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QT009 - Messenger UPnP/SIP support on FR314, FR318, FV318

Introduction

Microsoft Messenger uses a different mechanism for initiating file transfers and audio/video conference connections from its predecessor, Microsoft Netmeeting.  The new mechanism does not work seamlessly with NAT routers and requires extra functionality on the router to support it.

This additional support is being progressively added to routers in the Netgear range, and is now available for the FR314, FR318 and FV318 routers.

Detail

Microsoft uses the term UPnP or Universal Plug and Play for the mechanism used by Messenger, though the core protocol is actually SIP or Session Initiation Protocol.  SIP is documented in RFC 2543.

A new firmware update has been released for the F-Series routers (FR314, FR318 and FV318) to support SIP, and Microsoft Messenger.  The update can be downloaded from:

 

Router Model	Version No.	Download URL
FR314	6.3.1.0	FR314v6.3.1.0.zip
FR318, FV318	6.3.1.0	FR318_FV318v6.3.1.0.zip

 

After downloading the new firmware from the URL above, extract the ng_fr_s2e_6310.bin file from the zip file and install it on the router using Maintenance->Firmware page in the web management console.  Be sure to back up your existing settings (Firmware->Preferences) before loading the new firmware.

After installing the new firmware, support for Microsoft Messenger can be enabled on the Firewall->Access->Services page.

 

 

For security and performance reasons, it is recommended that you don't enable Messenger support unless you actually intend to use it.

The 6.3.1.0 firmware update also includes several other enhancements:

• The router now allows the date and time to be set manually.  This is normally done automatically using NTP, but the manual feature can be useful if you are operating behind another firewall that blocks NTP.

• The router now allows the user to manually specify NTP servers by IP addresses.  Previously the router only used its own internal list of servers.

• The router now supports NAT traversal, which allows some IPsec VPN clients to work better behind the router.

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Quick Tip 009 - Messenger UPnP/SIP support on FR314, FR318, FV318

Version 1.0, 23-JUN-2002

Copyright © 2002 Fulton Network Technologies Pty Ltd.  All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or distributed in any form without prior permission.

All information contain herein is provided to the reader on the understanding that the reader is responsible for ensuring the correctness and suitability of the information for his particular needs.

VERSION HISTORY

1.0   23-JUN-2002   Initial Release