Help opening ports, port forwarding, or whatever I need to do to get a P2P working?

[truanifan678]

I hope I can ask this here and that this is the right section... If not, I'm very sorry. I looked at other posts and it seemed like the right place...

So here's the thing: I'm totally Windows stupid and I'm not proud of it. ｡：ﾟ(/´△`＼)ﾟ･｡ I've read as many tutorials as I could make sense out of, but nothing is working and I'm totally lost to the point of crying.

I need to open a port for a P2P application, but everything I try always results in canyouseeme.org saying the port is closed.

I've set up a static ip on my Windows computer, I believe I have a DHCP thing set up on my router, I've going into my router and set up port forwarding (putting the start and end ports and selecting TCP), I've even tried DMZ (whatever that is. I just followed the tutorial), I've set up the Windows firewall to let my selected port through, I've set the system up to allow the application through...

I have no idea where to go from here.

I have an SBG6580 Motorola that connects to a Time Capsule that creates a wifi network for everything to connect to. I'd take the Time Capsule out of the mix except I use it for storage between computers.

I tried another forum somewhere else, but they kept telling me that everything would work if I just followed the tutorials. Except something isn't working. ( ; _ ; )

I'm totally lost and confused. I worry I made a mess out of my settings.

Can anybody offer some help or direct me to a site/forum that may be able to help me?

[Kojichan]

Lessie, sounds like you got through most of it, judging by how much technobabble you talked about. ^_^ You do moderately understand it by the sounds of it.

I'm guessing this was the place where you found your tutorials?
( Port forwarding the Motorola SBG6580 router. ) ?

But yes, the firsts steps are to make sure your computer has a static internal IP. DHCP mode on your Motorola modem is optional, from a more advanced standpoint. The only thing you really need to make sure of, is that all the devices that are connected to the Motorola device have different internal IP Addresses.

A good way to do this, is to keep the DHCP mode on, and let it do it's thing, but set a static internal IP on your computer that is at a "higher number" than the others. For example, if DHCP is on, most internal IP's start like this: 192.168.0.100, 192.168.0.101 ... etc. If you have 5 devices that use the internet, you can guarantee that at least 5 internal IP's will be used. So set up your computer's static internal IP to something like this: 192.168.0.200 <-- It's much bigger.

---

Do you remember how to set up a static internal IP on your computer? (Click the spoiler to see, I may have something different than you, so take a peek)

Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network Connections > Right-click on your network device and select "Properties" from the bottom.

In the box find the option called:
Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)

click on it, then click on the button labelled [ Properties ]

The newest popup window there are two sets of select boxes. Select both of these options: 'Use the following IP address' and 'Use the following DNS server addresses'

In the first IP Address box, type in: 192.168.0.200
In the second box, it will automatically fill in the area with 255.255.255.0
In the third box type: 192.168.0.1 (Alternatively, this should be the IP Address that you use to connect to your Motorola device. It might be a different IP, like 192.168.1.1 I'm not sure what the default address for Motorola devices specifically)

For the next box set with the DNS servers, use these values:
Preferred: 8.8.8.8
Alternate: 8.8.4.4

Those are Google's DNS servers, super fast, super free, and works very nice.

Afterward it should look like this:
Attachment 164161
Click OK, and close this config window. We're done here!

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Now you mentioned using Windows Firewall, but a quick question... Are you using an AntiVirus software by any chance?

If so, let me know what it is, and I'll see if it needs to be setup to allow outside connections as well. For now, on to Windows Firewall!

Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Windows Firewall

On the left-hand panel, click on the text named "Advanced Settings". A new window will pop up.

There are three panels in this window, we'll use only the left side. Ignore the others as they will most likely confuse you. I'm sorry.

Click on the label on the left named 'Inbound Rules', right-click on it, and select the top option of 'New Rule'
Attachment 164163

A Wizard will pop up. It's actually really easy at this point, just like installing a game. Select the top option "Program", then click Next. Browse to find the program you want to make P2P, then click Next. Click on 'Allow the connection' option, and then Next... Next again, leave those boxes checked, Name your new rule something easy to remember what it is, in case you need to find/edit it. Then hit FINISH.

You should also do the exact same thing for an 'Outbound Rule'. The process is exactly the same, just make sure to click on the 'Outbound Rules' before following the above.

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Now lastly, we'll edit the Modem... I'll save that for another post, though. I'll let you finish with this first. I posted too big again, sorry!! Don't be daunted by the post.

[truanifan678]

( º ᗨ º ) Okay~!! Followed all those steps!

I'm not daunted at all! After all the tutorials I've fumbled through I really appreciate your easy to follow instructions! Thank you!!

[Kojichan]

J'en aiAlrighty then! ^_^; I'm glad.

Do you have an Antivirus program? I'm just wondering if you do, because I may have to guide you through a setting on it as well... In the mean time, let's get your modem going. (Sorry for the lateness of this reply)

So let's sign into your Motorola, I'm not sure what it's IP address is, but it might be something like this: http://192.168.0.1/

So go ahead and sign in. At the top there should be some tabs. Click on the 'Advanced' tab. At this point, there are two options. One is Port Forwarding, the other is DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). Gaming Consoles are usually best used for DMZ mode, especially if you only have one that goes on line. Like My PS3 is in DMZ because I can't play Assassin's Creed Online without it for some stupid reason. ;

Anywho... Port Forwarding takes a bit more time, but it reduces risks if you're setting up your computer for servers, and if there are only a few ports that need to go through.

DMZ works best if you have a buttload of ports, and/or port forwarding just really doesn't work.

Here they are!

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Port Fowarding:

If you went through one of the tutorials earlier, this might look familiar. Click on the left button named 'Forwarding'.

Now that your computer has the internal IP of 192.168.0.200 (Remember we set it to 200?), we can now try to set these up...

You'll need a list of all the Port numbers that your P2P program is going to use, so gather them up. I don't know what they are, so I'll use hypothetical numbers here. I will use port 80, 1616 through 1620 and 4242.

In the first column, 'Local IP Adr', those boxes will be your 200. Both 'Start Port' and 'End Port' will be identical, if you only have a single port to worry about. (For example, they would both be 80 for the first row). Leave protocol to 'Both', and make sure the checkbox is selected, to enable it.

Repeat in the other boxes below for each port as necessary. If you have a port number set, or a sequence of port numbers (1616 <-> 1620 from my example up above), then the 'Start Port' would be 1616, and the 'End Port' would be 1620. It will use ALL the ports in between.

Don't use the 'Start Port' for port 0 and 'End Port' for port 9999. That is a very silly thing to do. ^^;; Just add a new line for each port you have need of.

Once that's done, hit 'Apply'.

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DMZ Mode:

In the left menu click on 'DMZ Host', and in the text box provided, type in 200. Remember 200? We set your computer up for that IP earlier. Click 'Apply'!

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After you have chosen either of those options, you might have to reset your modem temporarily to refresh it's configuration, and, theoretically, things should work.

Go ahead and try your port checking. Some P2P programs will have their own ability to check to see if your ports are free, and pointing to the internets. And some online port checking programs won't explicitly see the port being open, so they aren't 100% always accurate.

[truanifan678]

I'm not sure if I have an antivirus program. The laptop is a hand-me-down and I'm Windows illiterate. I don't even know how to find out if I have one.... I think maybe my sister had Norton on it, but I don't know if it expired or if it's still active.

I'm feeling more pathetic with each passing post...

I followed the steps you mentioned, but I tried a few port checking sites and they said my port is still closed.
( ⸍╥ ㅁ ╥⸌)

The ip listed on the port checking sites list is different that the 192.168.0.200. Does that mean something?

Thank you so much for helping me with this! m( _ _ )m I really appreciate you going through all the trouble of writing everything out. ^^

[Kojichan]

I'm not sure if I have an antivirus program. The laptop is a hand-me-down and I'm Windows illiterate. I don't even know how to find out if I have one.... I think maybe my sister had Norton on it, but I don't know if it expired or if it's still active.

I'm feeling more pathetic with each passing post...

I followed the steps you mentioned, but I tried a few port checking sites and they said my port is still closed.
( ⸍╥ ㅁ ╥⸌)

The ip listed on the port checking sites list is different that the 192.168.0.200. Does that mean something?

Thank you so much for helping me with this! m( _ _ )m I really appreciate you going through all the trouble of writing everything out. ^^

No worries! It's actually very tough to get computers to be "Open" like that on the internet, now a days, because of all the different "layers" of protection.

And yeah, for Antivirus I'm talking about things like Norton Antivirus, or others. They also have their own firewalls to try and protect your computer.


And as for the IP thing... there are two types of IP's. There's the IP address your ISP has given you, which is what you're seeing on those "What is my IP?" websites, and then there's the 'Internal IP Address'. The Internal one is what each device connected to your Modem gets. The modem only ever gets one IP address, but it has to share it with all the devices in your house. So to do this, the modem gives out Internal IP address'. An internal IP address usually starts with 192.168.*.* It's perfectly fine. ^_^

Hmm, I have a request... If you're willing to let me, and I show you how, would I be able to "navigate" on your computer? I would be able to type chat with you in real time, and see your computer, and might be able to help you with it.

If so, PM me and I'll show you a really super simple program that helps.



Something I've been thinking of since yesterday, was something I hope isn't causing the issue. Some ISP's will target specific P2P programs, and block them on purpose. Some ISP's also don't allow "Running Servers", which some P2P programs do in order to share files. (Torrents sort of do this, but they're a gray area).

[lemur7]

Hi,I have no idea if I can truly help you,,but I'll give it a try
it actually sounds like something is in conflict .... it could just be you need to re-download what ever that P2P program your using is ....you did not mention it so ...I have no idea which one your talking about....

you can try adding in your antivirus program "allow this program" ....if its norton click on its taskbar icon somewhere in there should be the place to make that choice...

but it could very well be that your IPS is actually blocking all P2P on their end ...even though it is actually not legal to do so....they have been know it do that(eg comcast,Bell Canada,Rogers)

if I knew just what your trying to get going it would be a bit easier....
BUT ...it could be your computer itself needs an older version of said program to be able to run it correctly

[truanifan678]

Thank you so much for all the replies and for working with me. I've been really busy (had some RL junk) and haven't had a chance to stop by the forum. I apologize for not replying sooner.

It's working! I'm not sure if something changed from the last time I shut my computer down, if it was because I tried resetting the router, or what, but it's working! Thank you, thank you so much for all the help! I wouldn't have been able to get it working without the help and I'm so grateful!

Thank you so much!!
m(＿ ＿)m

@lemur7 the P2P program I'm using is Share EX2. I know it's not as great as Perfect Dark (or so I hear), but it was the one recommended to me to get a specific file.

Thank you so, so much! Everybody's been such a great help!

(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)ﾉｼ

[lemur7]

so very glad to hear its working now !
best of luck getting that file you wanted...and once you do have it..enjoy!!!