The IP Helper address forwards a broadcast to a single specified IP. Before using the IP Helper command, you must first change the interface to prepare the router to relay broadcasts.


The command is as follows:

Switch# conf t
Switch(config)#interface Fa0/1
Switch(config-if)#ip helper-address 192.168.1.254
Switch(config-if)#end
Switch#wr mem

This will configure the router to forward several UDP protocols, like DNS and BOOTP.
You can prevent the router from forwarding traffic by using the ip forward-protocol to block any or all UDP ports:

Switch(config)#conf t
Switch(config)#ip forward-protocol udp 517
Switch(config)#no ip forward-protocol udp 37
Switch(config)#no ip forward-protocol udp 49
Switch(config)#no ip forward-protocol udp 137
Switch(config)#no ip forward-protocol udp 138
Switch(config)#end
Switch' wr mem

All these commands need to be typed in Global Configuration interface. You can block all services to block forwarding completely, or you can block a few and keep a few open, according to your needs.


Supported UDP services


By default, the IP Helper address command forwards 8 UDP services:

What if you need a service that isn’t included in these default 8 UDP services? You can use the ip forward-protcol command, along with the port number, to create a new UDP service. For example, if your UDP service was located on port 139, you can use the following command:

Switch#conf t
Switch(config)#ip forward-protocol udp 139

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