Use of DMZ on Airport Express

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Level 1

8 points

Use of DMZ on Airport Express

Hi, I have an airport express, the current generation. I am attempting to connect my xbox to it, and consistently get a strict NAT type. I have tried port mapping, and it tells me that it cannot connect at all, claiming that port 3074 is blocked, when I have specifically opened it. This is not a problem with the outside connection, as I can connect with no NAT problems when bypassing the router. I can't find a walkthrough for giving my xbox DMZ access anywhere, as all help sites say 'this is unsafe, use port-mapping instead'. Please help!!!

Thanks,

PaceyJ

Airport Express-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on Oct 1, 2011 9:01 AM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

Level 10

148,435 points

Oct 2, 2011 9:09 PM in response to PaceyJ

Unfortunately, the AirPorts are not listed as Xbox Live-compatible routers ... so there is no guarantee doing this will get Open NAT status for Xbox Live!

The following web blog does a great job explaining the NAT issues with Xbox Live! Basically what it comes down to is that although you can get an Internet connection for the Xbox with the AirPorts, you may not get the necessary NAT setting (Moderate or Open) for the Xbox Live! on-line game that you want to play. As such, you basically have two options: 1) Create a DMZ (Apple calls this a Default Host) for the XBox or 2) Configure the AirPort for Port mapping to open the required ports to allow Xbox Live! access ... or 3) Use a compatible router.

Option 1 - Create a DMZ

AirPort Utility > Select the AEBSn > Manual Setup > Internet > NAT
Enable default host at: <Enter the IP Address for the XBox>

Option 2 - Configure Port Mapping

The following ports must be available for Xbox Live to operate correctly:

UDP 88
UDP 3074
TCP 3074

To setup port mapping on an 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn), either connect to the AEBSn's wireless network or temporarily connect directly, using an Ethernet cable, to one of the LAN port of the AEBSn, and then use the AirPort Utility, in Manual Setup, to make these settings:

1. Reserve a DHCP-provided IP address for the Xbox 360.

AirPort Utility > Select the AEBSn > Manual Setup > Internet > DHCP tab
Click the "+" (Add) button to enter DHCP Reservations.
Description: <enter the desired description of the host device>
Reserve address by: MAC Address
Click Continue.
MAC Address: <Enter the MAC hardware address of the Xbox or the MAC address of the wireless depending on how you connect the XBox to the network.>
IPv4 Address: <enter the desired Private IP address>
Click Done.

2. Setup Port Mapping on the AEBSn.

AirPort Utility > Select the AEBSn > Manual Setup > Internet > NAT > Configure Port Mappings

Click the "+" (Add) button
Service: <choose the appropriate service from the Service pop-up menu>
Public UDP Port(s): 88, 3074
Public TCP Port(s): 3074
Private IP Address: <enter the DHCP Reserved IP address for the Xbox you created earlier>
Private UDP Port(s): 88, 3074
Private TCP Port(s): 3074
Click "Continue"

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