Asus RT-AC68U router and two Xbox 360's

I have just fixed a nagging problem I've been experiencing with our Asus RT-AC68U router and two Xbox 360's and wanted to share it for anyone else who may be searching for an answer to this problem. I got this router right when it first came out and up until
tonight I have always had a problem whenever both Xboxes are on (both hard wired) one of them would have a moderate NAT instead of open. I'm a network tech by trade so I knew to try all the normal solutions of making sure UPnP was turned on, that both Xboxes
had static IP's, QoS turned on, router firmware up to date, etc. No matter what I did the problem persisted. Tonight I decided to go off the beaten path and try anything and everything I could. I stumbled upon a solution that doesn't make much sense as to
why it works, but it does. What finally fixed this problem was setting one Xbox to use a different DNS server than the other. So here is my setup that provides open NAT for two Xboxes using an RT-AC68U router:

Router:

- Router assigns static IP's to the Xboxes

- QoS on, with my up and down speeds from my ISP entered into the fields

- DNS in WAN set to get auto from ISP

- UPnP on

- Port TRIGGERING enabled for ports 53 TCP/UDP, 80 TCP, 88 UDP, 3074 TCP/UDP. Do not use port forwarding as you will only be able to forward the ports to one of the Xboxes

Xboxes:

- Xbox #1 network configuration set to automatic everything

- Xbox #2 network configuration set IP to automatic but manually set primary DNS server to 8.8.8.8 (Google's free DNS server)

I hope this helps someone so they don't have to waste as many hours on this as I have.

:)

 

Sporadic Xbox Live Disconnects

Arris CM820A cable modem

Asus RT-AC68U router

 

Recommended Wireless Router for Xbox live (360 and ONE)

I own the ASUS RT-N66U Gigabit Router, works GREAT!!! I highly recommend it. If you're looking for a 2014 model the ASUS (RT-AC68U) is your best bet.

 

What happens if you don't use QoS and Port Triggering, but only UPnP and have your console's network settings untouched?

What is your router's current version of firmware?

Do you have a standard modem, or with built-in NAT?

 

My modem is a Motorola Surfboard SB5101U, which is by default just a bridged modem. When I first got the router I attempted only enabling UPnP and still had moderate NAT, that's what started this quest. My router's firmware is the current version 3.0.0.4.374.5656.

 

And with Port Triggering enabled, you have UPnP disabled?

 

Good stuff!

If this behavior start to drift, send me a PM (Private message, below my post).

TIA!

 

Although I'm a bit confused because with Port Triggering, both console's shouldn't be able to bind port 3074 for Xbox traffic simultaneously and have an open window, to multiplex outbound connections.

I know that UPnP often tend to overwrite static NAT, which could the be same case as with Port Triggering.

I'm a bit confused.

 

Tonight I will remove the port trigger to see if both stay open. You're right, in theory they should. The most noticeable change was when I changed the DNS server on one Xbox.

 

Please do and let me know how that goes.

 

Sadly without changing a thing it reverted to moderate. I changed settings one by one back towards default and finally ended up with no special settings other than UPnP enabled and for 2 days now NAT is open on both Xboxes. That's where I started way back
when I first got it and it was moderate back then so the only thing that makes sense is that a firmware update somewhere along the way fixed this.

 

The facts:

You can NOT use port triggering to simultaneously have multiple xbox with an open NAT.

The only way to have multiple xboxs with an open NAT is to use UPnP. The first xbox will take 3074 and the rest will take another random port 12000-65500. You can see which port has been chosen by looking at the UPnP properties of the router. You can also
confirm the xbox has chosen the same port by looking at the xbox console settings, where it will display <Your Public IP>:<Port>.

 

I wish I could understand what everyone is talking about, lol

I`m more of a spanners and oil kind of guy, tech is way over my head.