How-To: Port Forwarding On an Airport Extreme & Time Capsule
When I moved into my new apartment I brought with me a 1TB Time Capsule that I was previously using as a network storage device because my old roommate already had a Linksys router. None of my new roommates had routers, so I decided to use the Time Capsule as both our router and network storage device. Pre-Time Capsule, I have always used Linksys routers — and throughout the years became very comfortable with their web configuration tool. In my Internet travels, I have found it a little tricky to find proper documentation for a lot of the more technical questions I have with Apple products.
Recently, I figured out how to do port forwarding on the Time Capsule, so let’s take a look at what it is, why you’d want to do it, and how to set it up.
What is port forwarding?
The act of forwarding a network port from one network node to another. This technique can allow an external user to reach a port on a private IP address (inside a LAN) from the outside via a NAT-enabled router.
Why would I want to port forward?
Port forwarding greatly increases torrent speeds. It can also be used to access files on your computer or NAS at home over the Internet (i.e., mount a file server over the Internet).
Setting Up Port Forwarding On Your Airport Extreme or Time Capsule
- Open Airport Utility: Applications → Utilities → Airport Utility
- Find your device in the left-hand column and select the “Manual Setup” button
- Click the “Advanced” gear at the top of the window
- Click the “IPv6 Firewall” tab
- Click the “+” to add a new rule
- In the window that pops up:
- Description: Enter whatever you want
- IPv6 Address: Enter the IP address of the computer you are forwarding the ports to (To figure this out: System Preferences → Network. Inside that window write down the number next to “IP Address”)
- TCP Port(s): Enter in the port number you want to forward
- UDP Port(s): Enter in the port number you want to forward (Same port as the TCP Port)
Common Ports to Forward:
- BitTorrent: 6881-6999 (Pick any number in this range and forward it)
- AFP: 548 (Forward this if you want to be able to access an internal drive over the Internet)
Check That Your Ports are Forwarded Properly
I’m sure there is another way to do this, but we’re going to use the BitTorrent client Transmission to check if our port forwarding was successful.
- Download & Install Tranmssion (Don’t worry, it’s free — it’s also my BitTorrent client of choice)
- Click Transmission → Preferenceas
- Go to the “Network” tab
- In the “Network: Peer Listening Port” box enter in the port you forwarded earlier
- If everything worked, you should have a green light with the words “Port is open” (I am on a Wi-Fi hotspot so my port is currently closed)
Tweet This (12)
Andrei on May 5th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Very nice info – thanks. I have a linksys router and I’m thinking about buying a Time Capsule but always wondered if I could forward ports with it. Thanks again :D
Anon on May 5th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Which version of Airport Utility are you using for this set-up? There is no IPv6 Firewall tab in version 5.4.1. There is a Port Mapping tab though which allows you open ports if you want computers outside your network to access specific devices on your network. Also, would your “how-to” work for those of use who no not have static IP addresses??
jake on May 5th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
I agree with anon on both questions. I have a “port mapping” tab and no “ipv6 firewall” tab. Also, I would love to know how to do this without a static ip. I am sure you can use DynDNS, but I would like to know how to set it up with the airport extreme.
I have been looking for a port forwarding walkthrough for the AEBS for a long time, to no avail. I would love if someone could clarify these last couple of issues.
Cody on May 5th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Anon – under IPv6, the IPv6 mode has to be set to “Tunnel.” Honestly, I don’t know what implications this has on the network, or what it does – but I do know that THAT gives you the IPv6 Firewall option. Maybe Dave and John can help with this one?
I’ll re comment tomorrow to see if I have found anything.
Lui-g on May 6th, 2009 at 4:18 am
I find that the site: http://portforward.com/ is very useful as it lists most routers with screenshots on how to set up port forwarding.
Lui-g.
Staff Comment Jenny Kortina, TheAppleBlog on May 6th, 2009 at 7:44 am
@Andrei @Anon if you don’t want to set static IP’s you could forward the port to every IP on the network that could possibly be a computer…ie if you know at any given point you could have 3 laptops connected, forward the port to the 3 IP addresses they could possibly be
stephen on July 22nd, 2009 at 8:39 am
This is probably a bit of a moronic question but once you’ve set this up what do you actually type into the browser to access the ‘now’ external driving (assuming your outside the internal network). Is it http://’you static IP address’:548 ?
stephen on July 22nd, 2009 at 8:46 am
ps since ive followed the instructions above I’m no longer able to see the Time Capsule from within Airport Utility even when ‘rescanning’?
TM on August 16th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
I’ve followed this tutorial exactly but when I check the ports using transmission, I still get ‘port is closed’.
cstrife on August 21st, 2009 at 11:11 pm
ive done the same…in the port forwarding section and still get port closed…
Mark on September 22nd, 2009 at 8:47 am
I have followed these instructions as best I can with the new Airport software.
Airport Utility is convinced it is forwarding my ports, but every port-checking site that I got to says they are still closed. My MacBook has a static IP, and the ports are forwarded properly, but they still are closed.
Help?
Nate on November 13th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Anybody have any luck yet for configuring port forwarding so you can access a home security system and anything else on my mac?
Thanks
Stephen webb on November 14th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I have just brought an apple extreme and had a lot of trouble setting it up most of the problems in the end was me not reading advise properly, once i brought a modem, set the thing up, then the apple router, ps it still took days of playing with ip addresses, mac addresses, id numbers, etc, basically i was trying to set up port forwarding to an ethernet cable thought the router to allow an iphone app to wake the mac and show what was on the screen (great app once working Remote tap) easy on the local network but quite a job on the internet, which is where i needed it.
ps i also invested in a static ip address.
its hard to give advice as there are so many settings all i can say is make sure you have all the right addresses in place.
bloody good luck