Constant Port Error in NETGEAR

[matty13]

This has been going on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on for months and months now and its getting ridiculous, whenever i want to open a port, i go to open one.

But then when i add a custom port, it doesnt show on port table to say its THERE! and the port doesnt open either.

This is with latest firmware, i asked on netgear forums like 3 topics on there ages ago about it and they just told me to hard reset, so i did i done it, but it didnt go so i did another reset, by doing a small reset, then a hard one then set it up then did factory restore trhen set it up, just as like they told me to do.. but no luck!

My portforwarding is just really pathetic, i dont think netgear are aware of this to even release a new firmware to fix the issue.....

How can i get them aware of it?

all i get now is when i try to open port again it goes

Service name already in use, and cannot be used twice.

This page will automatically return to the previous page in a few seconds...

if i try to open the port i tried to open with different service name, it shows, it displays but port doesnt open it stays closed.

even if i reboot router i still cant add the service name again it says its in use!

Please help! everytime i want to open ports i have to literly reset my router to factory, set it up then add the port!!

Im stuck now!

help!

-matt

EDIT: Do you think i should downgrade the router to previous firmware, becuase i can do that, can't i? all the router does is replaces the whole firmware with that file that you downloaded, correct? so once i do that, i can press reset to factory settings which will then reset the router with that firmware, yes?

hard reset shouldnt even be needed, am i correct?

but to be honest i want to use latest firmware because it has some fix's i use like they fixed the loopback to work properly etc

Edited September 15, 2007 by matty13

[+BudMan MVC]

An what port number ar you trying to open??

Lets say your wanting to open 80.. Which would be service name http. There would be no reason to create a different name, nor would it allow you to?

What I think you should do is RTFM on how to forward a port ;)

I would love to help -- so here another idea, how about you give us the model number of your netgear router.. they make quite a few models you understand ;) we are not mind readers! An we can see what your doing wrong. Oh an if you have question on if you should downgrade your firmware -- how about some clue to what version your currently running, to be honest when users say latest - it rarely is ;)

also -- if your port forwarding is not working.. What is the model number of the "modem" your netgear is connected too? Quite often this is not just a modem but a gateway (modem/router) .. An is also doing NAT.

Or the user has a VOIP device in the mix, also can do NAT.. etc.. etc..

Please post the MODEL numbers of all devices that are between you an the internet - an we should have your port forwarding issue fix up in no time.

[matty13]

Modem fine, if i reset my router to factory defaults, reset it up then port forward works fine,but after router has been up for hours or so then the port forward no longer works and stops working, current open ports work but when i add new ones there not displayed on the port map.

Its WPN824v1

Firmware Version V2.0.120_1.0.15

And modem is by virginmedia, its an WEBSTAR by Scientific-Atlanta, doesn't say the model number. but it looks like this one in there banner:

im opening port 1212

with the name the name; hotel

its not on the optional list so therefore i add it by custom.

Heres screenshots with text on explaining:

Any more info let me know

-matt

[+BudMan MVC]

What do you mean by current open ports work?

Your custom settings would be gone after a router reset, Do you mean that standard settings are still there -- but your customs are gone?

If this is the case - sounds like your router is not saving settings on a power cycle???

Should be easy enough to check.. Create a custom service, your hotel is a fine example.. Then power cycle the router.. Are they still there??

Are you using UPnP, or do you have machines setup in the DMZ? Quite often forwards may fail if another device is in the dmz, or UPnP changes the forwards, etc.

Since your clearly setting up the forwards directly, I would suggest you make sure UPnP is disabled on the router.. An verify that your custom services are still there after a power cycle.

[matty13]

Nooo, lets say i add a port the port is 80, it works it adds and it display on the port table, if i go later and add another port, it wont display on the port table, but then i go and retry to add the port with the same service name, computer ip assigned by DHCP and same port, it says that service name already exists and cannot be used twice.

And also lets say i have no ports but my router uptime has been up for a week, i go to add the port, port does not display on port table then the problem is there, i try re-add, that message displays again saying the service name cannot be used twice, i try reboot, i try re-add with same info, error again, but the name is not in use!?!? im not using it, its not there, its not on the port table???? and the port never opened??

do you get what i mean?

[Nocturnus]

I have the same problem. Two of my services aren't showing and I can't re-add the services. I just forwarded a different port for my bittorrenting and all is well for now. Don't know what you can do if you have to use that specific port though...

[+BudMan MVC]

Well if you already have it forwarded.. Is it listed there?? If I understand you right..

You create a service called "test1" on port 666 You then forward this to machine 192.168.1.100

You come back later an "test1" is not on your service list. But does it show up as a current forward?

If not your saying your router forwards port 666 to 192.168.1.100 without listing that it is doing that?

If it does list it as a forward an going to 192.168.1.100 -- what if you remove this forward.. Does it then show up on your service list?

It would make sense to remove it from the list, if in use!! Since you can only ever forward a Port to 1 machine at a time, etc.. So there is no reason to list it as a service -- if currently in use, etc.

[panicswitched]

you do know you have to use different names per port opened they cant all be the same name

i do stuff like server bt (for bittorrent on my server)

[+BudMan MVC]

Im not understanding what the big deal of the custom service name not being in the list, if its listed in the current forwards.. Since you would never use the same port to forward to another machine while there is a current forward of that port to a machine..

I fail to see the point of having the custom service name being listed anyway.. But if what your saying is forwards are not being listed -- then that is HUGE bug, an should contact them right away.. You can not have a router forwarding traffic that is not being listed as forwarded..

[Nocturnus]

Well in my case, it wasn't working. I originally had port 53535 forwarded to 192.168.0.68, then when that service disappeared, I received one of those port errors in utorrent. Then I just forwarded 50505 to my ip and all is well. Not sure if that is the case with him, that his port no longer forwards. Not trying to hijack the thread, just wanted to give an example of what might be happening and why he needs to be able to see the service.

[+BudMan MVC]

Yeah I agree you need to be able to SEE that a service is forwarded.. But you do not need to see it in the custom list, if its listed as an active forward.

[matty13]

I didnt mean in the drop down box, i mean in the table below it, ok i just turned on my router lets say, i forward a port but i leave it forwarded for say like a week, but i want to add another port, i add another port, and it doesnt display on the port table, and doesnt forward, so i try again, and it says the service name is already in use, but... it isnt displaying that its forwarded so there is no way for me to remove it! reboot router, same problem so only option is to restore it to factory. :\

i done millions of times what netgear recommend me to do which is hard reset the router and the problem will go... but no its still there..

i put it down to the firmware been dodgy, seen as this only started after there update.

[+BudMan MVC]

So your saying that router does not show a service you called xyz on port 666 being forwarded to machine 192.168.1.100??

Is this port forwarded or not?? When its not listed in the table?

It still sounds like a issue with a power cycle.. If you see a service being listed as forwarded, leave the web interface an come back.. Does it show the port forwarded?

You come back in an hour -- is the port still forwarded, but not listed? If so there must of been a power cycle on the router??

If not forwarded, an not listed -- but will not let you add it back because it says already a service, etc.. Still sounds like there must of been a power cycle on the router.. You should be able to verify that by power cycle the router on purpase an verify that the problem shows up.

If you not happy with the router or the company support by updating firmware for said router -- then get a new one! This time get one that supports 3rd party firmware!!!

[StandingInAlley]

  Nocturnus said:

I have the same problem. Two of my services aren't showing and I can't re-add the services. I just forwarded a different port for my bittorrenting and all is well for now. Don't know what you can do if you have to use that specific port though...

I had the exact same problem and did the same thing