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Opening Ports for Network Games

Posted: Oct 01, 2011
by Aidan
Before anything else, if you have the Mac internal firewall turned on, either turn it off, or ensure the game is allowed incoming connections as follows:
  • System Preferences -> Security -> Firewall -> Advanced -> "+" -> GrassGames' Cribbage
  • System Preferences -> Security -> Firewall -> Advanced -> "+" -> GrassGames' Hearts
The same goes for Windows firewall - you should allow the game full access.

The game tries to open a port on your router to help network games connections. However this may or may not be successful.

You can check if the port is being opened properly are by using the Port Map program by Coding Monkeys - here's the Mac download link: (no Windows one yet, sorry)

http://www.codingmonkeys.de/portmap/download

After you download the program, do the following:
  • Start the game
  • Select Network Game
  • Create a game - this should open a port
  • Start the Port Map program that you downloaded
  • Press the All UPnP Mappings button
  • See if a port has been opened by the game
You can add a port for the game by doing the following (not a bad idea even if a port is listed already):
  • Start the game
  • Go to Options -> Online
  • Note down the port number being used
  • Start the Port Map program
  • Click the "+" button in Port Map
  • Enter the port number in the Local Port field
  • Check both TCP and UDP
  • Type Cribbage into the Description field
  • Press Add Mapping
Now try connecting to people within the game.

Extra things to try:
  • There are 2 numbers listed in the online options section within the game - try adding port mappings for both numbers.
  • Change your port number in the online options section to a number between 43000 and 53000, then add the mappings again.

Re: Opening Ports for Network Games

Posted: Oct 03, 2011
by Aidan
Also for those still having problems after using Port Map, you can have a look here to see if you router setup needs adjusting:

http://portforward.com

Re: Opening Ports for Network Games

Posted: Nov 19, 2013
by Aidan
New help here for manually opening ports routers.

This has fixed connection problems for some people running Linksys WRT54G routers.

Re: Opening Ports for Network Games

Posted: Mar 24, 2014
by Aidan
And more new help here for setting up a Static IP Address.

This will definitely help some iPhone users, probably others also.

Re: Opening Ports for Network Games

Posted: Jun 30, 2016
by Aidan
One user reported that changing the port number to 50000+ (e.g. 50100) may help also.

Another user reported success changing the port number to 43312.

To to this click the bottom right button in the lobby and select "Options".

Re: Opening Ports for Network Games

Posted: Jun 30, 2016
by Aidan
If you router has a UPnP setting, ensure this is turned on or enabled, and reboot your router if you made changes.

Directions to see your router configuration are here (in section 3).
The UPnP setting may appear in the security section or your router configuration page.

Re: Opening Ports for Network Games

Posted: Jun 22, 2020
by Aidan
Also keep in mind that not being able to open ports does not mean you cannot join or host games. In some situations it does not cause problems.