WRT54GS - Port Forwarding vs Port Triggering

I have a LinkSys WRT54GS wireless router, I would like to play Command & Conquer Tiberium Wars online and would like to find out whether I should configure the required ports on my router using Port Forwarding or Port Triggering?

I'm thinking that Port Forwarding is more secure in that the ports are only forwarded to that static IP I specity whereas with port trigerring any incomming connection on the triggered port would automatically be forwarded? What should I use? Forwarding or triggering?

Also, what a security risks associated with using port forwarding? Can any incomming connection on the specific port now reach my private network or does the router/firewall still provide me with some protection? (I see that I have to "Allow annymouns internet requests" on my router to use forwarding)

Then, just for interest I read that torrents usually work better if you have a port forward for the port theclient uses. (I read this in the Micro Torrent FAQ) If you use Micro Torrent without a port forward, how does it manager to work a all?

jshwon said:

I have a LinkSys WRT54GS wireless router, I would like to play Command & Conquer Tiberium Wars online and would like to find out whether I should configure the required ports on my router using Port Forwarding or Port Triggering?

I'm thinking that Port Forwarding is more secure in that the ports are only forwarded to that static IP I specity whereas with port trigerring any incomming connection on the triggered port would automatically be forwarded? What should I use? Forwarding or triggering?

Click to expand...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_triggering

Port triggering is a configuration option on a NAT-enabled router which allows a host machine to dynamically and automatically forward a specific port back to itself. In layman's terms port triggering opens an incoming port when your computer is using a specified outgoing port for specific traffic.

Click to expand...

So ports are only opened when an outgoing connection is made from your system,thus its recommended servers don't sit behind a port trigger

Also, what a security risks associated with using port forwarding? Can any incomming connection on the specific port now reach my private network or does the router/firewall still provide me with some protection? (I see that I have to "Allow annymouns internet requests" on my router to use forwarding)

Click to expand...

Frankly if you forward port 21666 to your PC,if anybody tries to get in on port 21666,if a server/service isn't running that'll accept connections on that port it'll just DIE a silent death. And if a server is running for said port it'll request a specific format of communications traffic,and when this isn't received it'll KILL the connection.

So all in all forwarding != teh pwnage

Then, just for interest I read that torrents usually work better if you have a port forward for the port theclient uses. (I read this in the Micro Torrent FAQ) If you use Micro Torrent without a port forward, how does it manager to work a all?

Click to expand...

Frankly you'd only do the Forward if your NAT isn't working at its best IMO.