Online Internet software may expect particular “ports” to be open if you use a router. To connect with these Internet services, your LAN needs to be set up to do one of these:

Use UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)

Open ports using port forwarding

Use a DMZ

If you cannot use UPnP, the number of users simultaneously accessing the same Internet application will be limited:

• Without UPnP, NETGEAR routers only support one person playing the same application at one time.

Using UPnP

UPnP is the easiest, because port configuration is handled automatically. If your router, operating system, and application can all use UPnP, then any number of computers can use the same application at the same time. Examples of routers supporting UPnP are: MR814, MR814v2, WGR614, and WGR614v2. Most recent online applications know how to use UPnP, check their documentation to be certain. Windows 98 users can get UPnP by installing the ICS client from the Windows XP Network Setup Disk. Microsoft's Description of Universal Plug and Play explains UPnP in detail.

Using Port Forwarding

Port forwarding selectively opens ports. This is described in How is Port Forwarding Configured? The only real disadvantage of port forwarding over using a DMZ is that in rare cases it may be difficult to figure out what ports an online application wants.

As games and applications get more sophisticated, they are requiring that several ports be opened. Make sure that all the ports required by a game or application are open.

Using a DMZ

A DMZ avoids having to figure out which ports to forward, but it makes your network very vulnerable to hackers. A DMZ is best used only during troubleshooting while setting up a game or other application. Port forwarding is preferred. See Setting Up a DMZ.

Xbox Live Problems

Because these games are designed to a common standard, once a LAN is configured for one game, it will tend to work for others. If you can't connect through a router with Xbox Live read Cannot Log On Xbox Live With Router.

PlayStation

The Network setup for PlayStation will vary between games. A LAN configuration that works for one game may not work for another one.

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