How to Port-Forward With a Linksys
In networking, "port forwarding" tells your switch or router to automatically forward a certain type of communication directly to a computer. Port forwarding makes it possible for inbound communication to reach the right computer. Configure port forwarding on your Linksys router if you are operating a server or running a file-sharing program and need others to be able to reach your computer.
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Instructions
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Open a Web browser. Type "192.168.1.1" in the "Address" field and press "Enter." The Linksys router prompts you for a user name and password. Enter the user name and password that you selected when setting the router up. If you never changed the log-in credentials, leave the "User Name" field empty and enter the password "admin." You will be taken to the configuration utility for the Linksys router.
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Click the "Applications & Gaming" tab at the top of the window.
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Click a box under the "Applications" column and type the name of the program that you are creating a port forwarding rule for.
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Enter the starting and ending numbers of the port range that you would like to forward. If you are forwarding only one port, make both numbers the same.
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Click the drop-down menu under "Protocol" and select whether you would like to forward the TCP (Transport Control Protocol) port, the UDP (User Datagram Protocol) port or both. If you do not know which to select, choose "Both."
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Enter the Internet protocol address of the computer that you want to forward the selected port to.
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Place a check in the box labeled "Enable," and then click "Save Settings."
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Tips & Warnings
To configure a port-forwarding rule, you need to know the port number(s) used by the application that you are creating the rule for. Use the link in Resources or the support website for the application that you are configuring the rule for to get help.
The instructions in this article are specific to the Linksys WRT54G2 router. While many other Linksys routers share a similar interface, covering all Linksys routers is beyond the scope of one article. Consult the instruction manual for your router if you do not see any of the menu options described in this article.
References
Resources
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