RT-AC68U - Router not allowing Dropbox desktop client to connect?

[RossMcD]

Hi all,

First post here so firstly, hey! Hope all is well. I've recently (after many years of the standard ISP router) upgraded to an rt-ac68u. I love the tweakability and the vpn capabilities. Everything is working fine, apart from one thing - my dropbox desktop client. It appears the desktop client is just not being allowed through the router to communicate with dropbox.

Unfortunately, a search for a solution brings up many posts referencing the AICloud, but AICloud is for usb connected devices - i'm trying to sync my dropbox folders that are on my computer.

Dropbox seems to use specific ports according to the sparce information they give out (port 80, port 443 etc) and i've included these in the port forwarding section of the router, with a static LAN IP address that points to my computer (at least, i hope i've done that - by all means correct me if the following is wrong, or if there is something else I need to do to open ports). Under 'virtual server/port forwarding' within the WAN section of the asus router I have therefore put:

Port 80 - my IP - Protocol of 'both'
Port 443 - my IP - Protocol of 'both'
Port 17500 - my IP - Protocol of 'both'
Port 17600 - my IP - Protocol of 'both'
Port 17603 - my IP - Protocol of 'both'

Overall, i'm a bit unsure if this is correct, and i'm a tad unsure of the protocol for each i.e. TCP, UDP, BOTH, or OTHER. The only information i can really find from dropbox is this: https://www.dropbox.com/en/help/23

The other issue I did think it could be is the firewall within the router, but turning it off made no difference. I do see that the firewall has options to 'whitelist' things but again, that shouldn't matter as when the firewall is turned off, the dropbox connection issue still occurs.

To finish, I'm currently typing this using a wired connecting directly into my modem, and my dropbox is syncing fine so there's something in the router thats just not 'open'. I've zero'd in on port forwarding as the cause but i could be completely wrong...who knows! Could it be something completely unrelated to port forwarding and the firewall?

If anybody could help with this, i'd be so grateful - its driving me nuts!

Many thanks,
Ross

 

[RMerlin]

Don't forward any port for Dropbox. It should be able to connect on its own to the remote servers. I can't see any reason why the router would interfere with it, check the security software on your PC. If your new router changed your LAN IP subnet, your security software might no longer be allowing Dropbox to connect to the Internet.

 

[drabisan]

For what it matters I'm sync'ing a laptop with Dropbox and there's absolutely no need for port forwarding. Dropbox client is connecting to their cloud and their cloud never connects to your client.
Make sure you don't have a weird firewall on your desktop. Or some strange settings on your Dropbox client (although I hardly can imagine what can you do wrong on this client).
I'm sure there's nothing wrong because of the router. I would rather suspect a Kaspersky or Symantec firewall messing up with your desktop and Dropbox client.

 

[RossMcD]

Thanks folks!! Really didn't expect to have this solved so quickly...much appreciated!

You guys correctly directed me to the computer itself (i was sure it was the router as that was the only thing that 'changed') and a quick investigation turns out I had 'auto proxy detect' selected within network settings on the computer. I really don't know what that means, I unchecked this box (i.e. so no proxy settings) and it started working straight away.

Even though this wasn't a fault with the router, thanks so much! You guys know your stuff!