GBR Hosting

Host a game server behind CGNAT, with no port forwarding

The GBR relay gives a game server on your own machine a public address. Your machine opens an encrypted WireGuard tunnel to a GBR relay server, and players connect to the relay instead of your home connection. It works behind CGNAT, needs no router changes, and keeps your home IP private.

When you need it

How it works

  1. Switch on the relay for a server in the panel.
  2. The GBR node agent on your machine sets up a WireGuard tunnel to a GBR relay server. It's an outgoing connection, so CGNAT and firewalls don't block it.
  3. The relay forwards the game's ports to your server through the tunnel.
  4. Players use the relay's address. GBR fills it into the game's settings where the game advertises its own address.

Relay or a tunnelling app?

General tunnelling tools can also get a home server past CGNAT. The difference with the GBR relay is that it's part of the panel: it's switched on per server, knows each game's ports, keeps the public address in the game's own settings, and sits next to the console, backups and player tools you're already using.

Questions

What is CGNAT and why can’t friends join my server?

With CGNAT (carrier-grade NAT), your internet provider shares one public IP address between many homes, so your router has no public address of its own. Port forwarding does nothing, because incoming connections never reach your router. Starlink, many 5G and fixed-wireless home internet services, and some cable providers use it.

How does the GBR relay get around CGNAT?

Your machine opens an outgoing WireGuard tunnel to a GBR relay server. The relay has a public IP address and forwards players’ traffic for your game’s ports through the tunnel to your server, so nothing has to reach your router from outside.

Does the relay hide my home IP address?

Yes. Players connect to the relay’s address, so your home IP is never shown to them or in server lists.

Does the relay work for UDP games?

Yes. It forwards the ports each game needs, UDP and TCP, including games like Palworld, Satisfactory and Minecraft Bedrock that rely on UDP.

Does the server show the right address to players?

Yes. When the relay is on, GBR fills the public address and port into the settings that games advertise, such as the Minecraft friends broadcast, so players are sent to the relay rather than your home IP.

Help us test GBR

Beta testers get in first, get free credit to try everything, and never pay a thing. Or just get one email when we launch.