Cisco switch backend software blocking online games?

[shud]

Is there a firmware upgrade or something to get past this issue? This is what the steampowered.com website told me on a query for why I couldn't contact the master server for Counter-Strike (BF2 doesn't work either):

"The next biggest possible cause is that you are running "Deterministic Network Enhancer" which is used with Cisco and a few other VPN applications."

I am positive that this is what is happening on my university network. They recently installed Cisco switches in all houses and residential buildings and certain online games no longer work. I'd like to help my net admin out and find a solution for him since he is so busy with summer changes.

It doesn't seem to be a port issue. Any ideas?

 

[nweaver]

"Deterministic Network Enhancer" is installed with the Cisco VPN Software, do you use cisco VPN software?

 

[Crusty]

This thread?

 

[netsysadmin]

Have you ever considered the University might have blocked it on purpose?

John

 

[shud]

Originally posted by: netsysadmin
Have you ever considered the University might have blocked it on purpose?

John

Have you ever considered reading the entire post?

"I'd like to help my net admin out and find a solution for him since he is so busy with summer changes." I've had e-mail correspondence with the people in charge several times. My guess is that the Cisco VPN is installed somewhere, but they're really busy rolling out wifi stuff and don't have the time to troubleshoot this. I was thinking that maybe someone had run into --- and solved this problem and might have some advice or know of a patch/update to this problem.

Posting it here, I should have known better. Thanks for the snide comments.

 

[ScottMac]

He posted on the Cisco NetPro forums too.....

Sure must be frustrating.

It sounds like they got someonre in that know how to make the Paketeeer work (finally, those inept people that couldn't even block a few game streams!! Sheesh).

OP: There's nothing on an L2 switch that would have blocked anything. Switches pass everything.

Now, if they put in an L3 switch, I suppose they could have put in some rudementary ACLs ... but those are easily defeated. Chances are the Packeteer has you by the stones and there's nothing you can do about it (short of begging the network folks for a hole).

Good Luck

Scott

 

[shud]

Originally posted by: ScottMac
He posted on the Cisco NetPro forums too.....

Sure must be frustrating.

It sounds like they got someonre in that know how to make the Paketeeer work (finally, those inept people that couldn't even block a few game streams!! Sheesh).

OP: There's nothing on an L2 switch that would have blocked anything. Switches pass everything.

Now, if they put in an L3 switch, I suppose they could have put in some rudementary ACLs ... but those are easily defeated. Chances are the Packeteer has you by the stones and there's nothing you can do about it (short of begging the network folks for a hole).

Good Luck

Scott

Thanks for the reply...I know for a fact they aren't purposely blocking it. Things DID work back in May before school let out. Another thing that appears to be inoperable now is Xlink Kai, which is an app for Xbox that lets you play any game with a system link option for free without Xbox Live. That can't get through either. The odd thing is that MMORPG type games seem to work. It's just something about the way that new FPS game master servers operate.

Bit Torrent works, SSH works (both of these were blocked for some time). It doesn't seem to be a PORT problem necessarily because I've set up an FTP server and run it on some of the same ports that CS:S uses to test this theory out. The network also accepts incoming remote desktop sessions. Outside of "just because we can," blocking game traffic bears no purpose. It doesn't make sense that they would intentionally block it as I'm sure it generates a lot of pissed off students. It also wouldn't force people to study, they can just go out and drink or find something else to do.

It's not that frustrating for me. I'm only home a few hours a night anyway, but the weekends can get boring sometimes, and I wanted to check BF2 out. I just thought I'd check around and see if this was a common problem with an easy workaround so I could let the right people know. God forbid someone take some initiative instead of just accepting something that doesn't affect any other large scale LANs I can think of.

 

[spidey07]

Can cisco backend software block online games?

No. Unless they want it to.

 

[netsysadmin]

shud...I was saying maybe they blocked it? I work as an Admin at a large university and even though I manage all my network resouces here at my location I still dont know what is blocked on the core infrastructure. It is possible/likely that the the Admin you are dealing with does not know that they are blocking certain sites.

John

 

[shud]

Originally posted by: netsysadmin
shud...I was saying maybe they blocked it? I work as an Admin at a large university and even though I manage all my network resouces here at my location I still dont know what is blocked on the core infrastructure. It is possible/likely that the the Admin you are dealing with does not know that they are blocking certain sites.

John

This is what I was thinking, that it is being done unintentionally out of good intentions to block harmful traffic.

Since there doesn't seem to be any actual solution I guess I'm just out of luck.