I have three servers on my account. (Yes, my library is that large.) I can configure one server at a time for remote access, by adding a port-forward to Port 32400 for that particular server. The problem: the ISP will not let me assign forwarding to the same port by different devices. So when I have tried specifying a different device on another server, and then giving that port number as “manually specify public port” on the second device, I knock my first device off my network completely and have to reboot it.
The solution seems to be to manually specify the private port as well as the public port. But how? Do I need to add a port forward on the device itself? (I’m using the MyCloud Pro PR4100.)
Just to be clear: I have one server connected, using 32400 all the way. But I want to configure the other two without any of the servers knocking out any of the others.
Server Version#: 11415488
You need to specify different external ports. These can then point to the same internal port on 3 different computers. i.e. external 32400 -> 192.168.1.10:32400, external 32401 -> 192.168.1.11:32400, external 32402 -> 192.168.1.12:32400
If your router doesn’t allow using a different external and internal port, then you are stuck. If your router supports UPnP, you can turning off the manual port setting in your server and see if your router can set things up automatically.
The router supports a different port for each device, but does not support UPnP.
The servers I use–all Western Digital MyCloud PR4100’s–support port forwarding. But I need to know what specific service identifier to specify for mapping, say, 32401 (external) to 32400 (internal). I expect I do not specify HTTP, HTTPS, or SSH. Should I specify PMS? Or something else?
The attached image is of the dialog box for adding a custom port forwarding service. Could you specify for me, please, what to place in each field? Assume I can go to the router and assign a port of my choosing to each server–just not the same for each.
It’s not done in the mycloud settings, it’s done in the router. What router brand do you have? I have 3 different mycloud drives and do what you’re doing fine with 2 Nvidia shields and 2 laptops using 3 network drives. First you need to ensure the network drives all have static ip adresses and the PMS devices as well, which for me are in the LAN Setup section. Then do what @anon18523487 said to do.
Here is the router brand and model:
Voice and Data Modem
ARRIS GROUP, INC. TG3482G
I see directions for port forwarding and port triggering. Port forwarding allows the specification of one port only, for the device.
My three NAS devices all run PMS. That is the only way most of my devices interact with them, except that I often transfer files onto them using another computer on the network, or a USB drive that I “back up” to the server.
Are you sure I can’t set up port forwarding on the MyCloud devices to specify two different ports?
@anon18523487 said, “If your router does not allow you to specify different internal and external ports for any given device, then you are stuck.” So that’s what I’m trying to work around.
Here is a screenshot of the port triggering intial screen for the router. Now what do I specify, and where?
not port triggering, you want the port fowarding section above that.
for each computer you need separate port forward rule. each with a different external port. but all need to use the same internal port (32400) like mentioned by @anon18523487 above
This is what I’m looking at. It looks as though I must specify one port only, and it must be different for each device. Which means I’m stuck, I guess–unless someone here has misinterpreted what port triggering is all about–maybe Xfinity has that weird name for the kind of port forwarding you’re talking about.
The last screenshot I supplied shows Xfinity’s “Xfi” service. Once I start using that, that supersedes the traditional port-forwarding screen that lets you specify incoming and private ports, or internal and external ports, or whatever they call them.
Must I restore the factory defaults now?
Provide a link to your router’s user guide.
As nearly as I can tell, this is it:
These two URLs came from an Xfinity forum article decrying this model for certain quality-control issues.
The only issue I have is that after using their Xfinity Xfi app just once, the Port Forwarding screen now looks like this:
But of course that’s crippling. I’ve already shared the Xfi screen, that lets you specify only one port, that is supposed to be the internal and the external port.
I couldn’t find any helpful info in the user guide provided.
- Does each NAS have a reserved IP address?
- If not, gather the MAC address for each NAS
- Reserve an IP address for each NAS
- Once the IP address is reserved for each NAS (May need to reboot NAS devices to ensure new IP is assigned to each NAS), then need to setup port forwarding for each NAS.
1st pic for me is assigning the IP address I want each device to have. Ex: 192.168.1.11, 192.168.1.12 & 192.168.1.13
2nd pic is setting up the port forwarding using the static IP for each NAS. The Internal port will be 32400 for each NAS. The External port for the 1st NAS will be the same 32400, 2nd NAS 32401 and 3rd NAS 32402
3rd pic is setting up Remote Access within PLEX
1 Like
What’s at the top of that port forwarding page? Does it have the IP address of your NAS devices? It looks like you pick the device, then set the ports.
It looks like you can enter different external and internal ports. You just need to create 3 different rules. One for each NAS with the appropriate ports.
Don’t conflate the display I see (see my last reply, not that of @Busaman_Va) with what @Busaman_VA sees in his. My display shows only one thing: a blurb for Xfinity/Comcast’s new Web-based app, Xfinity Xfi. Now if you go to another message I sent earlier, you will see that the Xfinity Xfi display specifies one, and only one, port (or a port range), that serves for internal and external, both. That means they will be both the same.
If I don’t get any other answers, I am going to take the drastic step of reverting my router–actually they call it a “gateway”–to factory defaults. That will mean making a written table of my password, every MAC address and existing IP that I want to make static, and my WLAN SSIDs and passwords. Because I’m going to have to sacrifice all of them to get rid of that execrable Xfinity Xfi display, that has hijacked a key function of the gateway and prevents my setting up port forwarding properly.
These look like you can enter different values here.
Then you need to go get a router that does and then have xfinnity turn on bridge mode so that TG3482G device only acts as a modem and not a router
Can’t I enable bridge mode on my own? The administration screen on the Arris TG3482G seems to offer me that option: “Bridge Mode Enable/Disable,” with a button.
I have since checked with Comcast’s own community forums. Turns out they get this request all the time. And some have an even better suggestion: buy a third-party gateway, with or without wireless capability, and substitute it for the Comcast-provided gateway. Then I can return their gateway to them and knock off the monthly equipment rental. Big plus: I get a router with all the NAT functions I need, including easier port forwarding.
Next question: does anyone reading this, have any specific brand/model recommendations?
My network already has a separate wireless access point (“extender”), and a very powerful one at that. Neither do I need voice-modem capability, because I use VoIP through a service called Ooma. Which, for the fee you’d pay to a telco, does things for you no telco would ever do. Like call blocking!
So now I’m in the market for a router of my own choosing, that does not need a wireless module. The big things I need are:
- At least two ports (one to connect to a managed switch and another to connect to another device that can’t connect to their gateway anymore), and
- The best port forwarding I can get.
Please send me your recommendations!
generally you need to get one that is certified for usage with comcast. https://www.amazon.com/slp/comcast-compatible-modem/pckg3obvyuob442
I don’t have comcast so can’t give advice on which
@BigWheel, I appreciate your concern. Happily I found a site giving reviews on third-party equipment approved for and compatible with the Xfinity by Comcast network. I chose the Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 cable/voice modem and router. This actually gives me more ports, and a piece of equipment I could theoretically use with a home phone network, should I decide to install one. It also has all the speed I need for uploading and downloading.
I’ll be back on this thread when the device arrives and I have time to put it in. Thanks to @Bussman_VA for his screenshots using what looks like a typical Netgear Web interface to set up port forwarding.
1 Like
