Port forwarding is the redirecting of computer signals to follow specific electronic paths into your computer. If the computer signal can find its way into your computer a few milliseconds quicker, it will add up to be dramatic speed increases for your game or your downloading.
65,536 Paths to Choose From
That pencil-thin network cable (or wireless network adapter) at the back of your computer contains 65,536 microscopic pathways inside it. Your network cable is the same as a major highway, except your network cable has 65,536 lanes, and there is a tollbooth on each lane. We call each lane a 'port'.
Your internet signal is comprised of millions of tiny little cars that travel on these 65,536 lanes. We call these little cars "transfer packets". Computer transfer packets can travel very quickly (up to thousands of kilometers per second), but they do observe a stop-and-go set of rules, where they are required to stop at each major network intersection as if it were a border crossing between countries. At each intersection, the packet must do three things:
- Find an open port
- Pass the identification test that will allow it through that port, and if not
- Move to the next port and try again, until it is allowed to pass through the toll.
In some cases, packets sent by hackers will be caught and held at the intersection, where they will then be dissolved into random electrons. When this happens, it is called "packet filtering" or "packet sniping."
What Ports Do Computer Packets Like to Use?
Every software in your computer is usually programmed to send its packets through a specific port. These port choices are often established as programming standards in the computer industry. Accordingly, your router needs to be commanded to allow packets through these ports, lest you slow down the speed at which they transfer to/from your computer:
- HTML pages: port 80
- FTP file transferring: port 21
- World of Warcraft: port 3724
- POP3 email: port 110
- MSN Messenger: port 6901 and ports 6891-6900
- Everquest: port 1024
- BitTorrents: port 6881
Ques: So How Does 'Port Forwarding' Factor Into This?
Port forwarding is when you command your network router to proactively identify and redirect every packet to travel on specific electronic lanes. Instead of having every packet stop at each port in turn until it finds an open port, a router can be programmed to expedite the process by identifying and redirecting packets without having them stop at each port. Your router then acts as a type of hyper-fast traffic policeman who directs traffic in front of the toll booths.
While this electronic identification and forwarding only takes milliseconds, the time involved adds up quickly as millions of electronic packets enter and leave your internet computer. If you program your port forwarding correctly, you can speed up your internet experience by several seconds. In the case of downloading large files, like P2P torrent sharing, you can save yourself hours of download time by programming your port forwards. A song that used to take 3 hours to download can now finish in less than 10 minutes if your port forwards are set correctly.
How Can I Learn How to Program My Router's Port Forwarding Commands?
While the programming of port forwarding can be somewhat intimidating, there are tutorials on the internet that can certainly help beginners. The most common reason for programming port forwarding is to improve the speed of BitTorrent downloads, followed by improving the performance of computer games and streaming media. Towards these ends, there is a splendid resource by the folks at www.portforward.com. To speed up your specific downloading client, game, or software program: find the exact name of your router and your software, and then visit portforward's website for a visual tutorial on how your router takes port forwarding commands.
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FAQs
Port forwarding is the redirecting of computer signals to follow specific electronic paths into your computer. If the computer signal can find its way into your computer a few milliseconds quicker, it will add up to be dramatic speed increases for your game or your downloading.
Does port forwarding increase download speed? ›
If you program your router to forward data from specific ports to pre-specified devices on your network, you could speed up your internet connection by several milliseconds and reduce your download time significantly.
Does port forwarding affect performance? ›
Port forwarding can negligibly reduce ping. While it makes the connection more direct when receiving data, it does nothing for sending data. So, if you think that you didn't score that kill because your shot didn't register on the server on time, port forwarding couldn't have helped you.
How does port forwarding help torrenting? ›
If you want BitTorrent to function properly, you might need to port forward on your router. By forwarding ports, you're allowing connection requests coming from the internet directly to BitTorrent. Routers typically don't allow incoming connection requests straight from the internet.
Does port affect speed? ›
With the right port setup, network wizards can level up performance, harden security, and sidestep pesky problems like data loss or unwanted intrusions. While it may seem apparent, the ports on your computer are affecting network speed more than you realize.
Why is my internet so slow after port forwarding? ›
Congested network traffic
When your network is working hard to send and/or receive data through port forwarding, it can result in a traffic jam. This will result in slow internet speeds, slow load page times, and interrupted internet connections.
What are the downsides of port forwarding? ›
Port forwarding inherently gives people outside of your network more access to your computer. Giving access or accessing unsafe ports can be risky, as threat actors and other people with malicious intents can then easily get full control of your device.
What is port forwarding good for? ›
Port forwarding, also known as port management, allows remote servers and devices on the internet to be able to access devices that are on a private network. If you are not using port forwarding, only devices on that private internal network can have access to each other or your network.
What can go wrong with port forwarding? ›
If an attacker knows your IP and Port, he can send malicious data and try to gain access to the computer, be it your own pc, or a gaming server. Port forwarding is a rule that allows your application to negotiate with a firewall, be it from your own computer, server or router to pass data with the outside world.
What is the best port for torrenting? ›
The well known TCP port for BitTorrent traffic is 6881-6889 (and 6969 for the tracker port).
A separate Port Forwarding rule is required to access each service on each device which can quickly become cumbersome with multiple services and devices. In contrast, a VPN provides access to the device by creating a connection to the IP router or firewall that can be used to access all devices behind the firewall.
Should I always use a VPN when Torrenting? ›
You should always use a VPN when torrenting for more security and to protect your privacy. You should also install and update strong antivirus software to protect your device from malware. Staying safe online is the best way to keep your experience fun.
Will port forwarding increase download speed? ›
If you program your port forwarding correctly, you can speed up your internet experience by several seconds. In the case of downloading large files, like P2P torrent sharing, you can save yourself hours of download time by programming your port forwards.
Why is my download speed so slow? ›
Your speed issues most likely stem from your internet provider's reliability or the traffic on your own home network. Even if you've organized and trimmed down your number of connected devices, you could still not have enough bandwidth at certain times of day to cover everything your network has to handle.
How to increase internet speed? ›
Here's how to increase internet download speeds and get the most out of your internet connection:
- Restart your computer. ...
- Close unnecessary apps and programs. ...
- Disconnect other devices. ...
- Download one file at a time. ...
- Scan for viruses. ...
- Update drivers and firmware. ...
- Clear cookies.
UPnP is like auto-matchmaking for two devices on the internet. You have to use UPnP to connect a connection with any server or device. But like we said earlier, UPnP doesn't have any real-time impact on your latency, internet speed, or bandwidth.
Does port forwarding affect Ethernet? ›
Port forwarding will not interfere with the network connection or communication of any other devices on the same internet connection. Port forwarding only affects the host device and allows you to create a direct line of communication with external servers.
Does connecting to VPN increase download speed? ›
Can a VPN improve Internet speed? Under specific circ*mstances, VPNs can increase speeds for certain services. ISPs sometimes throttle, or artificially slow down, specific types of traffic; for example, several major ISPs have throttled streaming entertainment services like Netflix.
What will port forwarding do? ›
Port forwarding, also known as port management, allows remote servers and devices on the internet to be able to access devices that are on a private network. If you are not using port forwarding, only devices on that private internal network can have access to each other or your network.
