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Where Does a Packet Go
I am trying to get a technical understanding of what happens when a packet reaches my equipment from a distant source (for example, from the computer sitting on the desk of anyone reading this mes...
I don't believe the Smart Hubs get public IPs. Last I saw they all connect through one gateway with a shared public IP so port forwarding likely isn't possible. If you've logged in to the Smart Hub, compare the WAN IP address that it shows there and compare it to what you see if you go to https://www.whatismyip.com/ . If they are different, then port forwarding won't work.
Nighthawk
Community Power User
Community Power UserI don't believe the Smart Hubs get public IPs. Last I saw they all connect through one gateway with a shared public IP so port forwarding likely isn't possible. If you've logged in to the Smart Hub, compare the WAN IP address that it shows there and compare it to what you see if you go to https://www.whatismyip.com/ . If they are different, then port forwarding won't work.
Thanks for the guidance on comparing my Public IP Address and the SmartHub IP address. As I believe you anticipated, the IP address for the SmartHub does not match the Public IP (whatismyip.com), which begs the question, Why not?
Forgetting this difference between Public IP and SmartHub IP for a moment, does an Internet packet addressed to my Public IP even reach the outdoor antenna at my house, or does an intermediate Telus intervention and modification happen along the way? Where does a packet go (what is its traceroute) if it is addressed to my Public IP?
If it does reach the antenna (still framed with its Public IP address) how is it treated as it is passed to the SmartHub?
There is facility in the admin configuration for the SmartHub to configure Port Forwarding, thus I am encouraged to believe the SmartHub is able to do Port Forwarding, if the packet is able to get there. In fact, if I generate a packet inside the network from a machine using 192.168.1.37 and send it to 192.168.1.100:1149, that packet goes exactly where I want it to go, using the configuration I have set up in the SmartHub.
- Nighthawk
The public IP is a shared IP between multiple customers. It's typical for cellular connections. Think of it like a router that your smart hub connects through. Port forwarding will NOT work because you're only changing the settings on your end. It doesn't affect the public gateway. The only data reaching your equipment is data requested by something on your end.
The Telus technical support folks told me the APN service will fix the problem of getting packets through to my SmartHub and have set up this service (APN) for me. I still am not able to get packets through to my 1194 port on the SmartHub, which is consistent with your explanation. I do not understand the architecture with regard to APN. I do not know what APN is doing to get packets addressed to me to me. Does anyone have thoughts on APN and its ability to get MY.PUBLIC.IP.XX:1194 packets redirected from the "public gateway" to the SmartHub in my home?
