• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.
  • The forums have been upgraded with support for dark mode. By default it will follow the setting on your system/browser. You may override it by scrolling to the end of the page and clicking the gears icon.

Help with port forwarding

You already have existing settings for ports 27014-27050 under the name Cold war. That seems like a fair validation check.
Yeah, I noticed.

What if I run out of External ports? How do I input the other Internal ports?

You already have an entry for those external ports. Also arn't the internal port numbers supposed to match the external port numbers because essentially your trying to pass-though the traffic to the target pc on the same ports?
I don't understand very well. I have learning difficulties. Feel so demoralised.

I know it must seem like I'm useless, need stuff explaining to me all the time.

Sorry.
 
Last edited:
Yeah, I noticed.

What if I run out of External ports? How do I input the other Internal ports?


I don't understand very well. I have learning difficulties. Feel so demoralised.
Here is what I think should happen... ( simple view )
As long as you are not reconfiguring the games port setup I think you should be mapping the external port (or range) to the same internal port (or range). Does this make sense now?

If your friends are going to your home town to visit you it's like you told them you are at MacDonalds but you ended up giving them the directions to Burger King. They are in the correct city but going to the wrong street address.
1725027689442.png


So this entry I think you got correct.
1725027412182.png
 
Last edited:
Here is what I think should happen...
View attachment 361355

So this entry I think you got correct.
View attachment 361356

You already have an entry for those external ports. Also arn't the internal port numbers supposed to match the external port numbers because essentially your trying to pass-though the traffic to the target pc on the same ports?

in other words this doesn't seem right to me unless you are specifying custom ports for your game for your internal network. (the items in red)

View attachment 361354

To better illustrate what I mean...For example lets say you have a webserver you want to expose from your internal network you might specify external port range 80-80 mapped to internal port range 80-80 to the given server on the internal network. Now if the webserver on the internal network was configured for port 60100 instead you would map external port range 80-80 to internal port range 60100-60100. Does this make sense?
Still doesn't, no. I'm sorry.

Cold War works now on open nat type. Big spliff time methinks.
 
Still doesn't, no. I'm sorry.

Cold War works now on open nat type. Big spliff time methinks.
Sorry for all the edits/re-edits.

Basically if your friends are going to your home town to visit you it's like you told them you are at MacDonalds but you ended up giving them the directions to Burger King. They are in the correct city but going to the wrong street address. If MacDonalds is the (external address) then you need to be at MacDonalds (internal address)
 
Sorry for all the edits/re-edits.

Basically if your friends are going to your home town to visit you it's like you told them you are at MacDonalds but you ended up giving them the directions to Burger King. They are in the correct city but going to the wrong street address. If MacDonalds is the (external address) then you need to be at MacDonalds (internal address)
Please don't apologise, you are trying your best to help me.

I'm in a bit of a state now. I'll try again in a bit.

Reason I get confused is that the list of COD games has so many ports, I just thought they would be copy left side, copy right side boom. Done.

Right. From this list, how would I input these? There are more ports on the right than left. If it was just "3074 - 3074" I'd get that, but it's not.
Howdoi.png
 
Yeah, I noticed.

What if I run out of External ports? How do I input the other Internal ports?


I don't understand very well. I have learning difficulties. Feel so demoralised.

I know it must seem like I'm useless, need stuff explaining to me all the time.

Sorry.
you dont need to add separate rule for all cod games.
as soon as you have forwarding rule for curtain range of ports your router doesnt care which cod game will use it
so for example 27014-27050 is used from cold war, vanguard, modern warfare etc.
you set it once in the router and all COD games that need it will use it.
then you have 27015 used by modern warfare 2&3 and warzone. since 27015 is included in the range 27014-27050 (remember 27017-27050=27014, 27015, 27016, 27017..... 27049, 27050) so you dont need to setup separate rule for it because it is already forwarded from the previous rule you've set (this one
1725033307596.png
)
also you cant run out of ports (internal or external) so dont worry about that.

Right. From this list, how would I input these? There are more ports on the right than left. If it was just "3074 - 3074" I'd get that, but it's not.
Howdoi.png
you add only uniq entries in this case 3074 (you have it already so you can skip it), 3478, 4000 (done with mw3), 4379-4380, 6112-6119 (already done with mw32), 20500 (also have this already), 20510 (done with mw34), 27000-27031, 27036(it is included in 27014-27050) and 28960
 
Last edited:
Please don't apologise, you are trying your best to help me.

I'm in a bit of a state now. I'll try again in a bit.

Reason I get confused is that the list of COD games has so many ports, I just thought they would be copy left side, copy right side boom. Done.

Right. From this list, how would I input these? There are more ports on the right than left. If it was just "3074 - 3074" I'd get that, but it's not.
View attachment 361374
Here is what I would try, not to say that it's the only way.

ruleexternalinternalprotocol
A - tcp/udp example where port ranges match up in chart3074-30743074-3074tcp/udp
B - tcp example where port ranges don't match up in chart4000-40004000-4000tcp only
C - tcp/udp example where port ranges match chart6112-61196112-6119tcp/udp
D - udp example where port ranges don't match up in chart4379-43804379-4380udp only
E - another tcp only example27014-2705027014-27050tcp only
F - another udp only example27000-2703127000-27031udp only

1725033972969.png
 
you dont need to add separate rule for all cod games.
as soon as you have forwarding rule for curtain range of ports your router doesnt care which cod game will use it
so for example 27014-27050 is used from cold war, vanguard, modern warfare etc.
you set it once in the router and all COD games that need it will use it.
then you have 27015 used by modern warfare 2&3 and warzone. since 27015 is included in the range 27014-27050 (remember 27017-27050=27014, 27015, 27016, 27017..... 27049, 27050) so you dont need to setup separate rule for it because it is already forwarded from the previous rule you've set (this oneView attachment 361373)
also you cant run out of ports (internal or external) so dont worry about that.


you add only uniq entries in this case 3074 (you have it already so you can skip it), 3478, 4000 (done with mw3), 4379-4380, 6112-6119 (already done with mw32), 20500 (also have this already), 20510 (done with mw34), 27000-27031, 27036(it is included in 27014-27050) and 28960
Here is what I would try, not to say that it's the only way.

ruleexternalinternalprotocol
A - tcp/udp example where port ranges match up in chart3074-30743074-3074tcp/udp
B - tcp example where port ranges don't match up in chart4000-40004000-4000tcp only
C - tcp/udp example where port ranges match chart6112-61196112-6119tcp/udp
D - udp example where port ranges don't match up in chart4379-43804379-4380udp only

View attachment 361377
I've just destroyed my kitchen door. I just can't understand. It's like all the numbers run round the screen.
 
I've just destroyed my kitchen door. I just can't understand. It's like all the numbers run round the screen.
Ok then take a step back and take a breather. Just take one number at a time then to make it easy. Always one step at a time...

Step 1: Enter 4000 for internal and external and TCP for protocol, save
1725035787844.png

Step 2: Enter 6112-6119 for internal and external and TCP for protocol, save
1725035837964.png

Step 3: Enter 20500 for internal and external and TCP for protocol, save
1725035892644.png


...just keep doing that for all the number sets in the TCP column.

When you are done with the TCP column move to the UDP column and do the same thing one number set at a time...

Step 4: Enter 3478 for internal and external and UDP for protocol, save
1725036043457.png


Step 5: Enter 4379-4380 for internal and external and UDP for protocol, save
1725036070865.png


etc...
 
We're all neglecting the part where OP is probably double NAT'd at the ISP level and none of this matters. I have this issue and have to tunnel apps to my VPS if I want ports forwarded.

TLDR of that means you can't port forward if your ISP is double NAT'd. Some of them will offer to upgrade your service for more money to allow it.

--

Should also note that a moderate NAT in COD gets you the same ping as an open NAT. So if that's the end goal, you're wasting your time fretting over it. I'm pretty sure a moderate NAT just means you won't get paired with people who have a closed NAT.
 
This is just embarrassing now. Still stuck and lost despite all these instructions.
hmmm.png
 
This is just embarrassing now. Still stuck and lost despite all these instructions.
View attachment 361460

We're all neglecting the part where OP is probably double NAT'd at the ISP level and none of this matters. I have this issue and have to tunnel apps to my VPS if I want ports forwarded.

TLDR of that means you can't port forward if your ISP is double NAT'd. Some of them will offer to upgrade your service for more money to allow it.

--

Should also note that a moderate NAT in COD gets you the same ping as an open NAT. So if that's the end goal, you're wasting your time fretting over it. I'm pretty sure a moderate NAT just means you won't get paired with people who have a closed NAT.
 
I'm not double nat'd as I've made Cold War open nat with just 2 rules.

I'm like trying to get blood out of a stone. I once went almost insane worrying about ohmage on speakers. Got told by my mates Mrs to shut the fuck up about it or leave their house...

Right. Should I just delete all the MW3 rules and start from scratch? Also I tried just entering just the TCP/UDP addresses and it refused to save it. I know I'm hard work but I want to succeed at this and not give up.
 
I'm not double nat'd as I've made Cold War open nat with just 2 rules.

I'm like trying to get blood out of a stone. I once went almost insane worrying about ohmage on speakers. Got told by my mates Mrs to shut the fuck up about it or leave their house...

Right. Should I just delete all the MW3 rules and start from scratch?
Yes, well at least those that were wrong or simply correct them. (see below)
Also I tried just entering just the TCP/UDP addresses and it refused to save it. I know I'm hard work but I want to succeed at this and not give up.
You had a couple that you did perfect. Focus on that and just repeat and build on that success.

Below in green = good. I tried to indicate corrections below... you were almost there just some corrections needed.

1725125256551.png


I'm not double nat'd as I've made Cold War open nat with just 2 rules.
I think ShiBDiB is talking about your Internet Service Provider - not your local network.
 
Yes, well at least those that were wrong or simply correct them. (see below)

You had a couple that you did perfect. Focus on that and just repeat and build on that success.

Below in green = good. I tried to indicate corrections below... you were almost there just some corrections needed.

View attachment 361572


I think ShiBDiB is talking about your Internet Service Provider - not your local network.
I think it makes sense now! Thank you for helping me, means a lot!

However, I know what an ISP is, haha.

This look okay?
Look alright.png
 
The line for mw36 looks wrong. I think you meant to enter external: 27000-27031, internal: 27000-27031
Now with all this done is COD working as you expected?
 
The line for mw36 looks wrong. I think you meant to enter external: 27000-27031, internal: 27000-27031
Now with all this done is COD working as you expected?
No, it's still shite, lmao.
 
This type of port forwarding configuration stuff is hell when you don't do it often or ever. The frustration level is understandable. It's up there with de clogging the head nozzle on a printer and it using up like half the ink in the new cartridge you just bought for it.
 
I've tried entering values and sometimes they just refuse to take, despite following the instructions carefully. Makes me feel really stupid.
 
You wouldn't be the first technology makes just about all of us feel stupid from time to time. It defiantly is confusing figuring out port forwarding and server configuration. They both need to be set just right or won't work as intended.

If you had some other servers working before try matching the ports and configuration files to those.
 
Hi Blaeza, just to exclude 2 other factors from this:

- when you first ran the game(s) did you allow access to public networks too (in the UAC prompt)? If no, that could be a reason;
- is it possible that you have an antivirus suite that also replaces the windows firewall with its own? If yes, that could also be a possibility, I ran into issues with those.

The reason I'm asking is because I didn't had to set any port FW rules for any game in the last 10 years at least, so it's a bit perplexing to me and I thought that maybe the issue could be somewhere else.

My 2c.
 
Hi Blaeza, just to exclude 2 other factors from this:

- when you first ran the game(s) did you allow access to public networks too (in the UAC prompt)? If no, that could be a reason;
- is it possible that you have an antivirus suite that also replaces the windows firewall with its own? If yes, that could also be a possibility, I ran into issues with those.

The reason I'm asking is because I didn't had to set any port FW rules for any game in the last 10 years at least, so it's a bit perplexing to me and I thought that maybe the issue could be somewhere else.

My 2c.
I always allow connectivity from UAC prompts and my only antivirus is win defender.

I've only been on PC 4 years. I've always had moderate nat when I was on Xbox 360/1, so I just wanted to have the most open connection possible for the first time.

I think I'm incompetent at technical things like this.
 
I always allow connectivity from UAC prompts and my only antivirus is win defender.

I've only been on PC 4 years. I've always had moderate nat when I was on Xbox 360/1, so I just wanted to have the most open connection possible for the first time.

I think I'm incompetent at technical things like this.
You're not incompetent and I didn't meant it that way, just checking to be sure, sometimes the problem is elsewhere than we think at first.

Try another way:
- make only one rule TCP/UDP: external range 3074-28960, internal range 3074-28960. If that doesn't work I'm out of ideas to be honest.
 
Back
Top