# 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:

- Click on File menu and then Settings. Click on Connection Settings.
- Select the Direct Connection radio button. Leave the IP fields blank. This will make DC++ use the current IP assigned to your network card. You must NOT have an internal IP address for this to work.
- Leave the TCP/UDP/TLS ports blank also. This will make DC++ randomize the port it uses each time.
- Leave the Outgoing Connection settings set to Direct Connection. Click OK.
- You may need to allow DC++ in your software firewall. Consult its documentation on how to do this.
- Test active mode by joining several hubs and doing a search for a common term. You should get results back. If not, then you are likely behind a router, have an internal IP address or haven't properly configured your software firewall.

## 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:

- If you find the external IP is constantly changing, you can sign up to a free dynamic DNS service such as No-IP , Dynip or DynDns and put your dynamic DNS address into the External / WAN IP field in DC++ Connection Settings. Each DDNS provider has a downloadable IP updater software what updates the dynamic name service with your latest IP. Make sure you download, configure and run this program while using DC++. Many router models have DDNS client software included for specific DDNS provider(s) so it worth a check in your router configurations before choosing a provider. After you setup the built-in DDNS client you won't need to run any IP updater software, your router will automatically take care of updating your DNS name.
- If you find that your internal IP changes when you restart your computer then your operating system is obtaining an IP address from your router at boot using DHCP protocol. If you want your computer to always have the same internal IP address you must setup Static DHCP in your router configuration. Static DHCP is a useful feature which makes your router always assign the same IP address to a specific computer on your network. You will have to find MAC address of your network card to set up Static DHCP.
  Another option to ensure you'll always have the same internal IP address is to set up static IP address for your computer. Here's a FAQ how to do this for different versions of Windows.

## Windows XP?

- Service Pack 1: Its strongly recommended that you do not use the SP1 firewall and instead use a third party one. Make sure to disable the XP firewall if you do choose this option. If you really must use it, then check out this guide on how to set it up.
- Service Pack 2 or 3: The firewall in SP2 & SP3 is a lot more robust than its original incarnation. While it does not offer a plethora of options, its suitable to use by itself for protection. Its wise to enable logging of packets that the firewall drops for troubleshooting applications. To do this, go to Control Panels -> Windows Firewall -> Advanced Tab -> Security Logging -> Settings. Enable Log Dropped Packets. The log file is located at: C:\WINDOWS\pfirewall.log. Here's a complete guide How to Configure Windows Firewall on Windows XP SP2 & SP3.