Port forwarding can be necessary for helping your node stay synced and connected to peers. This can increase connections/peers for your Qortal core node(s). We will try to make this scenario as simple as we can - as there are several variables. Choose the section below that fits your situation:

Since Core v6.0.0, the network is split into two lanes. Blockchain peers, simply known as Peers and QDN peers, known as Data Peers.

The default Peers (blockchain) port is 12392.

The default Data Peers (QDN) port is 12394.

Some routers have a setting called, UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) enabled by default. When this setting is enabled, programs like the Qortal Core can request your router opens port(s) for it without any extra configuration done by the end user.

Option 1: If you have only ONE node, and your router has UPnP enabled, you will not need to do anything, your single node will simply start obtaining incoming connections.

Option 2: If you ARE going to use UPnP, you can have MULTIPLE nodes on the same LAN obtaining incoming connections via UPnP by simply modifying TWO settings in settings.json for your SECOND node and HIGHER:

Edit settings.json for the nodes ASIDE FROM THE FIRST NODE, and change the listenPort/listenDataPort for the subsequent nodes, below is an example for the second node on the LAN.

{
"listenPort": 22392,
"listenDataPort": 22394
}

On networks that do NOT have UPnP available, you will need to enable port forwarding and static assignment to obtain incoming connections. Doing this will be DIFFERENT on any given router. You will need to obtain instructions for your router from an internet search as far as the terminology and specific settings that you will need.

We will provide basic overall instructions here for understanding.

1. Setup Static Assignment for each node machine on your LAN. - Static assignment ensures that the machine will obtain the same LAN IP address every time, from your router. (Some routers give static assignment other names, most of the time it will be located under DHCP settings.)

2. Establish a Port Forwarding (or DNAT) entry in your router, for each of your statically assigned node machines, changing the external port of each.

You do NOT need to modify any further settings on your NODE, simply add new entries for each node machine with a DIFFERENT EXTERNAL PORT. See below for an overall idea…

Node 1

- Internal port: 12392, external port: 12392

- Internal Data port: 12394, external Data port: 12394

Node 2

- Internal port: 12392, external port: 22392

- Internal Data port: 12394, external Data port: 22394

Node 3

- Internal port: 12392, external port: 32392

- Internal Data port: 12394, external Data port: 32394

etc… You can use ANY port you like for the different external port, as long as it doesn't go over 65535 as that is the MAX port in the tcpv4 port range. Once you HAVE set different external ports for each, you can check your external IP address with a service like https://whatismyipaddress.com (look for ipv4 address there) and you will know what the peer address for Qortal will be for each of your nodes, with your external IP and whatever external port you set for each node.

All that needs to change is the EXTERNAL port, port forwarding will allow you to forward to the SAME internal port on DIFFERENT IPs, this way no modifications of Qortal settings are required.