AIM is retarded

[KlumpDud]

Even after forwarding the correct port in with AIM (Aol Instant Messanger), I still get that stupid firewall error message when trying to send or receive files. I have no firewall software. I've even tried making my computer the DMZ host. I also made sure that the person I'm sending/receiving with is able to do so with other people, so I know the problem lies with my computer/network.

Anybody know how to deal with this? It's so frustrating.

[Miz]

AIM uses port 5190 for file transfers. Try forwarding that port to your computer in the router's setup and be sure to check all applicable boxes...UDP, TCP and the "enable" box if there is one (as there is in Linksys routers) and then the "Apply Changes" button.

If your router occasionally changes the IP it hands out to the computers on its network and file transfers stop working again, you'll need to check your IP (Start>Run, type in cmd, click OK, type in ipconfig, press the Enter key) to make sure your computer still has the IP you entered into the port forwarding settings. If not, just change it in the router's port forwarding setup and apply change.

Note: Anytime you forward one or more ports through the router, or put a computer into the router's DMZ you have exposed that port (or in the case of DMZ, all ports) to the world. Running a software firewall on the computer to which that port or ports are forwarded is a good idea.

[DragonNOA1]

I have the same problems. Whats weird is one day it won't work, then the next day with the same person it does, go figure... computers.

[KlumpDud]

Miz, I know all that. The problem is even after forwarding port 5190 to any of the ip's that my computer might get on a given day (100 to 104), it still is not working.

[glc]

If you are forwarding ports or using DMZ, you should assign that computer a static IP.

[KlumpDud]

But why wouldn't it work the way I have it now?

There are 4 computers on my home network and depending on the order that they are turned on, they always take the 192.168.1.___ where the last digits are either 100, 101, 102, 103.

Under the port forwarding page, there are several lines so that you can forward different ports for different ip's. I have 5190 forwarded 4 times, each with a different ip (100, 101, 102, 103). So requardless or which ip my computer gets when it's turned on, that ip has the port 5190 forwarded.

[glc]

Uhhh....thats not how port forwarding works. Assign static IP's when you forward. You can't forward the same port to 4 different IP's at the same time. Just make sure you don't assign an IP that's in the DHCP scope of the router, and simply use the router's IP for default gateway and DNS.

[KlumpDud]

Uhhh....can you please explain it to me? Me no know too good.

Thanks.

[glc]

I'm saying that any computer on your network that needs ports forwarded, assign that computer a static IP. What model of router do you have and what version of Windows is on the computer that needs the forwarding?

[Miz]

As glc said, a port can only be forwarded to one computer. If you tell the router to forward it to four different IPs to cover the change in the numbers, it won't forward it to any of them, no matter what the number they got that day.

So your choices are either to, as glc explained, assign static IPs so the router hands out the same IP to the same computer regardless of order of boot or, as I explained, check your IP every day and if necessary change the IP number in the router's Port Forwarding to correspond with the IP your computer got that day.

[KlumpDud]

but what if there is more than one computer that I want AIM to be able to send/receive files with?

[Miz]

Then you forward the AIM file transfer port to one, put the other in the router's DMZ and run a software firewall on both since they will now have ports open. After that, as far as I know, one of the two which can receive files through AIM will have to share it with the two that can't through your local network.

[KlumpDud]

ok, so how do i make my computer have a static ip?

P.S. i have a linksys router

[glc]

Originally posted by glc I'm saying that any computer on your network that needs ports forwarded, assign that computer a static IP. What model of router do you have and what version of Windows is on the computer that needs the forwarding?

As far as I know, you can't forward AND DMZ at the same time.

If you want to play with forwarding on multiple machines, I recommend you set them ALL static, set up forwarding on all of them but only hit the check box on ONE at a time in the forwarding page in the router. You can forward different ports to different machines simultaneously, but not the SAME port to more than one at a time.

When you get back to us with the Windows versions, we can walk you through static IP assignments. In general, you will go into the TCP/IP properties for each NIC or local area connection, assign an IP address which I recommend you use 192.168.1.200 and up - 201, 202, 203, etc. (each machine must be unique) - and assign 192.168.1.1 as both DNS and default gateway. The exact steps vary depending on Windows version. The router will still assign IP's to "guest" machines using DHCP if you add any more.

[KlumpDud]

Well you can see my computer in my sig, it's win2k. The router is a linksys BEFSR81. it's basically the same as the BEFSR41 but with 8 ports instead of 4.

I do not want to dmz host any of the computers, I just want to be able to forward the port for AIM.

Also, one more question that's not exactly related: it takes about a minute for the router page to load (192.168.1.1) but on other people's networks (such as a friend who has XP) it loads pretty much instantaneously. Is this just how win2k is or is there a setting I can tweak?

[glc]

Start, settings, network and dialup connections, local area connection, right click, properties. TCP/IP, highlight, properties.

Use the following IP address: 192.168.1.200 (or whatever you want to use, it cannot be .1, .255, or anything between .100 and .149). Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0. Default gateway: 192.168.1.1. Preferred DNS: 192.168.1.1. OK your way out of everything.

Review my last post regarding port forwarding on multiple machines.