Setting Up UPnP for iCloud/Back to My Mac on RV180

[mallardnathan]

Before switching to the RV180, I was using an Apple Airport Extreme router since I use iCloud's Back to my Mac feature.

After switching to the RV180, I am now seeing an error message in iCloud under Back to my Mac (see attached images). iCloud is now asking me to "Setup my Router for Better Performance", as well as giving me an error message about UPnP being "turned off". 

I went in the router config settings on the RV180 and turned on UPnP (see attached image). However, I am still getting the error message.

What do I need to do in order to resolve this and clear the error message? I also have a ticket in with Apple.

Thanks!

[mallardnathan]

OK, here's what's going on so far with this...

1. I put in a service request with Cisco Support with this. I've been told my UPnP settings are within spec and functioning properly. They're not sure why the error message is being generated and told me to contact AppleCare about it.

2. I contacted AppleCare about it. They have no idea what the problem is or how to clear the error message. They were of zero help.

3. I dug up an old thread from a few years ago I posted when configuring the same thing on the RV042G:

https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/11533361/rv042g-newbie-questions

The responder over there told me I needed to configure a few ports on the firewall settings of the RV042G.

4. I showed this thread to Cisco Support and opened another support case with them. They had absolutely no idea what I was talking about and only ran a bunch of tests but really never configured anything.

5. I tried to duplicate what I did on the RV042G on the RV180. So far, didn't work and still getting the error messages.

6. I've got a Cisco-savvy friend as well as another contact at Apple. I've got messages into both of them. Maybe if we all put our heads together, we'll get this one figured out! Once I have "something" to report back, I'll post it here!

[Christian Evans]

Anyone get the UPnP to work on the rv180?  I have it turned on but nothing shows up in the port map table.

[cchamorr]

Hello, 

Before continuing, I want to mention that I'm a Cisco Engineer, not an Apple engineer, and as such I don't really have a lot of knowledge about the Back to My MAC feature as it is an Apple service.

From that stand point I just want clarify some things so that we can understand what the issue is about:

1- As far as I understand, the Back to My MAC feature (BTMM from now on), is a service that allows you to access your MAC device from anywhere, which indicates that you have to open certain ports on your firewall for remote access.

2- The uPnP setting on the RV180W is meant to allow devices inside the network (in this case it would be the MAC that we are intending to connect to) to automatically configure the needed ports on the router so that the remote control can take place.

3- Now, different brands of devices work differently and obviously, the uPnP configuration request coming from the MAC devices are not working well with the uPnP feature on the Cisco Router. 

4- The uPnP feature on the Cisco router works beautifully when receiving request from other Cisco devices as well as from other brands and devices.

5- This is, by no means, a huge problem, in fact, this issue is extremely easy to resolve, it is just a matter of manually inputting the settings that otherwise should have been configured automatically. Here is the catch:

The BTMM feature is a Apple feature, so, they should know how many, which ones and what kind of ports will need to be opened in order for the feature to work; Unfortunately this is information that we don't have and, it seems like, nobody has been able to get.

If anyone that is looking to use this feature would be able to get a document, from Apple, stating any and all ports that need to be configured with all the appropriate information, any engineer from the Cisco Support Center will be able to help configuring all of them and make sure that they are working as expected.

As you can see, the solution is simple but we just don't have enough information to be able to help you configuring the feature on our device.

I hope this will help clarifying what the problem is and why we are not able to help like we would like on this matter.

PS: If any of you happens to stumble upon such a document, make sure to post it here and on every possible forum so we can take care of this issue once and for all.

[mallardnathan]

Thanks for chiming in. Here's the answers to your questions:

1. It is a feature that allows you to access one Mac from another Mac remotely. You can pretty much grab files or screen share another Mac. A good example would be when I want to access my iMac from my MacBook Pro on the go. 

2. Probably. uPnP pretty much needs to be enabled. It is on my RV180.

3. Sometimes I've heard "older" uPnP devices don't work well with BTMM, but the RV180 should have been fairly recent enough to be compatible.

4. I haven't tested uPnP with other Cisco devices, but it'd probably work OK.

Here's the documents you need:

Basic BTMM setup: http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT4907

General issues with BTMM: http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203907

Common Ports used by Apple Services: http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202944 

Interesting tidbit. Since upgrading to OS X Yosemite, I'm no longer seeing the error message on either of my Macs. I would like to know if anyone else here with the RV180 and Yosemite is no longer seeing this error message. It might have been resolved in Yosemite.

[pbmwatstein]

I just called cisco because having same issue with Back to my mac as well. Also having FaceTime issues too.

Created case 631289849

Waiting to hear back from Level 2 support. Level 1 was in india so mostly had to webex and email info.

Running the newest firmware 1.0.4.14

Cannot figure it out.

[mallardnathan]

Since upgrading to OS X Yosemite, I'm no longer receiving this message. Is anyone else not seeing it after upgrading to Yosemite? I'm wondering if Yosemite resolved something about it.