Setting up active mode

For DC++ to work properly in active mode, it requires access on TCP and UDP listening ports, as well as outgoing access on all ports for both TCP and UDP.

If you are NOT behind a router:

If you are behind a router:

You can simplify the process of setting up active mode if your router and operating system is UPnP compatible (UPnP is available only on Windows XP and Windows Vista). For setting up active mode with UPnP or get help how to decide that your router is UPnP compatible or not, please read the How to set up UPnP FAQ. If UPnP does not work or is not an option, follow the steps below.

The second option for using active mode behind a router or a gateway is to set up port forwarding manually. For an in-depth, but still easy to understand explanation of port forwarding, read What is Port Forwarding? The following steps describe the configuration of port forwarding in general. Later you will find links to get configuration information specific to your own router device.

  1. First you need to set up the router to forward the connections to the computer with DC++. This is could be called Port mapping, port redirecting, port forwarding or something like that in your router configuration. Find out how to do this with your router / NAT in the user manual came with your device.
  2. You need to forward two ports, with either the same port number or different ones. Select one or two numbers between 1024 - 65535, they should mostly all be free. Make sure both UDP and TCP is being forwarded on the port(s) you chose.
  3. The IP that you are forwarding to should be the internal IP address of your computer running DC++. It usually begins with "192.168", "172.16." or "10.x.". To see your internal IP address go to the command prompt and type: ipconfig (Start Menu -> Run -> cmd /k ipconfig)
  4. When you have mapped the port(s) on the router, open up DC++ and go to Connection Settings. Select Firewall with manual port forwarding. In the port fields, enter the port number(s) that you forwarded on the router.
  5. In the External / WAN IP field, you need to enter the external IP address of your router. Your external IP can be checked on DSLReport's IP page or at WhatIsMyIP.com.
  6. Active mode should now be working. For checking or troubleshooting if you have properly forwarded the port(s) to DC++, use www.canyouseeme.org. Make sure DC++ is open. Then, from the site, enter in the port you're forwarding and click Check. If everything has been properly set up, the site should say Success. If you get an error message in red, then you need to double-check the port forwarding on the router, DC++ settings and possibly your software firewall settings.

You may find detailed how-to guides with screen shots for various router models at www.portforward.com. There is a huge list of models there, click on your model name, then select DC++ from the list of applications. An interactive guide will appear to help you how to access your router's configuration page and how to set up port forwarding for DC++. You can find some more how-to's for popular router models at the DSLReport FAQ page as well.

If active mode is working for a while, but the next time when you use DC++, you only get Connection Timeouts or no results when searching, your IP (either external or internal) is likely to have changed. Of course you can update your IP settings manually each time they changed, but there are better solutions to avoid constant IP address updates:

Windows XP?