XBL: Strict NAT

ubern00b · 12 Jan 2007 at 23:58

Hi Guys

Hoping someone can help me here. I am trying to get my XBL to show "open" instead of "strict" under NAT as its impeding me hosting games and in some cases using my wireless headset properly. Now my 360 is connected to my PC which is then connecting to my router via ICS. I have tried forwarding the ports within ICS (i assume i forward the ports to my routers IP from within ICS?) and also forwarding the ports from my router to my PC but nothing I do seems to make a difference. Anyone more technically minded about this sort of stuff or has a similar setup able to help me? Would appreciate it!

Tobes · 13 Jan 2007 at 00:06

Router? If its a BT home hub... ha. I hate BTs home hub :mad:

chas_bronson · 13 Jan 2007 at 00:19

If you have a router why cant you connect the xbox directly to it?

If you can forward the ports 88 and 3074 from the xbox IP then that should Open NAT, i dont have a xbl certified router but this worked for me.

ubern00b · 13 Jan 2007 at 00:29

I already have a cable running to my pc and dont want to lay another one, the mrs wouldnt be too chuffed either. For the most part what I have setup works fine, its just the strict NAT thats affecting me hosting games and what not. There must be a solution, cascaded NAT's arent new and surely can be worked around. Hoping someone here is in the same boat and found a solution!

Tobes · 13 Jan 2007 at 00:32

hum. Come to think of it I havent setup port forwarding. What even more complicated is my 360 goes through my netgear router then my home hub.

sja360 · 13 Jan 2007 at 00:36

Tob3z said:
hum. Come to think of it I havent setup port forwarding. What even more complicated is my 360 goes through my netgear router then my home hub.

your home hub probably has uPnP enabled meaning the router works out the ports required to be open for the 360 i think.
if the OP can try enable uPnP it should change it from strict to open i believe.

ubern00b · 13 Jan 2007 at 00:38

uPNP is enabled on the router, and when I enabled it on the ICS it didnt do anything. What IP should I set in ICS though, the routers, or the 360's? I tried the routers as I thought the 360 would send a request to ICS, then ICS would know to pass on requests for those ports to the router. Didnt make a difference, unless my thinking is wrong and I used the wrong IP.

sja360 · 13 Jan 2007 at 00:47

can you not connect the 360 upto the router directly? (or does it not have enough ports or is it too far away?)

Tobes · 13 Jan 2007 at 00:51

sja360 said:
can you not connect the 360 upto the router directly? (or does it not have enough ports or is it too far away?)

I already have a cable running to my pc and dont want to lay another one, the mrs wouldnt be too chuffed either.

RoachycaL · 13 Jan 2007 at 01:03

Took me AGES to get it to say open. I had to use portforward.com to forward the correct ports for the 360.

Nismo · 13 Jan 2007 at 07:55

Even with portforwarding, my Netgear WGR614 would say it was strict. I found that it only stayed open if I allowed the 360 to have a dynamic IP address, rather than manually setting one as I would have preferred.

Amidar · 13 Jan 2007 at 08:47

I had the same problem with my Netgear WGT624 v3,all i did was enable uPNP in the router settings and this changed the setting on the Xbox from strict to open.

ubern00b · 13 Jan 2007 at 09:20

Thanks for the help everyone. Im just going to run another cable, I cant get this working for the life of me no matter what I do. Thanks anyway!

Wyrdo · 13 Jan 2007 at 09:25

Amidar said:
I had the same problem with my Netgear WGT624 v3,all i did was enable uPNP in the router settings and this changed the setting on the Xbox from strict to open.

I had exactly the same router and problem myself.

RoachycaL · 13 Jan 2007 at 10:04

Nismo said:
Even with portforwarding, my Netgear WGR614 would say it was strict. I found that it only stayed open if I allowed the 360 to have a dynamic IP address, rather than manually setting one as I would have preferred.

Yep, same here - I had DNS on custom but it would only work when the IP address was on automatic. Im using a DG834G

ubern00b · 13 Jan 2007 at 10:20

Found a guide to bridge the network connections, going to give that a go and see if it works, if anyones interested:

http://www.xboxlivetheguide.co.uk/XBoxLiveTheGuide3.php?title=How do I setup Bridging

ubern00b · 13 Jan 2007 at 10:27

That would be because its connecting straight to the router and not "double NAT'd" as is my current situation. I dont want to plump for the wireless module, a cable is far cheaper and imho far more reliable!

ubern00b · 13 Jan 2007 at 10:59

For anyone wondering, that guide I posted worked a charm, couldnt have been easier. Make sure the 360 is given a DHCP address and voila, NAT is now fully open!

Demon · 13 Jan 2007 at 11:58

ubern00b said:
That would be because its connecting straight to the router and not "double NAT'd" as is my current situation. I dont want to plump for the wireless module, a cable is far cheaper and imho far more reliable!

I've just read the thread, and it sounds like rather then lay another cable, you could just buy a £10 network 4 port switch to connect things up..

The 4 port switch would be next to your PC, with the 360 and PC plugged into it with short leads, then a single long lead (that you already have) into your Router..