How to Setup Port Forwarding on Verizon FiOS and Bypass CGNAT

What is Verizon FiOS?

Verizon FiOS is a fiber optic Internet service provided by Verizon. It offers speeds up to 300 Mbps, making it one of the fastest Internet services available. In addition to high speed, FiOS also offers reliability and consistent performance. Verizon FiOS is available in select areas. This guide explains how you can open ports on Verizon FiOS to host servers, create seamless connections with external servers, and transfer P2P files.

What is CGNAT?

Carrier-grade NAT, or large-scale NAT, is a type of network address translation used in IPv4 network design. As we all know, we are in a transition period of moving toward IPv6 from IPv4 addresses. CGNAT, a two-state NAT technology, can extend the life of the IPv4 address used by Internet service providers (ISPs).

Here’s how it works:

When you use your home internet, your router assigns private IP addresses to all your devices, like your phone or computer, and translates them into one public IP when connecting to the internet. With CGNAT, this process is repeated at the ISP level, allowing them to group several customers under the same public IP address. This conserves IP addresses but can cause challenges for certain online activities, like gaming or running a server, where a unique public IP might be needed.

Learn More: CGNAT Port Forwarding

Ways to Avoid CGNAT on Verizon FiOS

1. Request a Dedicated IP

One of the simplest solutions is to contact Verizon and request a dedicated IP address. This option allows you to have a unique public IP address that isn’t shared with other users. A static IP ensures you bypass CGNAT completely, providing more flexibility for hosting, remote access, and VPN use.

How to request:

• Contact Verizon customer service and inquire about the availability and cost of a static IP. Most ISPs offer static IPs for an additional monthly fee.

2. Use a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help route your traffic through a different server, bypassing the CGNAT limitations. While this method does not provide you with a public IP, it can solve some issues like gaming and accessing services that require a public IP.

Steps:

• Choose a reliable VPN provider.
• Install the VPN on your device or router.
• Connect to the VPN before using services affected by CGNAT.

Keep in mind that not all VPNs will work effectively for all applications, so testing multiple options may be necessary.

3. Use Port Forwarding on VPN

Some VPN services offer port forwarding, which allows incoming connections to be routed to your device. This is helpful if you’re hosting services like hosting a game server or using peer-to-peer networks.

Steps:

• Select a VPN service that supports port forwarding.
• Enable port forwarding in the VPN settings.
• Assign a specific port for the applications you want to use.

Learn More: What is Port Forwarding

4. IPv6 Transition

Verizon also offers IPv6, which could be a long-term solution to CGNAT issues. IPv6 provides a much larger address pool, eliminating the need for CGNAT.

Steps:

• Ensure your devices and router support IPv6.
• Enable IPv6 in your router settings.
• Contact Verizon for assistance if you’re unsure how to configure IPv6.

5. Third-Party Dynamic DNS Services

If you’re running a server and need a public IP for access, a Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service can help. DDNS services allow you to use a domain name that updates automatically with your current IP address, even if it’s behind CGNAT.

Steps:

• Sign up for a DDNS provider.
• Configure your router or devices to update the DDNS with your current private IP.
• Use the domain name provided by the DDNS service to access your home network.

How to Forward Ports on Verizon with PureVPN

To forward port and bypass the Xfinity CGNAT network, follow the instructions below 👇 

1. Login to the PureVPN member area
2. Click the subscription tab
3. Click Configure
4. Apply your desired port settings
5. Click Apply settings

To set up a PureVPN static IP, you can use Windows, Mac, and Linux devices. You can set up the static IP via apps on Windows and Mac. For Linux, a manual configuration method is required to configure PureVPN static IP on Linux. Checkout now how to set up dedicated IP with PureVPN.

How to Check if Verizon Fios Uses CGNAT

To determine if your Verizon connection is under CGNAT, you can use any of the following methods:

Method 1: Check the Router’s WAN IP Address

1. Open a web browser and enter your router’s IP address into the address bar.
2. Enter your username and password to access the dashboard.
3. Navigate to the status screen on the dashboard.
4. Find the section labeled as ‘WAN IP’ or a similar term, which might vary based on the router model.
5. Examine the IP address assigned to the router’s WAN interface.
6. If this IP address falls within the range of 100.64.0.1 to 100.127.255.254, your connection is likely behind CGNAT. This IP range is designated for CGNAT usage.

Method 2: Compare WAN IP and Public IP Address

1. Follow the steps from Method 1 to find and note down the WAN IP address from your router’s dashboard.
2. Open a new tab in your web browser
3. Search for “what is my IP address” and press Enter.
4. Remember the public IP address displayed by the search results.
5. If the WAN IP and the public IP address are different, it indicates that your ISP is using CGNAT.
6. If they match, your connection likely has a direct public IP address, meaning it is not behind CGNAT.

Related Read: Port Forwarding on a dedicated router

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does Verizon FiOS use CGNAT?

ISPs like Verizon FiOS, who want to keep using their current IPV4 infrastructure and provide services to the customers using the IPV6 protocol, can use CGNAT to allow multiple users on an IPv4 network to do so and share a single public IP address. That means a private IP will be assigned to each user and translated to a public IP when they connect to the internet. ISPs perform CGNAT to lower the rate of public IP addresses and use IPv4 until the transition to IPv6 is complete.

How do I know I am on a CGNAT Network?

To find out if you are on a CGNAT network, you can simply visit the following websites and compare the IP address listed to the public/WAN IP address that is assigned to your internet gateway.

• www.ipaddress.com
• www.whatismyip.com
• www.ip2location.com

You can search for your public IP address by going to the status page in the administrative interface of your Verizon FiOS router. You’re likely on a CGNAT network if the two IP addresses differ.

Why is port forwarding an issue for Verizon FiOS CGNAT?

It isn’t easy to forward ports on a Verizon FiOS CGNAT network because the ISP controls your IP configuration. You’ll face problems even if you try to add the rules to your network firewall or you are trying to change the router’s default settings.

Further, when you try to Port Forward, you forward the traffic to a different user’s IP address, which can cause issues with many applications that rely on IP addresses for communication, including VoIP and gaming. This is where PureVPN comes in for the rescue!