example, Hexen II or KALI:

  1. Click the Add Custom Service button.
  2. Type the service name in the Service Name field.
  3. Type the beginning port number in the External Starting Port field.
    For these games, use the default number, and add 1 for each additional computer. For example, if you have already configured one computer to play Hexen II using port 26900, the second computer's port number would be 26901, and the third computer's port number would be 26902.
  4. Type the same port number in the External Ending Port field.
  5. Type the IP address of the computer in the Internal IP Address field.
  6. Click Apply.

To modify a service entry:

  1. Select the entry's radio button in the table.
  2. Click Edit Service.
  3. Modify the information in the Service Name,External Starting Port, External Ending Port, Internal Starting Port, Internal Ending Port and Internal IP Addressfields.
  4. Click Apply.

To delete a service entry:

  1. Select the entry's radio button in the table.
  2. Click Delete Service.