Editing Tutorials/Setting up a server (section)

=== Port forwarding ===
{{see also|Wikipedia:Port forwarding}}
Port forwarding is used when you have a router and you wish to let users connect to your server through it. If you wish to host your server for local reasons, it is not required that you do so. ''Keep in mind that port forwarding might cause security risks''.

'''When port forwarding, it varies on how your router will ask you for the information. If you don't understand on how your router wants you to input the information, try visiting [http://portforward.com/ PortForward.com] for a tutorial.'''

Once you have managed to locate your router's admin page, and find the Port Forwarding page; hit add new service ''(may not work)'' (if you use Belkin, this can be very difficult to perform) or custom service. When you get a page asking to setup the new rule, it should prompt you on what you want to call it. You may name it as you wish, but for simplicity, name it "''minecraft''". Then, you want to look for "type". If "TCP/UDP" or "Both" isn't an option you will have to create two rules for both protocols. For the ports (internal and external), enter 25565. If it asks for anything else other than output IP (or internal IP, server IP), leave it alone and continue.

To find your computer's IP address, use the following steps:

;{{OS|Win}} Windows
: Press {{key|Win+R}}; this should be up to the "Run" dialog box. Type {{kbd|cmd}} and hit {{key|Enter}}. This should open a command window with a black background. From there, type {{kbd|ipconfig}} and press {{key|Enter}}. You should be given a list of text. Scroll up to "Wireless LAN" (if using wireless) or "Ethernet" (if using a wired connection), and look at "IPv4 address". To the right of this should be a string of numbers (of the form xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx). Copy this down by right-clicking the window and selecting "Mark", then highlight the area and hit Enter. ''Don't copy any parentheses or letters''.

[[File:Ip-address-mac-610x206.jpg|thumb|The IP location on OS X]]
;{{OS|Mac}}Mac
: Locate your way to your desktop. Pull up the apple menu under the logo and scroll down to ''System Preferences''; then select "''Network''" your IP should be on the lower right as "IP address (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx)". Once you have your IP, copy it down.
;{{OS|Linux}}Linux
:Either you use the network diagnose center (depending on distribution), or the terminal with <code>ifconfig</code>. The output should return all your interfaces. Search for <code>inet addr:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx</code>, copy the xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx numbers down.
:Once you have this IP, enter it in the "Output IP / Server IP" or whatever way it asks for where the service points to.
:Once you have completed it, find where it says to save/continue/apply. And you have successfully port forwarded. When you run your ''Minecraft'' server, you have to leave the Server IP field empty in the server properties.
:For people to connect to your server, they must use your external IP, which you can find at websites such as [http://www.ipchicken.com/ IP Chicken]. If you don't want to use such IPs, use DynDNS services such as [http://no-ip.com NoIP DynDNS]

Now it is time to [[#Configuring the Minecraft server|configure and connect]].