Why can't I....

[Leebert]

...join some on-line sessions?
Just seen a session hosted by Squeaky Pete and one by Heli Harry but couldn't join either of them but I can join pretty much any other session on the list
Any help appreciated

[Geek]

me too with heli harry

[Gate88]

Me neither mate, I tried to join that session but keep getting the same error message, something about portforwarding, but its all voo doo to me after that!
Yet some other sessions I can join fine.

[trillian]

Me neither mate, I tried to join that session but keep getting the same error message, something about portforwarding, but its all voo doo to me after that!
Yet some other sessions I can join fine.

ditto

[tiddler]

I've had this quite a lot as well

But have gone back and tried again after a bit and got in OK

Haven't got a clue why it does it though

[D1zzy]

I've noticed this too. Harry may not have his ports open to allow us to connect.

Instructions for opening router/firewall ports:
PortForward.com - Port Forwarding Guides Listed by Manufacturer and Model

Ports required for Phoenix are 26500-26505 (UDP).

[Gate88]

Perhaps someone could explain to me in very very simple terms what the f**k portforwarding actually is. I went to portforward.com as the error message advised but that makes absolutly no sense at all to me. I went down their list of routers but although mine is a netgear (from Sky) it has none of those seriel numbers on it.

But please keep it simple because I have absolutly no idea about ports, firewalls, anti virus, or anything like that. And also if I try and set up my router to join sessions online is there a chance that I could muck it up and cause problems elsewhere?

[raptormark]

are ports are done but we get the same probs and sometimes we can get in but not see everyone and they cant see us mailed them and they said its your ports cant be because we have done them and even removed firewalls any help would be good I know of a lot of you have the same probs

[Smoothound]

...join some on-line sessions?
Just seen a session hosted by Squeaky Pete and one by Heli Harry but couldn't join either of them but I can join pretty much any other session on the list
Any help appreciated

It's because you are unworthy mate

[D1zzy]

Think of ports as entrances to a night club...

The club (your computer) has several doors. Each door is represented by a number. If a door is closed, noone's getting through it. If it's open, anyone can get in. Firewalls are bouncers, monitor who's coming through open doors and checking their ticket.

Port forwarding simply means opening doors, leaving the bouncer to filter what's coming in and what's going out.

So when you open doors 26500-26505, others can get in. It is then down to the bouncer to decide if it's a legitimate guest. We all know what bouncers are like, and the same applies here - it can make mistakes and deny access to valid punters.

Therefore if the correct ports are open and users are still being blocked, then it's more than likely due to an overzealous firewall or the existence of several firewalls.

Just like in the real world, the less bouncers the better so it's not recommended to have more than one active firewall running.

Bear-in-mind that Windows is shipped with its own firewall. If then a third-party firewall is installed, and the router also has firewall (which most do), three firewalls will be present - not good. Something to check.

Hope that makes sense. I'm a software developer, not a network guy...

[Gate88]

I think I get it now! Thanks. Just got to sack a few bouncers then!