I have the oddest issue while hosting games. Sometimes players can't actually see the games I set up. They hit the refresh buttons, but my game still won't display for them.

To fix the problem, I have to usually reboot Sins and make a new map. Then usually players can see it and join up.

Of course, about 65% of the time, everything works out fine.

I have enabled UPnP through my router and through the the network services from the control panel but when I host games no one can join them and they just get a message that says "Disconnected from the Server" instead. What can I do to fix this?

Nevermind all fixed I had the wrong IP addy. If you go to start and run file and type in "CMD" then at the MS dos prompt type in IPCONFIG you get your correct IP ADDRESS.

I'm in the same boat, I can't get hosting to work. I have the port properly fowarded and I just can't get anything cooking. I have no idea about the upnp, but it didn't come up when I checked the add/remove windows components. But if I DIDN'T have those installed, wouldn't that hork up the host of other games I have that work just fine? Guild Wars, WoW, Potbs, Steam, among others.

I'm at my wits end, and I've reached the end of my technical knowledge.

Yeah, I can throw the router into DMZ, but I find that a bit unnecessary given that I didn't need to do that for all my other games. It's using a hatchet to kill a housefly.

FOR ADVANCED USERS ONLY! If you don't understand what we're trying to accomplish here, JUST WALK AWAY NOW! You have been warned! hehe

Hey guys do this, while you have a MP game setup (using ICO), running, and waiting for players to join! (Alt+Tab out of the game):

1. Start > Run > type "cmd", then press enter key (no quotes)
2. type "netstat -abn -p TCP", then press the enter key (no quotes)

Remove (XXX out) any senstitive information, like public IP's (private are IP's OK) or hostname info if present (so lurking hackers don't get any ideas) in notepad/word, and post it. This will validate your PC is setup right and listening on the correct ports (6000, 6112). No Windows or thrid-party firewalls on please (only if you can't setup or know how to setup for that matter, the exceptions list!)

If possible, try to nmap your public IP...I was able to verify my ability to host from work, see below:

1. C:\nmap-4.53>nmap -v -sW -p6000,6112 xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

Starting Nmap 4.53 ( http://insecure.org ) at 2008-02-09 11:36 Mountain Standard
Time
Initiating Ping Scan at 11:36
Scanning xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx [2 ports]
Completed Ping Scan at 11:36, 0.16s elapsed (1 total hosts)
Initiating Parallel DNS resolution of 1 host. at 11:36
Completed Parallel DNS resolution of 1 host. at 11:36, 0.02s elapsed
Initiating Window Scan at 11:36
Scanning c-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx.hsd1.xx.comcast.net (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) [2 ports]
Discovered open port 6112/tcp on xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx <=== yippee
Discovered open port 6000/tcp on xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx <=== yippee
Completed Window Scan at 11:36, 0.02s elapsed (2 total ports)
Host c-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx.hsd1.xx.comcast.net (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) appears to be up ...
good.
Interesting ports on c-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx.hsd1.xx.comcast.net (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx):
PORT STATE SERVICE
6000/tcp open X11 <=== yippee
6112/tcp open dtspc <=== yippee

Read data files from: C:\nmap-4.53
Nmap done: 1 IP address (1 host up) scanned in 0.281 seconds
Raw packets sent: 3 (120B) | Rcvd: 3 (138B)

I was able to use the TCP Window nmap scan to verify my ports were being forwarded correctly through my router. Also, I get those messages saying other players may not be able to join my games too, still...just like the Monk does!

Note: This MUST be done from outside of your local network, otherwise the results will be misleading. What I mean by "outside" is using nmap from a machine that is NOT behind the same router/firewall protecting the PC you want to scan, which in most cases, should be your gateway to the Internet! If you're on a college campus or anyplace where you're not in control of the router facing the Internet, good luck convincing that IT Department for allowing those ports through to you!!!

There ARE many scanning methods nmap can use to check for open ports. There are a lot of factors that will dertermine which method will work best for you. How the vendor implemented the firewall and/or port-forwarding (RFC's followed), the OS you run (XP or Vista in Sins case), filtering at your ISP or campus, etc...So this guide should be used just as a reference. There's a excellent nmap howto out on the web...and/or you can use the -h option with nmap itself for some help too!

Here's that good nmap turorial link. It's not up a lot, so grab it when you can.

Here is a simple tool to check and see if your port is open,
WWW Link

What does this tell me? I can play all kinds of online games without hassle, except for this one. EVE Online, Pirates of the burning sea, CCS, Supreme Commander etc.

Also, when I play Sins through direct IP, I can connect and play with my friends just fine. It says port 6112 when entering the IP if I'm not mistaken, so why can't I connect to Ironclad Online?

Edit. I run no firewall and turned off the Windows firewall too.

I've done the last 2, and I've enabled UPnP on my router as well.
What do u mean by 6112 has been redirected to you ip?
What should i do about it? I'm using WRT54G

Thanks

No worries...Since you're on a campus, it's highly likely you're locked down behind the edge router. You probably would be fine if all the connections (TCP/IP) were initiated from your PC, but ICO needs to be able to establish the connection from itself (outside)! Thus, you'll never be able to connect to ICO because that connection is getting dropped at that router and I doubt they'll open it for you, because IT guys hold all the POWER! hehe

This is simple not good enough - you shouldn’t have a technical "upper" class degree exam to set up and host a game here. This of cause has to be fixed "pronto" or company loose customers - but I believe it will be fixed soon – made a way so it will be soooo mush easier

Don't get me wrong m8 - I have deepest respect for what you trying to do here - this including The-monk as well I have learn some new stuff going trough your and the-monk threads so that’s good at least!

It's just me, I’m angry at - I SUCKS big time when it comes to network

I have done all what I could do my self after your and monks directions. And I just can’t host anything.

My specs:
XP –SP2
XP firewall
(a good link, for those who like it shown in pictures, about - Configuring Windows XP Firewall To Allow Inbound Connections: WWW Link )
AVG antivirus

ISP<--> PC(XP pro x32) . . I mean, direct from wall to my pc (we are about 2000 on same network, and I have normally about 6-7Mbit in/out connection)

Therefore I took contact to my ISP this morning to discuss what’s wrong and (here comes my stupidity when it comes to networking – doh ) I do need a explicit IP from them I was told. I have a dynamic I think he said or something like this.

But again you and monk (and others) have my deepest respect for this pretty time consuming helping you providing in here.

Redion

Ya, u right I will not be able to host games like sins before I get my own direct IP. As it is now (have done some reading ) my problem I have a timeout IP. It seems like I have the same IP all the time if I test/check from internet but it's change when it goes trough the site/router who operating the net for those 2000 I talked about. I think (if u understand my bad English ) this is NAT - am I right? So I can’t host anything as it is now.

Could IC or any tell me why Sins not on ex. GameSpy. Any special reason why it's not in such a place?



. . ya u like - heh

Redion