Configuring a router - what ports should be opened?

Hi, I just got a wired router to split my broadband connection between PC
and PS3. I've never used one before and was wondering what ports need to be
opened to ensure most common Windows programs can run ok?

I've also got several online games installed, do online games all access
different ports or what?

Tbh, I was wondering if I could just make things easier to set up by opening
all ports. I know this isn't going to be as secure, but wouldn't it just be
as secure as things were before I started using the router? I've got a
software firewall installed.

Any advice welcome! Cheers.

"don555" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi, I just got a wired router to split my broadband connection between PC
> and PS3. I've never used one before and was wondering what ports need to
> be
> opened to ensure most common Windows programs can run ok?
>
> I've also got several online games installed, do online games all access
> different ports or what?
>
> Tbh, I was wondering if I could just make things easier to set up by
> opening
> all ports. I know this isn't going to be as secure, but wouldn't it just
> be
> as secure as things were before I started using the router? I've got a
> software firewall installed.
>
> Any advice welcome! Cheers.


You mean 'forward' the ports, to whichever machine, when using NAT. You
only need to do this for incoming connections, so it would depend on what
you are running. You only need to do this for server stuff, like FTP a
webserver, etc, and P2P apps. The only normal desktop apps that I can think
of that would need it are chat programs that allow file sharing, like Skype
and Windows Live Messenger, but they do the port forwarding automatically
using UPnP.

ss.

"don555" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> Hi, I just got a wired router to split my broadband connection between
> PC and PS3. I've never used one before and was wondering what ports
> need to be opened to ensure most common Windows programs can run ok?

You shouldn't need to open any ports at all for initial use. The router
deals with this automatically. As a program such as your browser makes a
connection to the 'net the router will handle opening ports as required
and permitting return packets.
Certain programs such as FTP servers will need ports forwarded so they
can accept incoming connections but otherwise I'd try it 'out of the box'


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
David ~ Lincoln UK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Synapse Syndrome" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):


> You mean 'forward' the ports, to whichever machine, when using NAT.
<snipage>

bugger, you must type faster than me..


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
David ~ Lincoln UK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grooove wrote:
> "don555" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> news:(E-Mail Removed):
>
>> Hi, I just got a wired router to split my broadband connection
>> between PC and PS3. I've never used one before and was wondering
>> what ports need to be opened to ensure most common Windows
>> programs can run ok?
>
> You shouldn't need to open any ports at all for initial use. The
> router deals with this automatically. As a program such as your
> browser makes a connection to the 'net the router will handle
> opening ports as required and permitting return packets.
> Certain programs such as FTP servers will need ports forwarded so
> they can accept incoming connections but otherwise I'd try it 'out
> of the box'

I agree with Mr G, out the box you will be able to do most things (depending
on the box of course) but if you are trying to get Windows Live Messnger,
file sharing or gaming to work fully then you may have forward some ports.
I wouldn't recommend leaving all ports forwarded (if you are trying to fully
use Windows Live Messenger then it feels like you have to, nearly 6000
ports, or so they informed me anyway) but with a little tweaking & playing
you'll find out what works & what doesn't.

There is a program, selling for around £16 called PFConfig if you are really
desperate but it may or may not be what you want (or work properly, if the
truth be told).

don555 wrote:
> Hi, I just got a wired router to split my broadband connection between PC
> and PS3. I've never used one before and was wondering what ports need to be
> opened to ensure most common Windows programs can run ok?
>
> I've also got several online games installed, do online games all access
> different ports or what?
>
> Tbh, I was wondering if I could just make things easier to set up by opening
> all ports. I know this isn't going to be as secure, but wouldn't it just be
> as secure as things were before I started using the router? I've got a
> software firewall installed.
>
> Any advice welcome! Cheers.
>
>
>

You might find this useful:
http://portforward.com/

... but I go along with the advice that you should try it out of the box
and only tinker if something specific isn't working. Maybe post back
here with details if that happens. My router has only three open (or
rather, forwarded) ports; two deal with remote control software (VNC and
Remote Desktop) and one allows Windows Messenger users to send me files.

Otherwise, a "normal" router will remember which PC made an outgoing
connection to a specific address, and will route any replies back to
that PC, all transparently.

Phil, London

On Thu, 3 Jul 2008 11:42:10 +0100, "kraftee"
<kraftee@b&e-cottee.me.uk> wrote:

>I agree with Mr G, out the box you will be able to do most things (depending
>on the box of course) but if you are trying to get Windows Live Messnger,
>file sharing or gaming to work fully then you may have forward some ports.

I really wouldn't suggest allowing Windows filesharing to be available
over the Internet. If you mean Bittorrent etc, then fine!

Cheers - Jaimie
--
Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, even if you are soggy
and hard to light.

On Thu, 3 Jul 2008 11:23:41 +0100, "don555" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Hi, I just got a wired router to split my broadband connection between PC
>and PS3. I've never used one before and was wondering what ports need to be
>opened to ensure most common Windows programs can run ok?

None, generally. The router already allows your machine to connect
outbound to websites and so on.

Those configuration pages are to set up ports allowing everything evil
on the Internet access direct to your machine. This would be bad.

>I've also got several online games installed, do online games all access
>different ports or what?

It is game dependent, but these days unless you are running a server
at home then almost all games connect outbound. Those that don't are
generally uPNP aware, which allows them to ask the router for a
temporary port forward if you enable uPNP on the router.

Some old games may need port forwarding. Just try it, and if you can't
get connected google up the ports necessary and set them up.

>Tbh, I was wondering if I could just make things easier to set up by opening
>all ports. I know this isn't going to be as secure, but wouldn't it just be
>as secure as things were before I started using the router? I've got a
>software firewall installed.

.... yes, it would be exactly as insecure as before you started using
the router. Really, don't do it. Millions of zombie computers spewing
spam is enough, millions plus one would be worse.

Cheers - Jaimie
--
It's time to light the candles!
It's time to chant the rites!
It's time to summon Satan on the Muppet Show tonight!

Grooove wrote:
....

r will handle opening ports as required
> and permitting return packets.
> Certain programs such as FTP servers will need ports forwarded so they

FTP doesn't. Run the client in 'passive' (PASV) mode: all connections
are then outbound and there's no issue.

> can accept incoming connections but otherwise I'd try it 'out of the box'
>
>

"Mike Scott" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:be4bk.107127$(E-Mail Removed)2...
> Grooove wrote:
> ...
>
> r will handle opening ports as required
>> and permitting return packets.
>> Certain programs such as FTP servers will need ports forwarded so they
>
> FTP doesn't. Run the client in 'passive' (PASV) mode: all connections are
> then outbound and there's no issue.
>
>> can accept incoming connections but otherwise I'd try it 'out of the box'
>>

He is talking about the server side, which does need the forwarded port. On
the client side, most routers have special handling for FTP connections
without having to use PASV, anyway. This could be turned off in my old
router.

ss.