Port forwarding is a pain

[Volkann1234]

I just tried to port forward a hlds...
I created a port
port closed...
I disabled my windows firewall and my antivirus applications then tried other ports like 27015, 27016
port still closed
I downloaded port forward network utilities and followed it's instructions.
Port still closed :(
I'd never port forwarded before :s help me.
Sorry for my bad english

[Blaquicat]

hello, whats your device model (router/modem/wifi) and how do you did the port forwarding?

[Volkann1234]

Originally posted by Blaquicat:

hello, whats your device model (router/modem/wifi) and how do you did the port forwarding?

my router is Huawei HG255a
I typed 192.168.1.1 to my browser etc.
then I opened a port in Port Mapping section with these settings:

Type: Customization
Interface: WAN_INTERNET
Protocol: TCP/UDP
Remote host: (Empty)
External start port: 27015
External end port: 27015
Internal host: (my local IPv4 that I found with cmd)
Internal start port: 27015
Internal end port: 27015

I checked my port from a website while server open (server port: 27015)
what am I missing for now?

[Blaquicat]

What game is? Im assuming its source/goldsrc engine game.
The local ipv4 is the same you see on the console(server console) by typing status (since you are there, check the port for 27015) some times the server just starts at 27016 or else, the game opened affects this, i suggest you just pick a higher port (like 27020 or something) to avoid that problem for good.
Another thing you can check is the external ip address, you router on the configuration page should show what is the current external ip, check that with the public ip the server shows (on status command), if they show different ip, theres another NAT on the network, or an isp GCNAT.

[Volkann1234]

Originally posted by Blaquicat:

What game is? Im assuming its source/goldsrc engine game.
The local ipv4 is the same you see on the console(server console) by typing status (since you are there, check the port for 27015) some times the server just starts at 27016 or else, the game opened affects this, i suggest you just pick a higher port (like 27020 or something) to avoid that problem for good.
Another thing you can check is the external ip address, you router on the configuration page should show what is the current external ip, check that with the public ip the server shows (on status command), if they show different ip, theres another NAT on the network, or an isp GCNAT.

The game is half life (goldsrc)
When I start a Half Life server these messages are coming to console:

Usage:
Setmaster unavailable, start a server first.
NET Ports: server 27015, client 27005
Server IP address 192.168.1.27:27015

BUILD 8196 SERVER (0 CRC)
Server # 1

Volkann1234 has joined the game
VAC secure mode disabled.

these are the commands I put to console
] port
"port" is "27015"
] port 27020
] port
"port" is "27020"
] sv_lan
"sv_lan" is "1"
] sv_lan 0
] sv_lan
"sv_lan" is "0"

then I restarted and put the same commands but when I check the ports with my external ip address in a website that shows the port is opened or closed.
and it says 27020 closed
I also tried this with HLDS tool in steam liblary
I think, I missed something about port forwarding :s (my firewall disabled)
EDIT: I also changed the Port Forward settings to 27020 in my router... still not working

[Blaquicat]

Well, usually the port is set on the command line parameters, if you using the GUI, stop now, that is very bad and buggy, add - console to open up just the console.

Is that correct?
192.168.1.27 ?

Use an .bat or a shortcut to put parameters on the server, the rest you can put on the server.cfg, it usually is inside cfg folder.

About the problem in hand, damn goldsrc does not show the public ip like source games do..
To be honest that is just to make sure you arent behind any GCNAT or something..
Compare the ip address you have on the router page (external) with one you get on those ip sites..
https://www.whatismyip.com/my-ip-information/
https://www.myip.com

It should show the same ip on the router external and those sites..

can u join the server using the local ip? 192.168.1.27 ?

[Volkann1234]

Originally posted by Blaquicat:

Well, usually the port is set on the command line parameters, if you using the GUI, stop now, that is very bad and buggy, add - console to open up just the console.

Is that correct?
192.168.1.27 ?

Use an .bat or a shortcut to put parameters on the server, the rest you can put on the server.cfg, it usually is inside cfg folder.

About the problem in hand, damn goldsrc does not show the public ip like source games do..
To be honest that is just to make sure you arent behind any GCNAT or something..
Compare the ip address you have on the router page (external) with one you get on those ip sites..
https://www.whatismyip.com/my-ip-information/
https://www.myip.com

It should show the same ip on the router external and those sites..

can u join the server using the local ip? 192.168.1.27 ?

-where is server.cfg file?
-I'm not using a folder to create the server
-yes my local ip is 192.168.1.27

-I tested my ip with a program named Port Forward Port Checker (it uses to port to check) but I think there is no problem with half life server I think I couldn't port forward correctly.

-I don't know what is GCNAT? how can I know if I'm behind the GCNAT thing or not?

-when I type GCNAT it says "do you mean CGNAT?" do you mean CGNAT?

-I was wrong, my modem is HG255s not HG255a.

[Blaquicat]

Server.cfg file is under cfg folder, if you have none, maybe you need to create one.

CGNAT is correct, its an NAT over thousands of people, (Carried Grade NAT), those under that NAT feature cant forward ports, without having to call isp and explain the situation..

Those port checkers programs dont quite work well all the times, some says my ports are closed, even if the server is open and randons are playing there (l4d2)

Check if your ip on 'HOME' menu from the router is the same as you get on those whatsmyip.com sites, they supposed to be the same, if they arent could mean you are behind a CGNAT
https://setuprouter.com/router/huawei/hg255s/setup-81201-large.jpg

[Volkann1234]

Originally posted by Blaquicat:

Server.cfg file is under cfg folder, if you have none, maybe you need to create one.

CGNAT is correct, its an NAT over thousands of people, (Carried Grade NAT), those under that NAT feature cant forward ports, without having to call isp and explain the situation..

Those port checkers programs dont quite work well all the times, some says my ports are closed, even if the server is open and randons are playing there (l4d2)

Check if your ip on 'HOME' menu from the router is the same as you get on those whatsmyip.com sites, they supposed to be the same, if they arent could mean you are behind a CGNAT
https://setuprouter.com/router/huawei/hg255s/setup-81201-large.jpg

I checked the router's IPv4 address and it's different.

[g4r7h]

this is great. I used to struggle with this same problem as a kid around the year 2002.

fun to see the struggle goes on.

time is meaningless. we are all one.