NAT applications

Hi,

This article describes how two computers can connect to each other using p2p connection. Everything is understandable except for one thing. It states that, once both peers connect to the server, it sends each peer's ip/port numbers to all connected clients. I don't understand in what fashion server suppose to send this information.

Here's how they say it:

"The server can now act as an intermediary, helping Joe and Bob find one another and select each other to start a game. Bob chooses to host the game, and Joe joins it. The server then sends the host’s (Bob’s) IP address and port number to all players in the game (in this case just to Joe). Joe’s game then initiates communication with Bob’s game, using this IP address and port number. The game then continues as normal.

The secret is that both computers sent a packet to the server that identifies what global IP address and port the NAT server has assigned to them. Now that the server knows the new IP address and port information for all clients, it can forward the data to the other clients who utilized it to create a connection directly to other clients. This all happens transparently to Joe and Bob, who are able to play their game without trying to reconfigure their NAT or call for help from the game publisher"


Please also read this article at http://www.intel.com/cd/ids/developer/asmo-na/eng/79524.htm?page=5

Start Free Trial