While most games and applications that require Internet access will work perfectly with the default settings of your NETGEAR router, some may require extra configuration of the router to work correctly. This usually involves allowing incoming traffic from the Internet on particular “ TCP port numbers” that are specific to each game or application. To connect with these Internet services, your router needs to be set up to do one of these:

Use UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)
Open ports using port forwarding
Use a DMZ
Open ports using port triggering
Set NAT Filtering to Open
 

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.

1. Open a browser and type in the following URL: http://www.routerlogin.com or http://192.168.1.1 (assuming you have not changed the default IP address on your router).
2. Type the User Name as “admin” and the Password as “password”. Then Click OK.
3. Go to Advanced tab, select Advanced Setup then UpnP.
4. Enable Turn UpnP on and hit Apply.

Using Port Forwarding

Port forwarding selectively opens ports. This is described in the article 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 applications are open.

Port Triggering

Port triggering "triggers" an open incoming port when a client on the local network makes an outgoing connection to a predetermined port on a server. Port Triggering is more secure than port forwarding, because the incoming ports are not open all the time, they are open only when a program is actively using the trigger port.

NAT Filtering

This option determines how the router deals with inbound traffic. The Secured option provides a secured firewall to protect the PCs on LAN from attacks from the Internet, but it may cause some Internet games, point-to-point applications, or multimedia applications not to work. The Open option, on the other hand, provides a much less secured firewall, while it allows almost all Internet applications to work.

To enable NAT filtering, click on ADVANCED tab, select Setup then WAN setup.

Using 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.

1. Go to Advanced tab, select Advanced Setup then WAN Setup.
2. Enable Default DMZ server and enter the IP address of the computer or the gaming console that needs access through the ports.

Issues with Specific Applications

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.

How to enable Quality of Service (QoS)?

QoS is an advanced feature on some Netgear routers that can be used to prioritize some Internet applications and on-line services to minimize the impact when the bandwidth is busy. You may enable this after setting the ports on the router. Follow the steps below to enable QoS on your router.:

1. Open a browser and type in the following URL: http://www.routerlogin.com or http://192.168.1.1 (assuming you have not changed the default IP address on your router).
2. Type the User Name as “admin” and the Password as “password”. Then Click OK.
3. Click QoS setup under Advanced menu.
4. Enable Turn Internet Access QoS On

   

5. Click on Add Priority Rule

   

6. Select the appropriate Priority Category that meets your need.

   

7. Priority Category has four choices:

   Applications: Choose this to prioritize based on specific applications. Example: Skype
   Online Gaming: Choose this to prioritize gaming application,
   example: Counter Strike, Treasure Hunt, etc…
   Ethernet LAN Port: Choose this to prioritize based on specific
   LAN port(s) on router
   MAC address: Choose this to prioritize based on the MAC address of the attached devices on the network.

8. Select the priority that you want for this category.
9. Click Apply for changes to take effect.
10. The following are examples of different type of QoS settings:
11. In order to set a Priority for an Application “Skype” to be highest
12. Specify an User defined name on QoS Policy for (Ex Skype)
13. Set the Priority Category as an Application
14. Select the Applications as “Skype”
15. Set the Priority as Highest
16. Apply the settings

    

17. In order to set a Priority for an Online Gaming named “Treasure Hunt” to be Highest
18. Specify an User defined name on QoS Policy for (Ex Treasure Hunt)
19. Set the Priority Category as an Online Gaming
20. Select the Applications as “Add a new game”
21. Set the Priority as Highest
22. Specify the Connection Type  for the game Ex TCP/UDP
23. Set the starting port and ending port for the game - Ex. Start Port -
24. 1500, End Port – 1700
25. Apply the settings