Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP)

Universal Plug and Play Overview

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) is a distributed, open networking standard that uses TCP/IP for simple peer-to-peer network connectivity between devices. An UPnP device can dynamically join a network, obtain an IP address, convey its capabilities and learn about other devices on the network. In turn, a device can leave a network smoothly and automatically when it is no longer in use.

How do I know if I’m using UPnP?

UPnP hardware is identified as an icon in the Network Connections folder (Windows XP). Each UPnP compatible device installed on your network will appear as a separate icon. Selecting the icon of a UPnP device will allow you to access the information and properties of that device.

NAT Traversal

UPnP NAT traversal automates the process of allowing an application to operate through NAT. UPnP network devices can automatically configure network addressing, announce their presence in the network to other UPnP devices and enable exchange of simple product and service descriptions. NAT traversal allows the following:

Dynamic port mapping

Learning public IP addresses

Assigning lease times to mappings

Windows Messenger is an example of an application that supports NAT traversal and UPnP.

See the Network Address Translation (NAT) chapter for further information about NAT.

Cautions with UPnP

The automated nature of NAT traversal applications in establishing their own services may present network security issues. Network information and configuration may also be obtained and modified by users in some network environments.

All UPnP-enabled devices may communicate freely with each other without additional configuration. Disable UPnP if this is not your intention.

UPnP broadcasts are only allowed on the LAN.

See later sections for examples of installing UPnP in Windows XP and Windows Me as well as an example of using UPnP in Windows.

Configuring UPnP

From the Site Map in the main menu, click UPnP under Access Management to display the screen shown next.

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

LABEL

DESCRIPTION

 

 

UPnP

Select this checkbox to activate UPnP. Be aware that anyone could use a UPnP application to open the web configuration’s login screen without

 

entering NB14WN’s IP address (although you must still enter the password to access the web configuration).

 

 

Auto configured

Select this check box to allow UPnP-enabled applications to automatically configure the NB14WN so that they can communicate through the

 

device. For example by using NAT traversal, UPnP applications automatically reserve a NAT forwarding port in order to communicate with another

 

UPnP enabled device; this eliminates the need to manually configure port forwarding for the UPnP enabled application.

 

 

Apply

Click Apply to save your settings back to home screen.

 

 

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NordicTrack N150 manual Universal Plug-and-Play UPnP, Universal Plug and Play Overview