Connect ports between devices on different computers
Connect ports between devices on different computers
I've been operating game servers on a second PC (PC-2) that's directly linked to your router. All necessary ports were forwarded there successfully. Now you're using a setup where your main PC (PC-1) connects to the router, and PC-2 is linked via PC-1 through Windows shared connections ('Router' → 'PC-1' → 'PC-2').
To forward ports to PC-2, you can set up a port forwarding rule on your router that directs traffic from PC-1 to PC-2. This way, the required ports will reach PC-2 without needing a direct connection between PC-2 and the router.
It seems the problem isn't about port forwarding but rather the devices are now on different networks. You'd probably need to link PC-1 to the same Windows Shared Connection setting (whatever that means). Could you share the IP addresses of these machines?
PC-1 is connected at 192.168.0.87 and PC-2 at 192.168.137.215. To better understand the current configuration: - The router's Ethernet port links to a single port on PC-1 - A USB-C to Ethernet adapter is plugged into PC-1 - From that adapter, a cable connects to PC-2's Ethernet port - I enabled 'Sharing' in PC-1's Network Connections settings - During troubleshooting for internet access on PC-2, I attempted various steps and it worked - I wondered if PC-1 could simply listen on a specific port (like 1234) and broadcast it to the other network - If that approach fails, I might consider using a dedicated switch for better connectivity.
The two computers are connected to different networks, so they can't talk to each other directly unless your router supports rules for those networks. Make sure the link between PC-1 and PC-2 shares a consistent IP address, such as 10.10.10.10 and 10.10.10.11, and use that to reach the server. Also verify that neither firewall blocks the necessary port on that connection.
You need to understand the reason behind this request. A simple switch is affordable and easy to set up. It’s a practical choice for connecting devices on the same network. While it’s technically feasible to forward traffic between networks, a switch offers a more reliable option here.
I did this since I relocated the PC today—adjustment made because the old spot wasn’t ideal for releasing heat. Now I’m planning to purchase a switch later, after experimenting with more options.