How to Configure a Router for Gaming
Video gaming has evolved from playing with your friends in your living room to playing with your friends across the world via online computer games as well as through services like Xbox Live for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 game console. Online gaming requires a high-speed Internet connection via Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or cable broadband. Making a few changes to the router can help make your online gaming experience is much smoother.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Update your firmware. Manufacturers periodically update their router's firmware to keep up-to-date with changing technology and security protocols. Keeping your router up-to-date with the newest firmware ensures that your router is working as the manufacturer intends.
-
2
Enable DHCP reservation. Broadband routers assign Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to devices via a protocol called Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), which in turn gives devices an address from a set range of addresses. Using DHCP reservation ensures that a particular device will receive the same address every time it connects to the router. Enabling DHCP reservation allows you to also enable port forwarding and packet prioritization.
-
-
3
Enable port forwarding. All data transmitted over the Internet is associated with a port number and different types of data are assigned different ports. Enabling port forwarding on the router allows the router to look at each packet of data that comes in and automatically forwards it to the designated device.
-
4
Enable packet prioritization, if available. Data prioritization works similarly to port forwarding. As data comes in to the router, the router looks at what type of data it is. Data prioritization gives the incoming data priority over any other traffic to its destination device, like a dedicated fast lane from the Internet to its designated device. Consult your router's documentation to see if packet prioritization is available on your router model.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Port forwarding often needs to be enabled if you are running a game that people online are trying to connect to. If you discover that you need to enable port forwarding, consult your game's documentation to determine exactly what type of port (TCP or UDP) needs to be forwarded, as well as the port numbers. A game may have multiple ports that need to be opened to function properly online.
Packet prioritization is not available on all routers. It is sometimes called a Quality of Service (QoS) Engine. Router manufacturers may trademark their packet prioritization technology. For instance, D-Link uses the StreamEngine by Ubicom, while Netgear's packet prioritzation options are found under "Quality of Service."
References
Resources
- Photo Credit wlan router 04 image by pmphoto from Fotolia.com
