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Chapter 4

Advanced Configuration of the Router

This chapter describes how to configure the advanced features of your RP614v4 Cable/DSL

Router. These features can be found under the Advanced heading in the Main Menu of the browser

interface.

Configuring Port Triggering

Port Triggering is an advanced feature that can be used to easily enable gaming and other internet

applications. Port Forwarding is typically used to enable similar functionality, but it is static and

has some limitations.

Port Triggering opens an incoming port temporarily and does not require the server on the internet

to track your IP address if it is changed by DHCP, for example.

Port Triggering monitors outbound traffic. When the router detects traffic on the specified

outbound port, it remembers the IP address of the computer that sent the data and triggers the

incoming port. Incoming traffic on the triggered port is then forwarded to the triggering computer.

Using the Port Triggering page, you can make local computers or servers available to the Internet

for different services (for example, FTP or HTTP), to play Internet games (like Quake III), or to

use Internet applications (like CUseeMe).

Port Forwarding is designed for FTP, Web Server or other server based services. Once port

forwarding is set up, a request from the Internet will be forwarded to the proper server. In contrast,

port triggering will only allow request from Internet after a designated port is 'triggered'. Port

triggering applies to chat and Internet games.

Figure 4-1

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•

Port Triggering Timeout

Enter a value up to 9999 minutes. The Port Triggering Timeout value controls the inactivity

timer for the designated inbound port(s). The inbound port(s) will be closed when the

inactivity timer expires.

•

For Internet Games or Applications

Before starting, you'll need to know which service, application or game you'll be configuring.

Also, you'll need to have the outbound port (triggering port) address for this game or

application.

Follow these steps to set up a computer to play Internet games or use Internet applications:

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1.

Click

Add Service

.

Figure 4-2

2.

Enter a service name in the Service Name box.

3.

In the Service User box, selecting the default value of

Any

allows the service to be used by

everyone in your network. Otherwise, to restrict the service to a particular PC, select

Single

address

and enter the PC’s IP address.

4.

In the Service Type box, select between

TCP

(the default) and

UDP

.

5.

In the Triggering Port box, enter the outbound port number that the application will use.

6.

Set the parameters for the inbound connection—the connection type (TCP or UDP), the

starting port, and ending port numbers.

7.

Click

Apply

to save your changes.

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Configuring for Port Forwarding to Local Servers

Although the router causes your entire local network to appear as a single machine to the Internet,

you can make a local server (for example, a Web server or game server) visible and available to the

Internet. This is done using the Port Forwarding menu. From the Main Menu of the browser

interface, under Advanced, click on Port Forwarding to view the port forwarding menu, shown

below.

Figure 4-3

.

Use the Port Forwarding menu to configure the router to forward incoming protocols to computers

on your local network. In addition to servers for specific applications, you can also specify a

Default DMZ Server to which all other incoming protocols are forwarded. The DMZ Server is

configured in the Security Menu.

Before starting, you need to determine which type of service, application or game you will provide

and the IP address of the computer that will provide each service. Be sure the computer’s IP

address never changes. To configure port forwarding to a local server: