Updated April 6, 2023
Difference Between Port Forwarding vs Port Triggering
The following article provides an outline for Port Forwarding vs Port Triggering. Port forwarding or port mapping is the name that is assigned to a data forwarding technique from a port on one node to another. Generally, data from one device to another is captured and diverted. In situations where the user wants to access a networked computer or service connected to the Internet from a remote location, port forwarding is used.
Port forwarding has many different types such as:
- Local Port Forwarding: Sends data in one system from one web application. For connecting to local computers and sidestepping firewalls, local port forwarding is used.
- Remote Port Forwarding: Enables SSH server-side applications to access client-side resources.
- Dynamic Port Forwarding: Forward by finding loopholes through a firewall or NAT.
A dynamic form of the port forwarding model is port triggering. Typically, when the user wants to use port forwarding to access several local computers, port triggering is used. But when applications have to open incoming ports that are different from the outgoing port, port triggering is used. Network administrators use Port Trigger to map the port or ports to a single local device.
Port Forwarding is a method of transferring internet traffic from a Wide Area Network (WAN) port to another Local Area Network port (LAN). Whereas Port Triggering is achieved when the user chooses to use a dynamic IP address to port forward more computers and other devices instead of a single port.
Forwarding is highly necessary since it allows the user a way to access LANs through the internet remotely. Forwarding packets means that end users can travel across the firewall and connect within the network with resources. Also, it is crucial since there is a firewall on most networks that are used to block incoming ports. To guarantee that the network stays secure, firewalls keep these ports blocked. As it leaves other computers vulnerable to future attacks, it proves to be relatively risky. On the other hand, Port triggering leaves a port on the modem open for a given period of time. This is known to be an automatic forwarding variant or port forwarding with an on-off turn.
Head to Head Comparison Between Port Forwarding vs Port Triggering (Infographics)
Below are the top 9 differences between Port Forwarding vs Port Triggering:
Key Differences
Let us discuss some of the major key differences between Port Forwarding vs Port Triggering:
- Port Forwarding is a static method of configuring network ports and is used between nodes that are connected via a remote end node over the Internet. Whereas in port triggering, ports are only open once triggered.
- In Port forwarding, selected ports always available, and it is important to specify IP addresses. It is a dynamic method of port forwarding in which ports are opened when necessary and are closed when not in use.
- In Port Forwarding, as the ports are left open in this system all the time, it is relatively insecure than the port triggering, so port forwarding is more vulnerable to virus and cyber-attacks. On the other hand, as the ports left open only for a limited period, it is more efficient and secure than the Port forwarding system, so it is less vulnerable to cyber.
- In Port forwarding, it needs a unique static IP address to configure at each of the ports.
- In Port Forwarding, the ports where data is transmitted are opened all the time during the communication process. Whereas In Port Triggering, The ports are opened for a fixed time only when they are enabled.
- The port forwarding method configures web and game servers on a local computer. In Port Triggering, it configures routers which then allows computers.
- In Port forwarding single administrator or computer only is used. In Port Triggering, it uses any computer connected to the network.
Port Forwarding vs Port Triggering Comparison Table
Let’s discuss the top comparison between Port Forwarding vs Port Triggering:
| Port Forwarding | Port Triggering |
| It is a static method of configuring network ports and is used between nodes that are connected via a remote end node over the Internet. | It is a dynamic method of port forwarding in which ports are opened when necessary and are closed when not in use. |
| In Port forwarding, selected ports always available. | In port triggering, ports are only open once triggered. |
| It is important to specify IP addresses. | In this, IP addresses are identified automatically. |
| As the ports are left open in this system all the time, it is relatively insecure than the port triggering, so Port forwarding is more vulnerable to virus and cyber-attacks. | As the ports left open only for a limited period, hence it is more efficient and secure than the Port forwarding system, so it is less vulnerable to cyber. |
| To configure at each of the ports, it needs a unique static IP address. | A dynamic IP address is needed. |
| The ports where data is transmitted are opened all the time during the communication process. | The ports are opened for a fixed time only when they are enabled. |
| It configures web and game servers on a local computer. | It configures routers which then allows computers. |
| It uses a single administrator or computer only. | It uses any computer connected to the network. |
| The configuration is performed on the network only with one particular device or computer. | It can be implemented on more than one network, but it can be used at one point in time by just one machine. |
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This is a guide to Port Forwarding vs Port Triggering. Here we discuss the key differences with infographics and comparison table, respectively. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –
