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Port forwarding is a nightmare

Networking
Fox425
By Fox425
Jul 24, 2006
  1. Ok, I have a really annoying problem. In short, I want to host my own game server for other friends to join. The ports I need are 28960 (TCP) and 20500,20510,20600,20610, 28960 (UDP). I have a ZOOM X4 modem/router with 3 computers connected to it. I have followed ZOOM's help guides EXACTLY to forward the ports to MY LOCAL IP (which is 10.0.0.7). So, information for those ports should be allowed for me, right? wrong.

    I go to www.canyouseeme.org, check if 28960 is open, and it returns with:

    "I could not see your service on 82.153.104.179 on port (28960)
    Reason: Connection refused"

    However, other ports that are forwarded DO work properly! For example, eMule (p2p file sharing) uses ports 4662 (TCP) and 4672 (UDP), and I follow the EXACT same port forwarding routine as I do for the game host ports. Emule has built in port-checker which gives the green light and says the ports are open. However, CANYOUSEEME.ORG doesn't say they are open it's just:

    "I could not see your service on 82.153.104.179 on port (4662)
    Reason: Connection refused"

    But theres more. Today I found 3 extra rules that ZOOM had on default. These rules blocked ports 21, 23 and 80. I have deleted these rules and these ports are now open. CANYOUSEEME.ORG comes up with:

    "I can see your service on 82.153.104.179 on port (21)
    Your ISP is not blocking port 21"

    Does anyone have a clue what I'm doing wrong? I've been trying for about 6 months to get an answer to this. No, I don't have windows firewall on, or any firewall for that matter. And I only want to forward ports to MY PC, so that I can host a game server.

    Thanks to anyone in advance who read this and is now trying to figure out what the hell I'm talking about :giddy:
     
    Fox425, Jul 24, 2006
    #1
  2. Didou

    Didou Bowtie extraordinair! Posts: 5,899

    Could it be the Firewall on your machine blocking the requests ?
     
    Didou, Jul 24, 2006
    #2
  3. Fox425

    Fox425 TS Rookie Topic Starter

    Nope, Zonealarm is off entirely, so is the windows firewall
     
    Fox425, Jul 24, 2006
    #3
  4. jobeard

    jobeard TS Ambassador Posts: 13,661   +368

    good reasoning on (c). 21 is ftp, 23 is telnet, 80 is http(web server); strongly suggest you restore those rules.
    the reply on (c) gives you a hint re ISP ability to block ports at will.
    as a non-hosted, ISP client, the EULA usually forbids running any services on
    your system (you need to purchase a service upgrade). ports above 1024 can
    be used and you might get away with it, but in the end, they find you by monitoring
    bandwidth consumption -- so be advised -- you might even get totally disconnectd :dead:

    that said, make sure you perform your testing with the application running!
    a reply like connection refused says there's no application to make a reply,
    while a reply like Connection timed out says the modem/router did not
    forward and applied 'the default rejection rule' -- in this case a stealthy IGNORE
     
    jobeard, Jul 24, 2006
    #4
  5. Fox425

    Fox425 TS Rookie Topic Starter

    I didn't know the ISP could actually do that, nor that it was something frowned upon. The reason I've deleted the other rules was that I need to upload via ftp and the user manual said to remove the rule.

    I see what you mean about the program having to be running. Just tried 462 with emule running and it gives the green light, so i'll try the game next.
     
    Fox425, Jul 24, 2006
    #5
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