Posted by D. Kirkpatrick on 10/06/05 17:05

In article <jl3bk1t8bpvq6qi5r66e69mbf76n3d8hec@4ax.com>,
gregfarr <gregfarr@comcast.net> wrote:

>
> Well, it's back, but would like to know more about fiddling with
> ports. (keep it clean);-)



Many DSL modems or routers act also as a form of firewall. Not all,
but many.

As a matter of protection, certain port numbers that are assigned to
certain kinds of traffic are closed to prevent hackers from getting in.

For the most part this does not have any effect on general internet
traffic.

All internet traffic has port numbers assigned that identify what kind
of traffic it is and how the interconnecting computers should handle
it. P2P programs use certain "port numbers" that identify what kind
of traffic it is as well.

Most WinMX users that use a DSL modem or router found thatthey could
not onnect the way the program wanted and had to change the way that
it "spoke" to the rest of the sharing community. WinMX had a feature
that allowed it to determine the best way available, would determine
if certain port numbers were blocked against hackers.

Otherwise one would have to access their modem or router via the
utility program included with each to open certain port numbers to
this traffic.

At the ISP end, those port numbers have significance and some have
shut off the conventional port numbers thus refusing the traffic
associated with it.

For the most part you can manually open other ports and assign your
WinMX to those port numbers. You will still get through, but for many
people not adept at this it can be a problem.

I prefer to not change default settings but if a time comes that I
will need to, I will.

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