Port Forwarding

Many of the broadband ISP(Internet Service Provider) provides you a router instead of modem. A Router is a device that forwards data packets along network. A broadband router connect LAN(Local Area Network) and ISP's network. Routers use headers and forwarding tables to determine the best path for forwarding the packets. If you have a LAN or having multiple computers which connect to internet then router is best.

Every devices on the internet has an unique IP address which helps to identify that device in internet. In a router based internet connections your PC will not be directly connected to internet like connections using modem. This will seriously affect Online multiplayer games and P2P applications(eg: Bit Torrent).

Port Forwarding(tunneling) is basically forwarding a port from one node to the other. This technique allows an outside user to access a certain port (in a LAN) through a NAT (Network Address Translation) enabled router.

Check whether your connection is router based or not?

• Go to Run ([Windows key]+R or Start->Run)
• Type "cmd" and press [Enter] (for 95, 98 & ME use "command")
• It will open Command prompt. In that, type "ipconfig" and press [Enter]
• If the IP Address(IPv4 Address for Vista) & Default Gateway are in 192.168.x.x range then you have router.

Setup static IP for your PC

• In Windows XP, go to Control Panel->Network Connections. In Windows Vista, go to Control Panel->Network and sharing center->Manage network connections
• Right click on your connection and choose properties. It will open Local Area Network Connnection properties.
• Click on Internet Protocol [TCP/IP](TCP/IPv4 for vista) and click on Properties button.
• If it is not set as Obtain IP Address automatically then your IP is static.
• Otherwise type ipconfig/all in command prompt and note information such as IP Address, Subnet mask, Default Gateway and DNS Adresses.
• Click on the Use following IP address and fill in all the boxes using those values and click Ok button.
  

Setting up Port forwarding
Different applications and games uses different ports. Setting up port forwarding is different for all routers.
Visit website http://portforward.com/routers.htm and choose your router model. It will guide you how to set up port forwarding in your router.

Summary of steps involved:

1. Open your router's configuration page in your browser. for eg: http://192.168.1.1/ which is same as your gateway ip address.
2. It will ask for usernam and password. For username:password try admin:admin or admin:password or ZXDSL:ZXDSL or root:root or both blank.
3. Look for the page like "Port forwarding" or "Virtual Servers" or "NAT Configuration".
4. Click on the Add button or link.
5. For Server IP use your computer's IP. For eg: 192.168.1.2. External and Internal port range are same values. For Single port, give same port value for start and end. If you are not sure about protocol, set up for both TCP & UDP.
6. After configuring, you need to restart router.

Ports
Some of Game ports are listed below. If you cannot find your application/game in this list then go to website http://findports.com/document.php?id=1095

Game	Port(s)	Protocol
Age of Empires Age of Empires Expansion: Rise of Rome Age of Empires II: the Age of Kings Age of Empires II Expansion: The Conquerers Age of Wonders	47624	TCP
	2300-2400	TCP, UDP
	6073	TCP
America's Army	1716	???
Asheron's Call Asherson's Call Dark Majesty	9000-9013	UDP
Baldur's Gate	47624	TCP
	2300-2399	TCP
	2300-2399	UDP
Battlezone 2	17770	UDP
	17771	TCP, UDP
	17772	UDP
Blizzard Battle.Net	4000	TCP, UDP
	6112-6119	TCP, UDP
Close Combat Close Combat: A Bridge Too Far Close Combat III: The Russian Front	47624	TCP
	2300-2400	TCP
	2300-2400	UDP
Close Combat IV Close Combat V	47624	TCP
	2300-2400	TCP
	2300-2400	UDP
Counter Strike	27030-27039	TCP
	1200	UDP
	27000-27015	UDP
Diablo Diablo II Diablo II: Lord of Destruction	4000	TCP, UDP
Dungeon Siege	80	TCP
	2300	UDP
	6073	UDP
	2302-2400	UDP
Empire Earth	33334	UDP
	33335	TCP
GameSpy Arcade	6667	TCP
	3783	TCP
	27900	TCP
	28900	TCP
	29900	TCP
	29901	TCP
Half-life	27015	TCP
Kali	2213 + 1 for each client	TCP
MechWarrior 4:Vengeance	6073	TCP
	2302-2400	UDP
	27999	TCP
	28000	TCP
	28805-28808	TCP
	9999	TCP
Microsoft DirectPlay4 DirectX7 Lobbyable App	47624	TCP
	2300-2400	TCP
	2300-2400	UDP
Microsoft DirectPlay8 DX8 Lobbyable App	6073	UDP
	2302-2400	UDP
Microsoft DirectX 7 CART Precision Racing, version 1.0 Combat Flight Simulator Flight Simulator MechCommander 2.0 Midtown Madness Monster Truck Madness Motocross Madness Urban Assault	47624	TCP
	2300-2400	TCP
	2300-2400	UDP
Neverwinter Nights	5120-5300	UDP
	6500	UDP
	27900	UDP
	28900	UDP
Quake 4	28004	UDP
	27950	UDP
Sacrifice	6073	UDP
	2302-2400	UDP
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds	47624	TCP
	2300-2400	TCP
	2300-2400	UDP
Starcraft Starcraft: Brood War	4000	TCP
Unreal Tournament	7777	TCP, UDP
Warrock	5340	TCP
	5350	UDP
World of Warcraft	3723	TCP
	6112	TCP
	6881-6999	TCP
World War II Online	27015-27020	TCP
Microsoft Zone.com	6667	TCP
	28800-29000	TCP

DMZ
This is a feature included in some routers. A DMS allows router to forward all the ports to a single machine. If you are the only one who uses internet through that router then I recommend you to set up DMZ instead of port forwarding. It will make your router act like modem.
Setting up DMZ is very simple. First setup static IP for your PC. Then in the DMZ configuration on your router, give your computer's IP in the Server IP address box and click Save or Ok. After configuring, you need to restart router.