Help me set up a Half-life server behind Linksys router.

[forkd]

I have a static ip for host computer. I have port 27015 forwarded and can host a game for a short bit before it just shuts me down to the console. I think it says illegible server error.

The pings are also terrible. I usually have a ping of <100 when I join games but people joining are getting pings of close to 300. This works fine for me because I slaughter them but isn't really fun for all.

Computer is 1.2G Athlon @ 1.5, 256mbram, 20G hd, 3com3905ct nic, Linksys befsr11 router and hub.

I have even tried putting the serving system into the dmz with no difference in ping but don't know if it ran long enough to find out if the server error would come up.

Any help is appreciated as I am tired of practicing with my friend hosting on his 600mhz celery.

 

[DnetMHZ]

do you have the latest firmware for the router?

 

[forkd]

yes, just updated to latest firmware last Friday.

 

[TheOmegaCode]

are you lying??

 

[forkd]

Lol, I wish I were. But this is no lying matter.

 

[Techwhore]

You might want to try autoforwarding a ton of ports. The ports change over time. For instance if you use the default port for FTP (21) u should also open port 20 to avoid loss of connection. Try auto forwarding ports 26000-28000 and see if that helps you out.

As for the high pings, how many connections are you hosting? And what is your upload/download cap set by Earthlinks DSL? Each player requires about 4 KB/s, so if you're cap is 40 KB/s from DSL you can have no more than 10 players (including u). Since you're also using connection sharing (router), it's important to understand that your two machines share the max bandwidth. So if you're hosting a HL game and someone is d/ling some stuff on the other machine your bandwidth is cut.

 

[forkd]

I will try opening more ports. At this point I haven't had more than 4 people, inclucing myself, playing. I use Earthlink and while hosting have not had the other system on. I don't know the upload/download cap.....how do I find out.

 

[Techwhore]

what are your upload/download caps? Do u know if these people are connecting via cable/dsl? It's possible that they're on modems...

EDIT: I just had a look at Earthlinks DSL plan. The maximum d/l speed is 1.5 Mbps = 1500 kbps = 187.5 KB/s (this is fine)

HOWEVER

The upload is only 128 kbps = 16 KB/s. This is the limiting factor. When someone is connected to your machine, their request of 4 KB/s is equivilant to a download for them and an upload for you. Hence, 4 connections at approx. 4 KB/s = 16 KB/s... you're at your max.

Now, Earthlink made it seem as though there were other plans to choose from (this one being the highend plan for residential users). So it's possible that you have less of a plan than this. I couldn't find any info on the other plans though. All i know is that this costs $49.95/month.

Hope this sheds some light on the issue.