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Author Topic:   TCP/IP: Help!

LoD posted 05-02-99 11:32 AM ET
I've been trying to set up a TCP/IP with my friend. I started out as the server, he got my IP address, tried to connect - nothing! "Game not found". OK, then he was the server - still nothing. We are absolutely positive that those were the correct IP addresses. Then, although he had 3.0, he downloaded my patch. Guess what? Nothing! W ended up re-installing DirectX 6 (I had 6.2, he had 6.1) - no effect. Please help me - I feel as if I overlooked something obvious. Oh, and we didn't launch the game prior to the connection trial .
LoD
LarsHanson posted 05-02-99 02:32 PM ET
Couple of things to try:
Open a DOS window and try the PING command on your friends's IP address. If the packets do not return, (Request timed out message) then there is a connectivity issue. One of you may be behind a firewall, the IP may be being translated to another address, etc. I found the latter problem out the hard way - my ISP tells me I'm on xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx.sttl.uswest.net, but my ADSL bridging router actually translates that address from yyy.yyy.yyy.yyy IP the rest of the world sees.
The other check is to use the computer's WINS name. One of you should install file and print sharing, and share your hard drive (with a password) to Everyone. Then the other should attempt to map the share as a network drive. \\Computername\sharename.
If the drive maps - it probably won't, but may - then connectivity is not an issue. Try to map again using the computer's IP address instead of its name - \\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx\sharename. That should work, unless there is a connectivity problem.
If that works, your game should work.
You may have heard people talk about UDP ports and the game being 'filtered' from internet routers. I believe Firaxis has indicated in the past that it does not use a UDP port for the game, so that shouldn't be a problem.
The number of 'hops' between routers in between you and your friend is a big consideration. If you are across the country from each other, good luck. If you are across town, it should only be a couple of hops. If you are on the same subnet (best), there shouldn't be a problem. Good luck.
LoD posted 05-03-99 02:48 AM ET
Thanks for the advice! We'll try it as soon as we can. BTW, my friend lives in the samme city.
LoD
ballpark posted 05-04-99 02:29 PM ET
Lars is pretty accurate.
However, while it is an accurate way to determine whether you two have connectivity to each other, I wouldn't recommend the "Sharing your hard drive" maneuver. There are FAR TOO MANY hackers out there that dearly love to break into people's systems for that to be a viable suggestion in my book.
As for the TCP/IP Address filters, you should be able to check with your ISP to find out just how their routers work.
Urban Ranger posted 05-05-99 01:50 AM ET
The mapping trick only works on a LAN. I don't know if it would work with Windows 95/98 either (never tried it).
There are also problems with ways you acquire the IP address. How did you get it? Did you get it from InterNIC, or as part of a large block assignment, or just whip it out of thin air?
The trouble about whipping it out of thin air is, the IP address could very well exist, but it actually points to another computer on the Internet.
LoD posted 05-06-99 01:41 PM ET
Well, it's not a connectivity problem (the "ping" command worked).
UR: We used winipcfg (of course). As for "whipping it out of thin air" - hey, we're not *that* desperate .
Unfortunately, the problem persists... any other sollutions?
LoD
CatsAt8 posted 05-06-99 02:18 PM ET
LoD

Why,if friend is in same city...unless is a toll call...are you trying IP instead of direct connect ??...Maybe I missed something but that baffles me.
CatsAt8
LoD posted 05-06-99 04:47 PM ET
CatsAt8: Well, we've tried that some time ago (it's a local call, so cost wasn't a problem - ~6 cents/3 min.). Guess what - didn't work.
Hmmm... I guess we'll try AlphaHQ.
LoD
Spike posted 06-08-99 01:05 PM ET
I am having the same problem as mentioned above. I am trying to connect to a 4 person internet game of AC. When I try to connect to the game, I get 'game not found', although I can ping the ip address for the machine hosting the game. The game is being hosted by the same ISP - the difference is those who can connect are using a modem connection to the ISP whereas I am using an ADSL connection.
The only thing that I have been able to guess is that a specific port number is being used that is being filtered by the ADSL router, but an earlier message on this thread indicates otherwise.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
Spike
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Author	Topic: TCP/IP: Help!
LoD	posted 05-02-99 11:32 AM ET I've been trying to set up a TCP/IP with my friend. I started out as the server, he got my IP address, tried to connect - nothing! "Game not found". OK, then he was the server - still nothing. We are absolutely positive that those were the correct IP addresses. Then, although he had 3.0, he downloaded my patch. Guess what? Nothing! W ended up re-installing DirectX 6 (I had 6.2, he had 6.1) - no effect. Please help me - I feel as if I overlooked something obvious. Oh, and we didn't launch the game prior to the connection trial . LoD
LarsHanson	posted 05-02-99 02:32 PM ET Couple of things to try: Open a DOS window and try the PING command on your friends's IP address. If the packets do not return, (Request timed out message) then there is a connectivity issue. One of you may be behind a firewall, the IP may be being translated to another address, etc. I found the latter problem out the hard way - my ISP tells me I'm on xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx.sttl.uswest.net, but my ADSL bridging router actually translates that address from yyy.yyy.yyy.yyy IP the rest of the world sees. The other check is to use the computer's WINS name. One of you should install file and print sharing, and share your hard drive (with a password) to Everyone. Then the other should attempt to map the share as a network drive. \\Computername\sharename. If the drive maps - it probably won't, but may - then connectivity is not an issue. Try to map again using the computer's IP address instead of its name - \\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx\sharename. That should work, unless there is a connectivity problem. If that works, your game should work. You may have heard people talk about UDP ports and the game being 'filtered' from internet routers. I believe Firaxis has indicated in the past that it does not use a UDP port for the game, so that shouldn't be a problem. The number of 'hops' between routers in between you and your friend is a big consideration. If you are across the country from each other, good luck. If you are across town, it should only be a couple of hops. If you are on the same subnet (best), there shouldn't be a problem. Good luck.
LoD	posted 05-03-99 02:48 AM ET Thanks for the advice! We'll try it as soon as we can. BTW, my friend lives in the samme city. LoD
ballpark	posted 05-04-99 02:29 PM ET Lars is pretty accurate. However, while it is an accurate way to determine whether you two have connectivity to each other, I wouldn't recommend the "Sharing your hard drive" maneuver. There are FAR TOO MANY hackers out there that dearly love to break into people's systems for that to be a viable suggestion in my book. As for the TCP/IP Address filters, you should be able to check with your ISP to find out just how their routers work.
Urban Ranger	posted 05-05-99 01:50 AM ET The mapping trick only works on a LAN. I don't know if it would work with Windows 95/98 either (never tried it). There are also problems with ways you acquire the IP address. How did you get it? Did you get it from InterNIC, or as part of a large block assignment, or just whip it out of thin air? The trouble about whipping it out of thin air is, the IP address could very well exist, but it actually points to another computer on the Internet.
LoD	posted 05-06-99 01:41 PM ET Well, it's not a connectivity problem (the "ping" command worked). UR: We used winipcfg (of course). As for "whipping it out of thin air" - hey, we're not that desperate . Unfortunately, the problem persists... any other sollutions? LoD
CatsAt8	posted 05-06-99 02:18 PM ET LoD Why,if friend is in same city...unless is a toll call...are you trying IP instead of direct connect ??...Maybe I missed something but that baffles me. CatsAt8
LoD	posted 05-06-99 04:47 PM ET CatsAt8: Well, we've tried that some time ago (it's a local call, so cost wasn't a problem - ~6 cents/3 min.). Guess what - didn't work. Hmmm... I guess we'll try AlphaHQ. LoD
Spike	posted 06-08-99 01:05 PM ET I am having the same problem as mentioned above. I am trying to connect to a 4 person internet game of AC. When I try to connect to the game, I get 'game not found', although I can ping the ip address for the machine hosting the game. The game is being hosted by the same ISP - the difference is those who can connect are using a modem connection to the ISP whereas I am using an ADSL connection. The only thing that I have been able to guess is that a specific port number is being used that is being filtered by the ADSL router, but an earlier message on this thread indicates otherwise. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks, Spike