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    HOWTO: Xbox 360 Live connection with pfSense (Port Forward & UPnP)

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    • D
      databeestje
      last edited by

      What worked for me was adding a rule for multicast traffic, after adding that the xbox will automatically add a port forward through upnp wherever it lives. That worked for me atleast.

      The default LAN subnet will not match the multicast traffic and thus block it.

      Add these 2 allow rules on the LAN interface.

      • LAN net * 224.0.0.0/8 * * none   Allow Multicast
      • LAN net * 239.0.0.0/30 * * none   Allow Multicast

      This will make uPNP with a lot of devices work a lot better. I'll talk to the other devs if we should add this rule in the background when enabling uPNP

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      • jimpJ
        jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
        last edited by

        @databeestje:

        This will make uPNP with a lot of devices work a lot better. I'll talk to the other devs if we should add this rule in the background when enabling uPNP

        That sounds like a good idea, though it might be best if there were a checkbox option on Advanced Options to automatically add multicast rules when multicast-dependent services are enabled, then UPnP, Avahi, etc could set an internal flag somehow to trigger these rules.

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        • S
          SilentGreen
          last edited by

          That sounds very good too me, because i have a similar issue with the Messenger (Windows and some Macs) on a hotel network, serving at least 60 rooms. Just enabling UPnP didn't solve the issue alone, so i will add the provided information manually in my NAT to see if it's running.

          Thank you so far…

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          • L
            lotacus
            last edited by

            I guess "enable multicast" is enabled in the background now? I got upnp to work once and only once. Now its fubar and nothing has changed on the firewall or network.

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            • H
              hack2003
              last edited by

              i tried to use the same method with utorrent but without the manual NAT rules.
              and it works fine.

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              • Z
                ZPrime
                last edited by

                Your static NAT outbound mappings don't look right.

                Ideally, rather than having a source of 192.168.1.0/24, use 192.168.1.55/32 (where .55 is the static IP of your Xbox).

                Otherwise, ANYTHING that has a destination port of 88 or 3074 will always be static NAT'ed, which you might not want if you have a non-Xbox client using those ports.

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                • J
                  josephnexus
                  last edited by

                  @lotacus:

                  I guess "enable multicast" is enabled in the background now? I got upnp to work once and only once. Now its fubar and nothing has changed on the firewall or network.

                  Is this the case?  I've been having trouble getting a bunch of Xboxes on my network all connecting at the same time.  I'm wondering if this could be the issue.  I'm running the latest stable version of PfSense.  I've enabled upnp (and logging for it) and see the Xboxes getting the ports via upnp.  I went to Firewall -> Nat and made outbound Nat use a static port, but people are still having issues.  Am I missing something?

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                  • S
                    storkus
                    last edited by

                    This is all well and good for one gaming machine or computer, but I'm using pfSense on a motel network where multiple machines and ports are used and we can't be adding exceptions all the time–especially since I'm the only computer literate person here!

                    After upgrading from 1.2.3 to 2.0beta4, a guests Xbox360 stopped working.  uPnP did nothing.  Someone elsewhere mentioned that pfSense does port randomization by default and that it can break stuff.  After seeing the official docs on the subject, I simply turned it off for the whole network:

                    Go to Firewall>NAT>Outbound and select manual (AON)
                    Then click on the default WAN rule, scroll down, and select "Static port", then save

                    Everything will now work by magic, though obviously you lose that bit of security; then again, though, this IS a public network, so...

                    Mike

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                    • V
                      vronp
                      last edited by

                      Neither method works here on 1.2.3

                      It's pretty funny that one can find posts that describe 10 different ways "that work".

                      I wish one of them worked for me.

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                      • L
                        lint
                        last edited by

                        @vronp:

                        Neither method works here on 1.2.3

                        It's pretty funny that one can find posts that describe 10 different ways "that work".

                        You should try to change the outbound NAT settings instead of using UPnP.

                        In the pfSense interface, go to Firewall - NAT - Outbound.  Change Automatic to Manual.  Then, create or modify the default mapping so that static port is checked.

                        It should look like:

                        WAN 192.168.100.0/24 * * * * * YES

                        Once saved, you should be able to connect to Xbox Live with a moderate NAT type instead of strict.  This is typical of connections with a firewall.

                        Further, you can port forward UDP 88 and TCP/UDP 3074 to your Xbox if you wish to have more accessibility.

                        (Confirmed with pfSense 1.2.3 running nanobsd on an Alix 2c board)

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                        • L
                          lint
                          last edited by

                          I tested UPnP since some people are having trouble.  I got it working just fine, and now have an open NAT connection to Xbox Live.

                          I pretty much did the same thing that BerSerK posted above, but limited the outbound ports for UPnP to the Xbox Live ports.

                          Step 1
                          Set Xbox to static IP (or assign a static through DHCP).

                          Step 2
                          Services -> UPnP
                          Checked to enable UPnP
                          Set to LAN Int
                          Checked to enable "By default deny access to UPnP"
                          Set following permissions:
                          allow 88 x.x.x.x 88
                          allow 3074 x.x.x.x 3074
                          (x.x.x.x is static IP of Xbox)

                          Step 3
                          Firewall -> NAT -> Outbound
                          Change from Automatic to Manual, then press save.
                          A rule will be automatically created.  Edit it and check "static port," then save and apply.

                          Step 4
                          Test Xbox live and confirm UPnP is working by checking the following:
                          Status -> UPnP

                          Note: If you have an Open NAT type, but cannot locate lobbies, the problem is most likely that you did not complete step 3.  Go back and try again.

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                          • S
                            Sikh
                            last edited by

                            Works for only 1 xbox, not multiple.

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                            • D
                              databeestje
                              last edited by

                              I have just committed a fix that automatically creates multicast filter rules on 2.0 so that the 360 can communicate with the miniupnpd deamon.

                              This thread is full of #fail with conflicting or downright wrong advice. I'm amazed in a sort of way.

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                              • B
                                brianm
                                last edited by

                                Hi everyone,

                                I tell you even trying all the recommendations indicate, and yet I still have the problem, the Xbox tells me I have a strict NAT.
                                I updated my version of pfSense from 1.2.3 to 2.0 on 11 March.
                                Now I work in Multiplayer games without problems, but the message still appears. Someone comes up with some other option?

                                Greetings and thank you very much.

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                                • B
                                  BerSerK
                                  last edited by

                                  @databeestje:

                                  This thread is full of #fail with conflicting or downright wrong advice. I'm amazed in a sort of way.

                                  If this howto is outdated or wrong please tell us how to correct it or simply remove the sticky or delete the thread.

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                                  • X
                                    xtropx
                                    last edited by

                                    Yes please. Grace us humble pfsense newbies with the knowledge on how to correctly set this up!

                                    This worked for me in UPnP:

                                    allow 88 x.x.x.x 88
                                    allow 3074 x.x.x.x 3074
                                    (x.x.x.x is static IP of Xbox)

                                    With no manual outbound rule generation.

                                    …but I should not have to use UPnP.  ::)
                                    Now I have everything set up to NAT ports 80, 88, 53, & 3074; firewall rules; static ports through manual outbound, and XBOX NAT type is still "moderate."

                                    Edit: I will gladly provide any details about my configuration in order to assist in finding a proper method to configure this.

                                    Regards,

                                    xtropx

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                                    • D
                                      databeestje
                                      last edited by

                                      with upnp enabled the xbox will request a port forward and succeed. It works fine for my xbox 360 at home. I don't get NAT type strict.

                                      The missing multicast traffic rule prevented the xbox 360 from succeeding to add a port forward mapping.

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                                      • S
                                        Sikh
                                        last edited by

                                        @databeestje:

                                        with upnp enabled the xbox will request a port forward and succeed. It works fine for my xbox 360 at home. I don't get NAT type strict.

                                        The missing multicast traffic rule prevented the xbox 360 from succeeding to add a port forward mapping.

                                        Thank YOU VERY MUCH. Ive been trying to figure what was the issue.

                                        Any idea when it will go into  effect? I just got a second xbox that will be permanent on my network and its not working. One will fail the other one will Open.

                                        Both of them use to be Open / Moderate. But now its Open / Incorrect MTU.

                                        Both are port forward to 80/88/3074/53.

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                                        • S
                                          Sikh
                                          last edited by

                                          @databeestje:

                                          with upnp enabled the xbox will request a port forward and succeed. It works fine for my xbox 360 at home. I don't get NAT type strict.

                                          The missing multicast traffic rule prevented the xbox 360 from succeeding to add a port forward mapping.

                                          So has this missing multicast traffic rule been put into play?

                                          I completely erased everything to do with port forwarding, rules etc. First 360 went open, next one had no connection.

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                                          • D
                                            databeestje
                                            last edited by

                                            Aha, multiple 360's. That explains, I think it overwrites the existing rules.

                                            I don't think Microsoft considered the possibility of 2 xboxes on 1 upnp router.

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