Port forwarding allows you to redirect incoming connections to another server or to a different port on the NetWinder.
This effect is similar to the creation of virtual services, as we described in the chapter called Virtual Hosts. However, the servers you create with port forwarding do not need to reside on the NetWinder. Instead, you can provide them with another server, such as an NT server, and make them appear to reside on the NetWinder.
If you click Port Forwarding from the Network configuration page, you will see a screen that looks like this:
If you then click Add a new rule, you will see this page:
You need to provide the following information to create a forwarding entry:
Protocol. This is either TCP or UDP, and specifies the type of service that you will be forwarding.
Local IP address. This is the address from which the NetWinder will be forwarding requests. For example, if this value is 192.168.42.12, and someone tries to make a connection to 192.168.42.12, the request will be forwarded to the remote address.
Local port. This is the port number from which the NetWinder will be forwarding requests.
Remote IP address. This is the address to which the NetWinder will forward requests. For example, if this value is 192.168.43.15, and someone tries to make a connection to the Local address, the request will be forwarded to 192.168.43.15 instead.
Remote port. This is the port number to which the NetWinder will be forwarding requests. For some services to work correctly (especially FTP, Windows file sharing and RealAudio), this must be exactly the same number as the Local port. With other services, this number doesn't matter. Of course, this value must always match the port that the remote service is really running on.
When you have finished filling in the above information, press the Save button to create the forwarding entry.
WARNING
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Port 80 is used to access the web configuration system. Do not forward port 80 of the local host or you may lose the ability to administer or access the NetWinder. |