# Router Port Forwarding

Port forwarding is a necessary step in setting up a Anyone Relay, allowing external connections to reach your relay's designated port (default: 9001). This universal guide covers the port forwarding process applicable to most routers. It's important to note that while the default port is 9001, you can optionally choose another port.

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/J5WEC8USsVQ>" %}

### 1.   Access Your Router's Settings

In this step we provide examples for different Operating System's on how to get your routers IP-address to access its settings. The IP-address of a router may differ but is typically something like: `192.168.x.x` or `10.x.x.x`.

**If you already know how to access your router's settings then you can skip to** [**next step**](#id-2.-locate-the-port-forwarding-section-in-your-routers-control-panel)**.**

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Windows" %}

1. **Open Command Prompt**

Press `Win + R`, type `cmd`, and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.

2. **Run `ipconfig`**

Type `ipconfig` and press Enter. Look for the "Default Gateway" entry under the active network connection.

**Identify Router IP**

```
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="macOS" %}

1. **Search for and open the 'terminal.app' application.**
2. **Copy and paste the below commands in full in the terminal.**

{% code fullWidth="false" %}

```sh
route -n get 'default' | grep 'gateway'
```

{% endcode %}

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/CRkzgdfbBGvKzsfPCtA9" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

In this example, the output of the commands show that the IP-address of the router is **`10.211.57.1`**. This is the IP-address to open a browser to access router settings.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Linux" %}

1. **Search for and open the 'terminal' application.**
2. **Copy and paste the below commands in full in the terminal.**

```sh
ip route | grep default | cut -d " " -f1-3
```

In this example, the output of the commands show that the IP-address of the router is **`10.211.56.1`**. This is the IP-address to open a browser to access router settings.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

### **Open Your Web Browser**

Now open any web browser and paste the IP-address of the router that you looked up in the previous step.

#### **Login to the Router**

Enter your router's username and password. If you haven't changed these, check your router documentation or on the back label, for default credentials.

### 2.   Locate the Port Forwarding Section in your Routers Control Panel

#### **Navigate to Port Forwarding**

Look for a section named "**Port Forwarding**" in your router settings. The location may vary but is often found under the "Advanced" or "Security" tab.

#### **Choose a Device**

Select the device running your Anyone Relay from the list of connected devices.

### 3. Configure Port Forwarding

**a.   Add a New Rule**\
Create a new port forwarding rule.\
\
b.   **Specify Port**\
Enter the port number \
Default is normally 9001 otherwise specify your chosen port in the required fields.\
\
c.   **Select Protocol**\
Choose "TCP/UDP" as the protocol.\
\
d.   **Set IP Address**\
Enter the local IP address of your Anyone Relay device. You can find this in your device's network settings.\
\
e.   **Leave source IP empty**\
Do not enter anything in the field for source IP to ensure anyone on the network can connect to your relay on the specified port.

#### Save your settings, and if required, reboot your network router or firewall.

### 4.   Verify Port Forwarding

#### **Use Online Tools**

Utilize online tools like "CanYouSeeMe.org" to check if your specified port is open.

Make sure your Anyone Relay is configured to use the forwarded port. \
Update the anonrc file with the chosen port accordingly.

```bash
ORPort <YourChosenPort>
```

### 5.   Security Considerations

#### **Use Strong Passwords**

Make sure your router login credentials and Anyone Relay are secured with strong, unique passwords.

\
**Regularly Monitor Activity**

Periodically check router logs for any unauthorized access and monitor your relay's performance.

***

### External Resources

For router-specific instructions or troubleshooting, refer to your router's manual or visit the manufacturer's website. Below are links to guides for some popular router brands:

* [Linksys Port Forwarding Guide](https://www.linksys.com/support-article?articleNum=138535)
* [Netgear Port Forwarding Guide](https://kb.netgear.com/24289/How-do-I-set-up-port-forwarding-to-a-local-server-on-my-NETGEAR-router)
* [TP-Link Port Forwarding Guide](https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/1379/)
* [D-Link Port Forwarding Guide](https://www2.dlink.com/us/en/support/faq/routers/mydlink-routers/dir-605l/how-do-i-configure-port-forwarding-on-my-router)
* [Asus Port Forwarding Guide](https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1037906/)

Remember that the steps may vary slightly based on different router models. Always prioritize security and consult your router's documentation for model-specific details.\
\
If you can't find your router in the list above, try finding it in this archive:\
<https://portforward.com/router.htm>\
(no need to install any network utilities)


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