How come Port Fowarding doesn't work sometimes?

[Vannan195]

Like, I'm doing everything correctly. I correctly spelt "SRB2Kart", used the right IP, and even used the right port. But no matter how many attempts I do it, my server still won't appear in the SRB2K Server Browser. I even allowed the game to ignore the Firewall. Help???

Update: tried making a server in srb2. still the same problem. why

 

[SeventhSentinel]

Technically a question about Kart, but moving here since port forwarding is implemented identically in vanilla (as far as I know).

 

[SpongeSonicGuy(?)]

Technically a question about Kart, but moving here since port forwarding is implemented identically in vanilla (as far as I know).

I wouldn't be too sure. I think port forwarding uses different numbers in Kart and vanilla. I could be wrong, but I remember something different about the two.

 

[SeventhSentinel]

Both of them use port 5029. Some people also open port 5030 for dedicated servers.

 

[SpongeSonicGuy(?)]

Both of them use port 5029. Some people also open port 5030 for dedicated servers.

Ah. Thanks for gettin' it off my head.

 

[Vlad Freeman]

Like, I'm doing everything correctly. I correctly spelt "SRB2Kart", used the right IP, and even used the right port. But no matter how many attempts I do it, my server still won't appear in the SRB2K Server Browser. I even allowed the game to ignore the Firewall. Help???

Update: tried making a server in srb2. still the same problem. why

You need to read about what Network Address Translation (NAT) is, what network port is, what DHCP is, what TCP and UDP are and how IP address assignment works on different network areas (Local Area Network (LAN) (e.g. your home, office), Wide Area Network (WAN) and so on) to fully understand why it doesn't work for you.

Since we don't know what your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is, what kind of NAT they use and what services and features you have for your Internet connection, we can only assume what kind of problems you have.
It's better to directly call ISP for tech support for getting full information about your Internet connection in this case.

There are many reasons why nobody can connect to your server, but, assuming that everything is done right on your PC, it can be summarized in three points:

• ISP blocks almost any incoming connection to your external IP address. This is mostly for network security and/or allowing to serve thousands and thousands clients to access the Internet over NAT. If you want to host stuff from your home (like SRB2Kart server), you have to ask your ISP to either map 5029 network port to your home network and allow all connections (don't count on it) or rent a static IP address for a fee (which almost always guarantess you that all 65536 ports will be opened for you). Or try NAT punching and get banned from accessing the Internet.
• You have wrong settings in your home router which must be set up to route incoming connections to 5029/UDP port to your device which hosts SRB2Kart server. Home routers are essentially a firewall, switch, NAT, DNS and DHCP servers in one small device. This website can provide you enough information on how to make your home router to map 5029 port to your device. https://portforward.com/router.htm
• If you don't have a router and the Internet connection goes directly to your PC, the only thing you have to do is to set up proper firewall rules and check if your ISP allows you to accept incoming connections.

There is also a small guide on how to do port forwarding: https://jameds.org/portforward/
And a port checking service to see if you have set up SRB2/SRB2Kart server properly: https://jameds.org/SRB2/port/