Linksys Router 101 help

[redbne]

I have a Linksys BEFSR41 router had it for about a year now. I have it setup for DHCP use. I have three computers connected to it all running inpendent of each other, but able to share file and see each ohter. I router is in the basic setup just to connect to the internet. Now I want to do other things. The first thing I tried to play Age Of Empire II over the internet with a friend locally we both haave the same setup. The problem is we can not find each to connect for a one on one session of AOE II. My IP address is router 192.168.1.1 the PC I 'm using IP address is 192.162.1.100 again the basic. I use an ADSL modem who in turn give me a DHCP IP address for the internet. My friend has the same setup again. what IP address do we use to search for and do I need to use static and change my so me and my friend would have different PC addressess so we can find each other.

 

[GeeW]

The router put you behind an IP class that is not visible on the internet. The first thing you have to do is determine your real IP.

Go to

http://www.whatismyip.com

or

http://www.ipchicken.com,

it will tell you your true IP. This is the IP you will need to give your friend.

Next find out what port Age Of Empires uses for multi-user gaming. It should be in the manual or posted on Microsoft's website. (Sorry, I am not a gamer, so I don't know)

Then go to your browser and enter 192.168.1.1 and log into your router. There should be a section there for port forwarding. Enter the port number and your internal IP adderss .100 (192.168.1.100).

So when your friend connects to your IP (the external one from ipchicken.com), he /she will hit your router, but the packet he is sending is from Age of Empires and it will look for a specific port. The router will have this port mapped and it will know to automatically forward it to your internal IP address of 100.

Thus, your problem will be solved. Your friend will have to do the same thing. He will have to map his port to his internal address.

If he does not have a Linksys Router, he may not have port mapping. Some of the cheap routers does not support this. So he will have to put his machine in the DMZ section of his router config. This is not a safe thing to do, but it will allow you to play games. Basically a DMZ allows everything to come thru the router and hit his machine as if it was the primary IP.

With your setup and port forwarding. Only requests sent to that specific port will be accepted at your workstation.