In this guide we will walk you through each step in the port forwarding process for the Netgear VMDG490 router. Your router uses a firewall to help protect your home network from Internet invasions. The firewall does this by blocking all incoming and outgoing connections unless otherwise specified. If you are playing an online game or using an online program you may need some of these blocked connections opened up. This is typically called a port forward. Signs you may need a port forward are: game or program lag, dropped from the game or program, and other similar experiences.
In this guide we will walk you through each of the following steps:
- How to setup a static IP address on the computer or device you plan on forwarding these ports to.
- How to login to the Netgear VMDG490 router.
- How to find the port forwarding page in your router interface.
- How to create a port forward entry.
We think that forwarding a port should be easy. That's why we created Network Utilities. Our software does everything that you need to forward a port.
When you use Network Utilities you get your port forwarded right now!
Step 1
It is important to setup a static ip address in the device that you are forwarding a port to. This ensures that your ports will remain open even after your device reboots.
- Recommended - Our free Static IP Setter will set up a static IP address for you.
- Another way to get a permanent IP address is to set up a DHCP reservation.
- Or, manually create a static ip address with our Static IP Guides.
This step is important because you want a permanent IP address in your device. If you do not set up a permanent IP address in your device, then when you device reboots it may get a new IP address.
Use a VPN Instead
Have you considered using a VPN instead of forwarding a port? For most users, a VPN is a much simpler and more secure choice than forwarding a port.
We use and recommend NordVPN because not only is it the fastest VPN, it includes a new feature called Meshnet that makes forwarding a port no longer necessary for most applications. With NordVPN Meshnet, you can connect to your devices from anywhere in the world, completely secure, over a highly encrypted VPN tunnel.
Every time you click on one of our affiliate links, such as NordVPN, we get a little kickback for introducing you to the service. Think of us as your VPN wingman.
Step 2
In this second step we will walk you through the steps in logging into the Netgear VMDG490 router. First you will need to open up a web browser because this router uses a web interface to make setting changes. We recommend picking the browser you are most comfortable using. If you are unsure pick: Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Edge.
After you have opened up the web browser of your choice, find the address bar. This is normally at the top of the page. Here is an example of an address bar:
Above is an example of what a web browser address bar looks like. Find the address bar in your router and type in your router's IP address.
The default Netgear VMDG490 IP Address is: 192.168.0.1
After typing the router's IP address into the address bar, click the Enter key and you should be taken to a login page like this:
On this login page type the router's password in the space given then press the red Sign in button.
By default the router's password should be on the router label.
Having Trouble?
Are you having trouble logging into the Netgear VMDG490? If so, there are a few things you can try:
- First, we recommend trying other Netgear passwords. If you have a slightly different firmware version then you may also have a different password. Check out our Default Netgear Router Passwords here. For this particular router you may also want to try our list of Default Virgin Media Router Passwords as well.
- If the above option did not work, it is because you changed the password in the past and probably have forgotten. We recommend trying to guess what you changed it to. If you need help with this we recommend using our Find Password App. It automates the process of guessing the the password for you. Learn more about it on our Router Password Cracker page.
- Finally, if you are still stuck, it might be time to consider a factory reset. A reset like this erases all settings you have ever changed in the past. We strongly recommend you try other ways of solving this problem before you continue with a reset. For more on resetting a router check out this How to Reset a Router page.
Step 3
You should now be logged into the Netgear VMDG490 router. It is time to find the port forwarding section of the router's interface. To help you with this, we begin on the Home page:
First of all, click the red button in the lower right corner of the page labeled Advanced Settings.
You are warned that this is taking you to the Advanced Settings. Click the Yes option.
Scroll down to the Port Forwarding option under the heading of Security.
This is the page you should end up on.
Step 4
Here are the ports to forward for Xbox Live:
- TCP Ports: 3074
- UDP Ports: 3074
If you are looking for the ports for a different application you can find it by either:
- Browsing our List of Games
- Check out our our List of Games by Genre
- See our List of all Applications
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Make up a name to put in the Name box. The name does not have any effect on the functionality of the forward, it's simply there so you can know why it was created.
If you are forwarding a single port, enter that port number into the Start Port and the End Port boxes. If you are forwarding a range of ports, enter the lowest number of that range into the Start Port box. Then enter the highest number of that range into the End Port box.
The protocol that you want to forward is selected from the Protocol box.
You need to enter the IP address that you are forwarding ports to in the IP Address box. It's possible for this to be either the IP address of your computer or any other IP address on your network that you want ports forwarded to.
Click the Add Rule button when you are finished.
After you have finished each entry, click the Add Rule.
Once you are completely finished click the Apply button to save your changes.
Testing Your Ports
Once you have finished port forwarding, it is a good idea to check your work. To help you with this we have an Open Port Checker. It uses a local application to see if the server is listening on those ports. This guarantees a positive confirmation on whether or not your ports are open.
Additional Information...
If you are still having trouble getting your ports open, we suggest using our PortForward Software. Our software includes everything you need in order to diagnose, troubleshoot, and fix port forwarding issues.
We also have a large selection of free guides to check out. You can find everything from networking guides to gaming guides.
We also have a large selection of router setup guides. Want to know how to setup your WiFi network? Need to change your DNS settings? Check out setuprouter.com for everything router.
