Read this if you have a SEPARATE broadband MODEM

[old_forum_BobR]

This information should only apply to  DSL  users, so if you have a Cable connection you can skip reading this.


When most people sign up for DSL service, their ISP will send them a "modem" to connect to the telephone line and allow them to plug their computer into the Internet.   Generally these "modems" only have a single outlet on them to allow one computer to be plugged in, and they're usually not wireless capable.

So, when the user wants to add more computers, or to connect wireless laptops or video games, they need to go out and buy additional equipment to expand the capabilities of the hardware provided by the ISP.


Unfortunately, what many people don't realize is that the "modem" provided by the ISP is often a ROUTER too.  The ISPs usually don't make it clear what the unit is, and some of them are actually labeled as "modem" when they're really combination units with a router built-in as well.


This means that when the user goes out to the store and buys a "wireless router" to add wireless to the system, or a "router" to add more LAN sockets, they're actually BLOCKING their ports with  TWO  routers.

While it's theoretically possible to set up port forwarding between two routers, in practice it hardly ever works.



The CORRECT thing to buy, if you already have a Combination Modem/Router is either an "ethernet switch" to add more LAN sockets, or a "Wireless Access Point" to add wireless to the existing setup.  Both of these devices will NOT block anything and will allow your port forwarding to work successfully.



The problem is, hardly anyone knows this, and the people at the store have no clue about it either.  So most people will end up buying the  WRONG THING  and finding later that they can't get port forwarding to work for games or filesharing.

Connecting two routers together WILL allow "normal" Internet web surfing and e-mail to work, but any more "advanced" applications will be solidly BLOCKED.



So-  what to do, if you've got a separate "modem" and have gone out and added a router, then found you can't get port forwarding to work..?



The FIRST thing to do is to find out if your "modem" is really a combination modem/ROUTER.


If your "modem" has more than one LAN socket, or if it's wireless, it's a ROUTER.

If you know how to "log in" to the modem and see anything that says "Port Forwarding" or "Virtual Server", it's a ROUTER.

If it says Speedstream, Speedtouch, Westell, or Zyxel strongly suspect that it's a "combination modem/ROUTERS".  There ARE other brands that can be set up as a router, and these can sometimes be configured as "just a modem", so the brand isn't conclusive.


The BEST way to tell if your "modem" is actually configured as a router is to log into your SECOND router, the one you've added to your setup, and look at the "Status page".   The router's Status page should display the "WAN IP" address, sometimes called "Internet address" that the router is using.

The SECOND router will be getting this IP address from the FIRST device.  So by looking at the IP address, we can tell if the FIRST device is configured as a router, or if it's just a modem.


If the SECOND router's WAN IP or Internet IP address is any one of these:

192.168.xxx.yyy
10.xxx.yyy.zzz
172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255

Then your "modem" is actually configured as a ROUTER, which means it will be BLOCKING the ports you need.


If the IP address is the same as your "Public IP address"  (click the button at the top of this page that says HOME to go to the Port Forwarding home page and look near the bottom of the page to find your "Public IP address"),  then it means the "modem" is actually just a modem and is passing everything through without blocking anything.



So now that you know what your "modem" really is, what now..?


If it's just a modem,  there's no problem.  Just go ahead and do the port forwarding procedure for the router and things should work OK.


If it's actually a "Combination Modem/Router",  the BEST solution is to take the SECOND ROUTER, the one you've bought to add to the system,  back to the store and exchange it for the CORRECT device.

As mentioned earlier, to add more LAN sockets, you need an "ethernet switch", to add Wireless capability you need a "Wireless Access Point".  Installing either of these devices will be simpler than the alternative procedure listed below.



Unfortunately, you may no longer be able to take the unit back, or would rather not hassle with the store, or are reluctant to go back to your Dad and tell him the wireless router you begged him to buy is the wrong thing and you need to buy something else.

In that case, there IS hope.   You should be able to "convert" the new router into the correct device by disabling the router function and using it as just an ethernet switch or wireless access point.



We have a guide to doing that conversion process for most types of routers here:
http://forum.portforward.com/YaBB.cgi?board=Knowledge;action=display;num=1133918703

If you have a fairly new model Belkin router, check this guide for a possible easier fix for the problem:
http://forum.portforward.com/YaBB.cgi?board=Knowledge;action=display;num=1157180151




Once you've successfully converted the new router to be used as just an ethernet switch or wireless access point, all your port forwarding configuration will be done in the FIRST unit, your original "combination Modem/Router".

The new router will no longer block anything and will simply pass along the signal it gets from the first router.