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OABS Update node-syncing.md #794

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14 changes: 9 additions & 5 deletions docs/troubleshooting/node-syncing.md
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Expand Up @@ -6,20 +6,22 @@ slug: /troubleshooting/node-syncing
import Tabs from '@theme/Tabs';
import TabItem from '@theme/TabItem';

Forwarding port 8444 can solve many sync issues and it also helps improve Chia's overall network health.
Forwarding port 8444 can solve some sync issues and it also helps improve Chia's overall network health.

Port 8444 is the [port](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_%28computer_networking%29) through which other Chia nodes can communicate with your node. When you set up port forwarding on port 8444, the Chia software on your computer can easily communicate with other nodes and sync the Chia blockchain faster.
Port 8444 is the [port](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_%28computer_networking%29) through which other Chia nodes can communicate with your node. When you set up port forwarding on port 8444, the Chia software on your computer allows other nodes to easily communicate and sync the Chia blockchain with your node.

The network is undergoing rapid growth and expansion. Many newly arriving Chia nodes do not open port 8444, resulting in additional stress to the network. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you enable port forwarding.
When the network undergoes rapid growth and expansion the newly arriving Chia nodes may not initially open port 8444, resulting in difficulty finding available nodes to sync with. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you enable port forwarding.

Use [this port checker](https://portchecker.co/) to check if you have port forwarding configured correctly.
With the Chia software running, use [this port checker](https://portchecker.co/) to check if your IP address is accepting outside connections on port 8444. Further port forwarding configurations may still be necessary on your router (or VPN software).

## Port Forwarding Settings

Port forwarding is done on your router. How you set it up depends on your router's make and model. Look through your router's manual or just search for "`<your router name and model>` how to port forward" to get started.
Port forwarding is done on your router (or VPN software). How you set it up depends on your router's make and model. Look through your router's manual or just search for "`<your router name and model>` how to port forward" to get started.

When you enable port forwarding, you are allowing any system on the Internet to connect to your Chia node through port 8444 to the Chia software.

If your router has UPNP enabled the Chia software by default `enable_upnp: true` will attempt to automatically configure port forwarding, if your router disabled UPNP then you will need to manually configure port forwarding.

Most routers will ask you from where you are allowing and to what you are connecting to. You want to set up port forwarding to allow any outside connection to connect to the IP address of your main node on your network through port 8444. Router manufacturers might call the settings different things, but the concept is always the same: Outside computers connecting through port 8444 to your computer.

Here are the settings most routers will ask for:
Expand All @@ -28,6 +30,8 @@ Here are the settings most routers will ask for:
- Destination (or forwarding) IP address - This is your main node (computer) IP address on your internal network; search online on how to do this for your type of computer. If you search for "what is my IP address" it will give you your external IP address, this is not the one you want.
- Originating (or from) IP address - Set this to all or sometimes just an asterisk may be used `*`

Running multiple full nodes on the same local network often requires unique IP and Port settings in both the router and Chia software to avoid conflicts, you may also need to disable UPNP `enable_upnp: false` in the Chia `config.yaml` file or your router if it is enabled.

## Why forward port 8444?

All newly added nodes are completely dependent on nodes that are allowing port forwarding, because they are the only nodes in which they can sync with. The more nodes there are that don't allow port forwarding can cause a bottleneck to those nodes that do have it enabled.
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