After getting Router I cant Host Games or Talk

[Questi4110]

I usually would be able to host games in NBA Live 2003 but after getting a router to setup two computers I cant host anymore. I host but no one is able to join. Also, I cant use Instant Messanger's, ICQ's, and Netmeeting's talk (with a mic) function with other broadband users (works fine with dial-up users).

I have tried all of this with my firewall off (zone alarm) and i also put off Windows ICS Firewall.

My router, Belkin, has a built in firewall.

Why am I not able to do this stuff after getting a router? Please help with the settings or something.



THANKS

 

[skyking]

you need to forward the ports for each of those services or games to your computer. It is done in the router's configuration page, read up on that in the manual.
Here is a list of many of the ports. The makers of the games also will list them on help pages.
Link

 

[Questi4110]

Ok i'll look into it


THANKS

 

[Questi4110]

Ok I looked it up and Belkin uses this ip for their internet configuration:

192.168.2.1

So after getting into that I looked up what NBA Live 2003's port settings were, here is what the answer was:

-----------------------------------------------------
NBA Live clients need the following ports opened

HTTP 80 (inbound)

HTTPS 443 (inbound)

MsgConn 13500 (inbound)

Roomsvr 20901-21000 (inbound)

Dynamic 32768-65535 (inbound and outbound)


For peer-peer play (head to head), UDP ports 1791 and 1792 need to be open, both for outgoing and incoming.
--------------------------------------



I only play head to head with my friends (where you have to type in the ip to connect).

So what i entered into the Belkin Virtual Server Section was:

Inbound Port: 1791-1792
Type: UDP
Private IP Address: 192.168.2.30
Private Port: 1791-1792




However, whenever I try to host it just doesnt seem to work. What could be the problem?

BTW, the game reports my ip as 192.168.2.30 but when i go to

www.whatismyip.com it says it is somethign differenet? People have tried to connect to me both ways but it doesn't work for them.

Please Help


THANKS

 

[skyking]

so far, you are doing good. I suggest you forward the other high-numbered ports on to your machine. I do not think you will need to forward port 80 or 443, though.
What you see when you type whatismyip.com, is your Wide Area Network (WAN) address. That is the one your friends should use. It is "where you are at" on the World Wide Web.
That other address is your Local Area Network (LAN) address. that is where your router sends your packets. The operation that the router performs is commonly referred to as Network Address Translation (NAT).
Your router knows what to do with any requests that you make: it attaches an identifying tag to the request, so when the data comes back from the web, it "knows" to forward that data to you and not your roomate, for instance.

Now your friends want to connect to your server for a game. The router takes a look at these incoming packets, and has no clue what to do with them. Since you did not request it, you are not going to get it.
That is where port forwarding comes into play. You forward the traffic on through for specific ports, and your router automatically sends all the incoming data on that port to the computer of your choosing.

 

[Questi4110]

Ok i will try these then:

MsgConn 13500 (inbound)

Roomsvr 20901-21000 (inbound)

Dynamic 32768-65535 (inbound and outbound)


When it says outbound in the last dynamic one, where do i enter that in?

Also, are these UDP or TCP?

Finally, does the description under virtual servers have to be the same as what it is enabling (in other words, can i make it like "blahblah" for NBA Live or will i have to make it the exe name or something)?


THANKS

 

[darktubbly]

I'm assuming you want to play head to head, and not through EA's online service. In that case, according to this page, you only need to have the UDP ports 1791 and 1792 open for inbound connections. I've got a Belkin DSL/cable router and if the setup is the same, go to Virtual Servers and add those two ports.

You might also want to check this link. If there is any truth to what it says, it means that in order to host, you have turn off your firewall entirely. Check the DMZ section in your router setup and add your computer to it.

 

[Questi4110]

I had my rouer firewall turned completely off, my zone alarm firewall turned off, and ports 1791-1792 put into that thing but i still cou;dn't get anyone to join. Do i have to do it like this:

1791-1791
1792-1792

or was my setup fine like this:
1791-1792


Also, i chose UDP

THANKS

 

[darktubbly]

Hm...that looks right. Make sure you're putting those values under Virtual Servers and don't use DHCP for your router. Here's a screenshot of how mine is configured.

I've got my router on 192.168.10.1 and my client computers as 192.168.10.5 and .6.

 

[Macro2]

If you are using MSN messenger, upgrade to version 6 and you will be able send files and do voice right through the router. I never could do this with version 5, even after opening all the ports related to that service or going into DMZ. When I called MS they said "call the router company". When I called the router company they said "call Microsoft". Apparently Microsoft finally addressed the problem.
You still have to turn off ZA.

The new version 6 has some games but Im not sure if that helps you. Sorry.


Mac

 

[Questi4110]

Thanks Mac for the heads up, i'll see if it has my games.

Also, darktubbly, how do i check whether or not the router is setup for DHCP. Btw, your screenshot link does not work.


Thanks for the help

 

[darktubbly]

Grr Geocities. Here's a corrected link. Also, I suppose your router can be set up as a DHCP server, but you have to make sure you have the corresponding internal IP set under the virtual servers thing. Check the screenshot to get a clearer idea of what I just said...in this case, those UDP packets get redirected to the machine with the 192.168.10.5 IP.

 

[Questi4110]

i disabled the DHCP and that is exactly how my virtual servers screen looks (after a couple of programs before it of course) but when my friends try to connect to my real ip (68...) it doesn't work.


THANKS

 

[jleon]

Does the router have log files? Maybe you can see in the log when your friend attempts to join if the router is dropping him or what not?

 

[Questi4110]

ok i will check it and post it next time i try

thanks

 

[RayW69]

My advice would be just to DMZ yourself before you host a game and take yourself off afterwards. Not exactly the most elegant solution, but its probably acceptable for all but the most hardcore secuity nuts. At a minimum, it'll let you play for the time being, while you figure out all these ports.