xbox live via laptop - strict NAT

locky123

Xbox connected to laptop by ethernet cable. Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) enabled. Firewall configured to allow xbox through. Xbox connects to Live but NAT is always strict. Using O2 wireless router with UPnP enabled.

Has anyone managed to use their laptop and get open NAT? Is the problem with ICS or the router?

The xbox connects with open NAT when directly connected to the router.

locky123

After some hours of searching and testing managed to get open NAT when using laptop to connect xbox.

Had to set following to automatic startup under Services on laptop - SSDP Discovery Service and Universal Plug and Play Device Host.

Also had to check boxes for UPnp TCP and UPnP UDP under ICS Services.

This was using XP on 2 wireless laptops, connecting xbox by ethernet cable to laptop, and connecting to wirelessly to O2 router.

hippyadam

Nice, i may try with with my pals xbox, he called o2 & they wanted £15 to change his NAT!?! :eek:

-TangleFoot-

locky123 wrote: »

Had to set following to automatic startup under Services on laptop - SSDP Discovery Service and Universal Plug and Play Device Host.

Alternative instructions for Windows Vista here. Instructions for Windows XP can be found here.

Slloyd_2

Right i'm 14 and i don't understand. can't i just change my NAT type from strict to moderate or open on xbox, i use an ethernet cable from my xbox to my laptop.

DCFC79

Slloyd wrote: »

Right i'm 14 and i don't understand. can't i just change my NAT type from strict to moderate or open on xbox, i use an ethernet cable from my xbox to my laptop.

why not connect the xbox to the modem/router

bingo_bango

DCFC79 wrote: »

why not connect the xbox to the modem/router

I suspect this is a cheap way of getting a 'wireless' connection for the xbox. If the laptop is using a wireless connection to the router (which is in another room from the xbox) then connecting the xbox to the laptop and using ICS means you don't need a 30m cable running to the router from the xbox.

Can someone confirm this, and if it is the case, does it affect ping times badly?

NiVZ

Hello,

Using Internet Connection Sharing is not the best way to do this. You can do it far more easily (and gives more options) if you 'bridge' the connections in your laptops Network settings instead.

This allows your Xbox to get it's own IP address from the router instead of using the laptops shared connection, and means you can add the xbox IP address to the DMZ in your routers settings which allows it to use Open NAT.

NiVZ