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Smart Hub 7 Plus Port Forwarding Issue

jsviper77
Contributor
Contributor

‎11-01-2026 10:45 AM

Hi All,

Another Issue with the Hub 7 Plus, probably on others too.

When i create a Port forwarding rule, it always comes up with an error and doesn't save or eventually when it does save, it has created duplicate rules. Try to remove one and it removes both, aaarrrgghh! These EE hub are very frustrating.

I hope someone who can help sees this and my other post, to help fix these issues.

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33 REPLIES 33
Pecbeck
Established Contributor
Established Contributor
In response to JimM11

‎11-02-2026 10:24 AM

She is already on same f/w as me, per my post.

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SamyM
Investigator
Investigator
In response to Pecbeck

‎11-02-2026 10:28 AM

Hi,  Tested the IP/port 21 and its showing as closed, eventhough rule exists for port 21.  Think I will try a reset of the router and see if that fixes issues.

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JimM11
Community Hero
Community Hero
In response to SamyM

‎11-02-2026 10:36 AM

@SamyM With port 20/21 both used heavily on FTP connections and control would be real surprised that it's anything to do on the upstream side of EE!

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JimM11
Community Hero
Community Hero
In response to Pecbeck

‎11-02-2026 10:43 AM

@Pecbeck Yes as off this morning when @SamyM pulled it out the box stuck it back on the wan and let it update to the latest!

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Pecbeck
Established Contributor
Established Contributor
In response to SamyM

‎11-02-2026 11:25 AM

Hi, are you sure you want to expose port 21 to the Internet, its a big security risk. I wonder if ports 20 and 21 are locked by EE for this reason?Have you considered an alternative such as running SFTP over SSH (typically TCP 22) or HTTPS-based file sharing instead of FTP.?
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SamyM
Investigator
Investigator
In response to JimM11

‎11-02-2026 11:59 AM

Hi,

Been on with EE and they are replacing the Hub 7 Plus router.  They are saying I have done everything correct so replace the router.  I did also explain when I turn on DMZ, port forwarding works.  But that is the routers firewall turned off!  As I start to get warning from Norton that my PC is exposed to the Internet.

Let see if a replacement Hub 7 Plus resolves the issue.

 

 

JimM11
Community Hero
Community Hero
In response to SamyM

‎11-02-2026 12:41 PM

@SamyM Just keep in mind, you also have an option to use a third party Router that just works and without the need off any EE support!

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bobpullen
Star Contributor
Star Contributor
In response to SamyM

‎13-02-2026 10:43 AM

@SamyM - honestly can't see it being a hardware fault 🤔

Is the destination machine running Windows? Have you ensured that the network connection is still classed as 'Private' and not 'Public' since instating the 7 Plus? Did you end up trying a factory reset?

The EE Broadband network does not block port 20/21.

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SamyM
Investigator
Investigator
In response to bobpullen

‎13-02-2026 02:31 PM

Hi, Speaking to the EE help desk is so difficult to make them understand the issue.  The destination device is a WD EX2 Ultra cloud.  I’ve selected FTP options within the cloud menu and I can use port 20/21.  So I have selected 21, as it always worked with my previous BT/EE routers for years.  The EE Hub 7 Plus, even though I setup port 21 rule it seems to refuse to allow the port to open.  But when I enable DMZ (switching off router fire wall) it works.  At this point I get messages from Norton that my PC is exposed to the Internet.  So, I don’t want DMZ enabled for security.  There is something wrong within the EE Hub 7 Plus firewall which is preventing port forwarding to work.  I have tried it with 80 and still same issue.

So very frustrating to get some EE software engineer to hear what is causing the issue, as the helpdesk say all we can do is reboot/reset.  How do we escalate to higher up?

 

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bobpullen
Star Contributor
Star Contributor
In response to SamyM

‎18-02-2026 05:11 PM

@SamyM - apologies for the delayed response.

So, is the WD EX2 Ultra operating as a standalone network device and connected to the hub via an Ehternet cable? i.e. you can see it assigned a unique IP address in the Hub Manager Network Map?

Assuming so, I'm a little confused by this statement...

... when I enable DMZ (switching off router fire wall) it works.  At this point I get messages from Norton that my PC is exposed to the Internet.  So, I don’t want DMZ enabled for security.  There is something wrong within the EE Hub 7 Plus firewall which is preventing port forwarding to work.  I have tried it with 80 and still same issue.

So very frustrating to get some EE software engineer to hear what is causing the issue, as the helpdesk say all we can do is reboot/reset.  How do we escalate to higher up?

If you've enabled the DMZ and pointed it at your NAS/WD EX 2, then I don't understand why your PC (which is presumably a completely different device) would be complaining. I wouldn't have expected the PC to be exposed in this setup, only the NAS 🤔

Anyway - can you FTP to the NAS from another device on your network using it's local IP address? If you can't, then it would suggest something else is awry as a local connection doesn't require any port forwarding.

When I get a second, I'll try setting up an FTP server on my SH35A but I've a sneaking feeling it will probably work as my other port forwarding rules seem OK...

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