Still need to open lots of ports?

[CWatters]

I'd like to use messenger between myself and a PC in another country but we
both have NAT equipped routers/firewalls. Is there a guide on the web that
explains how to set this up?

Last time I looked at this I recall being told I needed to open 65,000 ports
in my firewall if I wanted video and audio to work. Is that still the case
or has anything changed?

One of the routers supports uPnP - does that take care of things at that end
automatically?

Thanks

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings,

If you use MSN Messenger 7.x, it can use relay servers and therefore you don't have to worry
about ports, however the performance will be disappointing if you rely on these for
connectivity.

But yes, if the router supports UPnP, it will only open the two ports it needs during an
audio/video conversation, automatically forward and when the conversation is over, will
remove them.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Live Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2006 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
--


"CWatters" > wrote in message
...
> I'd like to use messenger between myself and a PC in another country but we
> both have NAT equipped routers/firewalls. Is there a guide on the web that
> explains how to set this up?
>
> Last time I looked at this I recall being told I needed to open 65,000 ports
> in my firewall if I wanted video and audio to work. Is that still the case
> or has anything changed?
>
> One of the routers supports uPnP - does that take care of things at that end
> automatically?
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
>
>

[CWatters]

"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
...
> Greetings,
>
> If you use MSN Messenger 7.x, it can use relay servers and therefore you
don't have to worry
> about ports, however the performance will be disappointing if you rely on
these for
> connectivity.
>
> But yes, if the router supports UPnP, it will only open the two ports it
needs during an
> audio/video conversation, automatically forward and when the conversation
is over, will
> remove them.

Thanks.