Chapter 20 NAT

The problem is that port forwarding only forwards a service to a single LAN IP address. In order to use the same service on a different LAN computer, you have to manually replace the LAN computer's IP address in the forwarding port with another LAN computer's IP address.

Trigger port forwarding solves this problem by allowing computers on the LAN to dynamically take turns using the service. The NBG4615 records the IP address of a LAN computer that sends traffic to the WAN to request a service with a specific port number and protocol (a "trigger" port). When the NBG4615's WAN port receives a response with a specific port number and protocol ("incoming" port), the NBG4615 forwards the traffic to the LAN IP address of the computer that sent the request. After that computer’s connection for that service closes, another computer on the LAN can use the service in the same manner. This way you do not need to configure a new IP address each time you want a different LAN computer to use the application.

20.5.4 Trigger Port Forwarding Example

The following is an example of trigger port forwarding.Figure 114 Trigger Port Forwarding Process: Example1Jane requests a file from the Real Audio server (port 7070).

2Port 7070 is a “trigger” port and causes the NBG4615 to record Jane’s computer IP address. The NBG4615 associates Jane's computer IP address with the "incoming" port range of 6970-7170.

3The Real Audio server responds using a port number ranging between 6970-7170.4The NBG4615 forwards the traffic to Jane’s computer IP address.

5Only Jane can connect to the Real Audio server until the connection is closed or times out. The NBG4615 times out in three minutes with UDP (User Datagram Protocol), or two hours with TCP/IP (Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol).

20.5.5Two Points To Remember About Trigger Ports

1Trigger events only happen on data that is going coming from inside the NBG4615 and going to the outside.

2If an application needs a continuous data stream, that port (range) will be tied up so that another computer on the LAN can’t trigger it.

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NBG4615 User’s Guide