Port Forwarding LAN

**wilted_black13** · July 6th, 2007, 08:34 PM

I am rather bittorrent inapt so please be patient with me [:

now I've found my IP address but i have no clue how to find which router I have. I have LAN connected to another computer in my house,should i be looking on that computer that hosts the connection? Or should I attempt to find a manual that I have no idea where it might be?

I've tested a few ports on my computer and none of them seem to really be working :/
so if someone could point me in the right direction I'd be infinitely thankful.

**Cheesy_member** · July 13th, 2007, 02:02 AM

click start - run - then type in cmd then enter
once dos window open type ipconfig then enter
this should list default gateway, which will be the router address, type this into internet explorer addy bar

you should then be asked for username password, this may be dfault - try looking up on goole the default username password for it - or try Admin, Password

**phy54** · July 13th, 2007, 05:02 AM

goto

Code:

www.portforward.com

and follow the instructions for your router so you can open the port and get better speeds.

netgear routers: admin:password
linksys: admin:admin (or leave the username blank and just enter a password)

it's usually one of those two. if they don't work just search google for your router make and login url.

**enter8** · July 14th, 2007, 10:05 PM

www.portforward.com is hugely helpful and walks you through all the necessary steps.

Having instructions is great, but I've also found it helpful to have a basic understanding of the process involved.

The way I see it, ports are virtual lines of communication. Think about living in a house where you have an unlimited number of phone lines with an unlimited number of phone numbers. You could have your plumber call you on one line and your friend Sally call you on another. One phone line could be dedicated to your fishing hobby and another to model airplanes. Just like you can use different phone lines for different purposes, you can set up different pieces of software to use different ports. When you specify a port in P2P software, you're specifying the pathway for communication to take between the outside world and you.

Beyond having an infinite number of phone lines to the outside world, imagine your home possessing a switchboard that filters all incoming calls. "If anyone other than my plumber calls on my plumber line, I won't accept the call" No problem. A router is a type of switchboard. A firewall is a type of switchboard. You have to tell these virtual switchboards which lines you're accepting calls on and for what purpose. This is done by opening and forwarding ports. In other words, your router and firewall software, for security purposes, are limiting who can speak to you. You're telling them that it's okay (under a very specific set of circumstances).

The other factor in this equation is understanding addressing. When you connect one computer to a single modem, the outside world sees that computer by the ip address assigned by the internet provider (to see what number the outside world sees you as, go to www.ipchicken.com). When you add a router to the mix, the router takes on the identity of that external ip address and assigns subaddresses to the computers on your network. It's a little like having one main number to get into the switchboard and then extensions to reach everyone in the office. These extensions/subaddresses can be generated automatically or they can be defined permanently. In order to forward ports, these subaddresses have to be defined.

One other thing that helps me to understand port forwarding is taking the term 'forwarding' quite literally. In my head, I picture lines of communication that meet at a security point, a security point that restricts which lines can/cannot pass. When you forward a port, you're literally moving a line from an unaccessible point to the security point where it can be accessed- from behind the router/firewall to the router/firewall.

If anyone wants to correct me, feel free. I still have a lot to learn. If someone has better analogies than phone lines/switchboards feel free to share those as well. Figuring out this rough sketch has helped me to understand ports/port forwarding, so I wanted to share it.