How do I configure my application to work with a firewall?

If you are using the application on a corporate computer, check with your network administrator before proceeding; if using it on a personal computer, you will need to contact the firewall software manufacturer.

Solution 1: Ask the firewall administrator to allow RealTimes or RealPlayer traffic.

If you know there is a firewall in place, RealTimes and RealPlayer can receive streamed media without compromising the security of the firewall.

If your firewall administrators would like more information about configuring the firewall to allow RealTimes and RealPlayer content, please have them read Service Unavailable, Offline, or Action Cancelled errors.

Solution 2: Manually configure RealTimes and RealPlayer to use UDP or TCP ports.

You need to specify the UDP or TCP ports RealTimes and RealPlayer can use to connect. The UDP option offers better sound and video quality than TCP. Ask your firewall administrator which option you should choose.

By default, RealTimes and RealPlayer use the following ports to connect:
TCP 80, 554, 4040, 7070, 8080, 443 (SSL for sign in), 1755 (MMS Windows Media requests)
UDP 6970-32,000, 1755 (MMS Windows Media resend requests)
HTTP 80 (AU, Messaging Service, and HTTP Cloaking)

Windows instructions

To configure RealTimes or RealPlayer to receive content via UDP:

1. In RealTimes or RealPlayer, click the application logo in the upper left and choose Preferences. The Preferences box opens.
2. In the Category pane under Connection, click Network Transports.
3. Select the Use specific UDP ports check box, and type the port number to use for RealTimes or RealPlayer traffic. You can enter multiple ports by separating each entry with a comma and a space (for example: 7070, 8080). Your firewall administrator will need to provide you with the UDP port numbers.
4. Click OK to save your changes.

To configure RealTimes and RealPlayer to receive content via TCP:

1. In RealTimes or RealPlayer, click the application logo in the upper left and choose Preferences. The Preferences box opens.
2. In the Category pane under Connection, click Network Transports.
3. Select the Manually configure connection settings check box.
4. Click the RTSP Settings button, then make sure the Attempt to use TCP for all content check box is selected.
5. Click OK.
6. Click the PNA Settings button, then make sure the Attempt to use TCP for all content check box is selected.
7. Click OK to save your changes.

Macintosh instructions (RealPlayer only)

1. Select RealPlayer > Preferences.
2. Open the Transport pane.
3. Select Use manually configured...
4. Click Configure...
5. Select only the UDP or TCP check box. Clear the others.

Solution 3: Manually configure RealTimes and RealPlayer to use HTTP only.

On some networks it may be necessary to configure your RealNetworks application to use the HTTP Only option to connect to the Internet. This option allows an application operating behind strict firewalls to access RealTimes and RealPlayer traffic; however, quality may not be as good as with other connection options.

To configure RealTimes and RealPlayer to receive content via HTTP only:

Windows instructions

1. In RealTimes or RealPlayer, click the application logo in the upper left and choose Preferences. The Preferences box opens.
2. In the Category pane under Connection, click Network Transports.
3. Select the Manually configure connection settings check box.
4. Click the RTSP Settings button, then make sure the Attempt to use HTTP for all content check box is selected.
5. Click OK.
6. Click the PNA Settings button, then make sure the Attempt to use HTTP for all content check box is selected.
7. Click OK twice to save your changes.

Macintosh instructions (RealPlayer only)

1. Select RealPlayer > Preferences.
2. Open the Transport pane.
3. Select Use manually configured...
4. Click Configure...
5. Disable (clear) all transports except for HTTP.

Additional Information

Personal firewall configuration:
Personal firewalls must be configured to allow realplay.exe (the RealTimes and RealPlayer program) to have two-way access to the Internet before audio or video can be played. To rule out a personal firewall configuration as the problem, temporarily disable your security software and set your Internet Explorer security to default to attempt an unobstructed connection. If you are now able to connect, you must correctly configure your personal firewall to allow your RealPlayer access to the Internet. Consult the manufacturer of your firewall software if you are unsure how to grant this access.

Corporate firewall configuration:
Corporate local area networks (LANs) or commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) often use firewalls to limit traffic or protect their users' computers from unauthorized access. If your computer accesses the Internet through a connection that uses a firewall and the administrator has not configured the firewall to allow RealTimes or RealPlayer traffic, you may be unable to connect to Internet media presentations, audio, and video.