How to configure 3 Xboxes for Open NAT behind 1 modem-router?

OOIIOOOIOOIOOII · Feb 1, 2023

Three Xboxes, one all-in-one modem-router (no UPnP), one fiber connection. Two teens, one adult. All play FPS. How to configure the router? All 3 machines must be port forwarded to avoid Strict/Moderate NAT? I'm not following how this is supposed to work when I go through the support.xbox pages or any of the so-called 'help' pages returned by Google. I know router manufacturers all use different terminology to describe the process, here's Humax's; <Global Port Range> with 2 hyphenated fields, indicating a range. <Base Host Port> with 1 field, and <Protocol> with the expected "TCP/UDP, TCP, UDP." Some sites say the Xboxes need static IPs, others say no. I went to school for network engineering, though I never worked in the field, and I can't find or figure a way to make this work. Especially irritating as I cannot believe that I am the only person in the world sharing a connection with 2 teens who can read well enough to understand what 'Strict' NAT is doing to their Fortnite games..?!

:)

Georges C.

Hello, first it's a pleasure to be able to help you today.

My name is welcome to the community.

Hello, let's go by parts, to try to simplify since there are many doubts.

In modern modem routers the internal IP issue is provided automatically by the modem router's DHCP for each console and equipment in your home, so you shouldn't worry.

Generally the TCP/UDP protocols are already enabled and with UPnP active on your modem routers the 3 consoles should connect to the internet without problems.

The NAT issue can already complicate a bit because it may depend on your internet service provider, but this has nothing to do with having 3 consoles on the same network.

I don't know what kind of equipment you have in your home network, but as I mentioned, new equipment does practically everything by itself, if there are errors in the network, they don't connect, etc., ask for a technical visit and even a configuration or replacement of your equipment.

Tezzerrific

just make sure upnp is enabled on the router, i have 4 xbox consoles all open nat on the same network, plus all 5 gaming pc's all open nat on the same network too.

Xx ROZILLA xX

Not behind a NAT or not behind a cone nat?

Not behind a NAT means you are connected to a bridged router or DMZ or Modem. A Modem doesn't have NAT.

So the test says your NAT is open because you are not NATted

ZSomegaMagikMan

To the extent that "fix" works, all it does is workaround some problem/bug the One has with correctly detecting then reporting your NAT status. It does not and cannot magically open your NAT if your router is not actually properly configured to be open.
The only way to get open NAT is to use a router with good, working UPnP--in which case the One will automatically open the ports it needs--or manually forward the necessary ports via port forwards, port triggers, or DMZ (don't use DMZ!). From OP's post,
it doesn't sound like OP has configured his/her router yet.

what about if you've always had an open NAT behind a cone NAT and all of a sudden it's moderate behind a restricted nat?

jmcode

Your modem is really a DSL gateway (modem+router). This puts your Xbox behind 2 NAT routers (the DSL gateway and your Netgear) and creates a problematic double NAT situation that keeps you from getting open NAT. You need to put the gateway into bridge
mode, configure your Netgear router to perform the necessary DSL login (probably via either PPPoE or DHCP), and either use UPnP (which doesn't work correctly on many home routers) or manually forward the necessary ports on your Netgear to the Xbox. General
instructions for doing that are here:

www.dslreports.com/.../r23750452-Embarq-Bridging-Embarq-660-Modem-With-Netgear-Router

Search "CenturyLink 660 bridge mode" for other instructions.

How to configure 3 Xboxes for Open NAT behind 1 modem-router?