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SBG6700-AC (v8.6.x): Port Triggering Setup

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Question

How do I configure port triggering in my SBG6700-AC?

Answer

When setting up a device for remote access, there may be situations in which Port Triggering needs to be set up in the SBG6700-AC instead of Port Forwarding. Port Forwarding allows the configured ports to always stay open. With Port Triggering, the ports are opened temporarily and are only opened when triggered by specific behavior.

Port Triggering is a safer method for opening specific ports for special applications (e.g. video conferencing programs, interactive gaming, file transfer in chat programs, etc.) because they are dynamically triggered and not held open constantly or erroneously left open via the router administrator and exposed for potential hackers to discover.

When the SBG6700-AC detects outgoing data on a specific port number set in its Trigger Range, the resulting ports set in its Target Range are opened for incoming data. If no outgoing traffic is detected from the Trigger Range for 10 minutes, the ports listed in the Target Range will close. Port Triggering is not enabled by default. This document describes how to create a Port Triggering Entry.

NOTE 1: When setting up a host device like a web server, port forwarding should be used instead of port triggering. This way, the ports will stay open for users to connect. To set up port forwarding in the SBG6700-AC, please refer to Article # 9834 - SBG6700-AC (v8.6.x): Port Forwarding.

NOTE 2: Only one device should make outbound connections on a specific port. If two or more devices attempt to make outbound connections on the same port at a given time, there will be a conflict, and port triggering will not work correctly.

Creating a Port Triggering Entry

Launch a Firefox or Safari browser. Enter http://192.168.0.1 into the address box, and press the Enter key.

NOTE: A browser message on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera, may appear when accessing the Web Manager. The message includes 192.168.01 uses an unsupported protocol and ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH. The Web Manager uses an earlier version of the TLS protocol and does not match the version allowed by the web browser. Safari browsers on Apple PC and mobile devices are not impacted. The workaround to access the Web Manager with a PC is to use the Firefox browser and set the TLS version to 1. For workaround instructions refer to article # 19435 - 192.168.0.1 uses an unsupported protocol.
A security or private risk alert may appear on the web browser advising users to proceed with caution when accessing the Web Manager. There is no risk in proceeding to the Web Manager. For instructions to bypass the alert screen, refer to article # 18181 - Alert Message for Web Manager Access.
On the Login page, enter admin or a customized username in the Username field.
Enter password or a customized password in the Password field.

NOTE: On later versions of the SBG6700-AC, the Wi-Fi Security Key is used as the default admin password printed on the bottom white label. For assistance with Web Manager Access, refer to article # 18754 – SBG6700-AC: Web Manager Access.
Click the Login button. The Home page will appear.
Move the mouse cursor over the Advanced tab and select the Port Triggers sub-link. The Advanced - Port Triggers page will appear.
On the Advanced - Port Triggers page, click the Create Port Triggers button.

a. Trigger Start Port

If one port is to be used, enter the port number.

If a range of ports is to be used, enter the first number of the range.

b. Trigger End Port

If one port is to be used, enter the port number.

If a range of ports is to be used, enter the last number of the range.

c. Target Start Port

If one port is to be used, enter the port number.

If a range of ports is to be used, enter the first number of the range.

d. Target Start Port

If one port is to be used, enter the port number.

If a range of ports is to be used, enter the last number of the range.

e. Protocol - Click on the drop-down menu and select the appropriate protocol (TCP, UDP, or both).

f. Description - Enter a desired name for this profile.

g. Enabled - Click on the drop-down menu and select On.

NOTE: In the example below, if any device connected to the SBG6700-AC makes an outbound connection on port 2000, the SBG6700-AC will automatically forward ports 2001 - 2005 to that same device. After 10 minutes of inactivity, the SBG6700-AC will stop forwarding ports to the device, and the ports will be closed.

h. Click the Apply button.
The Port Triggers page will now appear and will display a Trigger entry.