Server Hosting Problems (Port Forwarding)

[Nula]

I don't really feel like this belongs here but I have scoured the internet for over 10 hours searching for information. I have checked the official Discord, Steam page and Youtube and nobody seems to have this problem, so I came to the only  computer forum I really know of! Now, I'm by far no port forwarding expert, but I've done it a number of times, it always works if you have the right information. Now, I'm trying to host a server for a game called Unturned, I have set up the server, I can connect to it via LAN, but I cannot connect to it via internet and nobody else can either. When I search the internet there are multiple ports people are saying to use, which in itself is frustrating and dumb! So I've tried them all, I've tried 3 different computers, 4 different routers from different brands, 3 different houses and 2 different ISPs. I've contacted my ISP and they are not blocking ports. I've used a program to listen to ports just in case the server is failing to do so and uses https://portchecker.co/check to check the port. It's refused every time. I've disabled both firewalls for testing purposes and still nothing. What else can it be? Am I misunderstanding something here? The way I understand it is if there are no firewalls there should be a direct connection to the server from anywhere! But I get nothing! I'm so frustrated!

[KRKATANAKID]

I know nothing about Unturned itself. What platform are you hosting from? (Windows, Linux, etc). I would double check that it isn't something like a Windows Firewall, iptables, or selinux problem or something along those lines. (Reading it again I see you can connect via LAN, so this probably isn't the issue. But Ill leave it just in case)

Even with the firewall completely disabled I would assume you still have a NAT to deal with. Port forwarding tells the router which IP to send what traffic to in this context. So even without a firewall, you won't get anywhere without the right settings.

In your router are your source and destination ports consistent? So something like say <public address>:80 -> <server address>:80? 

One time I accidentally had something like <public address>:880 -> <server address>:80 and then tried to connect to 80 from outside the network. Did not work well haha.

Also, it depends on the router, but sometimes you need to make sure your protocols do match on the port forwarding rule. (I.e. the rule is set for UDP if thats what you're expecting for traffic).

Are you running through some form of ISP-provided modem or something? I would check the settings on there. I usually just disable the firewall on there and/or put my own router/firewall in the modem's DMZ.

I've been spit-balling this entire time, but I hope something here helps!

[Nula]

8 minutes ago, KRKATANAKID said:

 

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How do I set up my NAT settings? I have no experience with that!

Destination ports consistent? I don't have any typos if that's what you're asking! I've checked everything 10 times over!

 

It's set to TCP and UDP, that's about the only thing I've found on the internet that is consistent across all posts!

 

I'm using a ISP provided modem, yup! How to I access the settings of the modem?

 

[Nula]

I have no idea how that managed to look like that, but ignore the quotes.

[KRKATANAKID]

Port Forwarding IS one of the primary settings you see for inbound NAT on most routers. 

This is an example Port Forwarding rule I pulled off a pfsense router in my lab environment. My question previously was if the "Destination port" and "Redirect target port" were the same, or if not the same at least correct. (If you don't know, the destination port is the port the router will receive traffic on, the redirect target port is the port the firewall will send traffic to on the server. The wording may be different in other routers, but the concept is the same). 

However there are usually also outbound NAT rules. Usually those are correct by default, but they may be worth double checking.

Also are there any logs on the server that would allow you to see if traffic is making it in? Wondering if you're just having an issue getting back out?

[KRKATANAKID]

And the methods for configuring an ISP provided modem varies widely across providers. There may be some guide that could help you. On mine most of the settings I needed were made mostly apparent just upon logging into it.