I have been trying to help people get their gaming servers up and running for a while now. One of the things I come across is that people get very far down the process, usually all the way to the end, find out their server is listed, that they need to open ports, and have no access to the internal router settings, wasting many hours of time and leading to mass frustration. This is the main reason I harp on this piece so much.

  A router is a device that connects two or more packet-switched networks or subnetworks. In this case your computer, your friends computer, and possibly steam servers.  It serves two primary functions: managing traffic between these networks by forwarding data packets to their intended IP addresses, and allowing multiple devices to use the same Internet connection. The “ports” like a ship port, is an access point to share the data, by default the router does not allow traffic in to keep your data safe, so you will need to open up these data shipping lanes so you can communicate back and forth on the networks.

   A LAN is a group of connected devices restricted to a specific geographic area, in this example your house. A LAN usually requires a single router.

  You will need your routers user name and password along with accessing IP usually all of this can be found on the side of the router.

  You MAY depending on your computers configuration need administrator mode in windows.

  You will need access to turn off networking programs if they are installed

  You will need access to turn off or allow exceptions to windows defender or other antivirus programs.

  The Screenshot above is just one of many examples of a port forwarding screen.

  By taking the time to properly open the ports on your router, and allowing any offending software to allow data packets, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience for yourself and your fellow players. Don’t let connectivity issues slow you down – get those ports open and start gaming!