How to Create Ports on a Linksys

Port forwarding opens ports on your router.

When you install a Linksys router on your network, the router is configured to block all ports. However, you can forward ports to an internal machine in the network. This opens ports for use on your Linksys router. The Linksys router has a console accessible by your computer's web browser. Using the console, you can open one or several ports for use on the network. This is beneficial for several types of setups such as Remote Desktop use, gaming and web hosting.

Instructions

1. Open your web browser and enter the IP address for your Linksys into the address text box. The default IP address for your Linksys router is 192.168.1.1.

2. Enter your user name and password for the console application. The default information is a blank user name and the password is "admin."

3. Click the "Application and Gaming" button on the console. This opens a window with a list of text boxes where you can open ports on the Linksys.

4. Enter a name for the port. This can be any recognizable name that makes it easy for you to manage the network settings. Enter a port number you want to open. Select "Both" for the protocol drop-down box and then enter a target machine in the "IP Address" text box. The target machine is the computer that hosts the application for the port. For instance, if you are running a website, enter the IP address of the web server. Check the "Enable" button to finalize the settings and open the port.

5. Click the "Save Settings" button and close the Linksys console. The port is now open for use on your network.

References

• Port Forward: Port Forwarding for Linksys Routers