This article describes situations when you may have to configure port settings in Windows Firewall or on your networking hardware so you can connect to Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows LIVE.

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Firewall ports and Xbox LIVE

Most broadband routers use Network Address Translation (NAT). Windows Internet Connection Sharing also uses NAT.

For most networking hardware that uses NAT, forwarding a network port from one network node to another network node (usually known as port forwarding or tunneling) is not required for your Xbox console to connect to Xbox LIVE. This is especially true if you use an Xbox LIVE-certified device. Port forwarding should only be necessary if you use a proxy server or a true firewall device instead of, or in addition to, NAT. Sometimes, you may have to configure port settings on a non-Xbox LIVE-certified router or gateway.

If there is a firewall device between the Xbox console and the networking hardware, you may have to configure the firewall to enable communication on specific network ports. If the NAT status in the Network Status area of the Dashboard is "moderate" or "strict," you may have to configure port settings.

The following ports must be available for Xbox LIVE to operate correctly:

•	UDP 88
•	UDP 3074
•	TCP 3074

For information about how to configure port settings on a firewall, router, or gateway, please see the documentation that was included with that device.

If you use an Xbox LIVE-certified device and the NAT status in the Network Status area of the Dashboard is "moderate" or "strict," verify that the device has the correct firmware. For information about Xbox LIVE-certified devices, such as the correct firmware version for the device, please visit the following Xbox Web site:

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Firewall ports and Games for Windows LIVE

Verify that your router is compatible with the Games for Windows LIVE service

To review the set of routers that are compatible with the Games for Windows LIVE service, please visit the following Microsoft Web site: If your router is not listed on the Web site, and you are having problems connecting to Games for Windows LIVE services, continue with basic multiplayer troubleshooting. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: If the issue continues to occur, contact the manufacturer of the router.

Add the program to the Exceptions list

Warning This workaround may make a computer or a network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.

Note Do not open a port for a program that you do not recognize.

1.	Do one of the following: • In Windows Vista, click Start, type wscui.cpl in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue. • In Windows XP, click Start, click Run, type wscui.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.
2.	Click Windows Firewall.
3.	On the Exceptions tab, locate the game in the Programs and Services list. Click to select the check box to enable that game to connect through the firewall. If the game is not listed in this window, you must add the game to the Exceptions list. To do this, click Add Program, and then click Browse. Locate the executable file for the Games for Windows game title, and then click Open. For example, the executable file for Halo 2 for Vista is installed in the following location by default: C: \Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo 2\Halo2.exe
4.	Click OK three times.

Allow a program to communicate through Windows Firewall

If the computer is connected to the Internet

For more information, visit the following Windows Online Help and Support Web site, and then view the Allow a program to communicate through Windows Firewall topic:

If the computer is not connected to the Internet

For more information, view the "Allow a program to communicate through Windows Firewall" topic in Windows Help and Support on the computer's hard disk. To do this, follow these steps:

1.	Click Start, and then click Help and Support.
2.	In the Search Help box or in the Search online Help box, type Allow a program to communicate through Windows Firewall, and then click Search Help.
3.	In the list of topics, click Allow a program to communicate through Windows Firewall.
4.	Click the link that best describes the problem that you are experiencing.
5.	Follow the suggestions to troubleshoot the problem that you are experiencing.

Make sure the ports are open for Games for Windows LIVE

If you do not use the Windows Firewall program, you can still open the ports that the game uses when you configure the network. Port forwarding must be enabled on TCP port 80 and TCP port 3074. To make sure that these ports are open, or to open these ports, contact the network administrator or the Internet service provider (ISP). If you are the administrator of the network, see the documentation that is provided with your networking software to determine how to open these ports.

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Additional support

If the steps in the previous section did not resolve your problem, your console may have to be repaired. For more information about how to start the repair process online, please visit http://www.xbox.com/support (http://www.xbox.com/support), and then click Repair your console in the upper-right part of the Web page.If you want to instead contact Xbox Customer Support directly, please visit http://www.xbox.com/support/contact (http://www.xbox.com/support/contact) for information about how to do this.

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