How do I block X-box Live?

[NordicNINE]

My kids each have an X-box.
My son let his grades slip, so I'd like to block him from playing.
He can't stand playing solo, so blocking Live should be enough.
I used to have policies for each X-box using the MAC address, but the X-box allows you to change your MAC address and my son figured that out.

I have a Linksys WRT54GS.

Pref I'd like to block each one independently, but without the MAC address, I'm not sure how I could do that.

In the mean time, I might just block all X-box live comunication.
I can't find anywhere what ports it uses.

 

[newParadigm]

just take the whole xbox

 

[newParadigm]

he'll just dl the free mutlplaer client if hes smart enough to fiugre out teh mac addy thing



~new

 

[sswingle]

What is wrong with parents these days. Just take the xbox away from him.

 

[NordicNINE]

He doesn't have a PC at the moment.

Also, I don't want to take the X-box since we use them as Media Extenders for a Media Center PC.

I guess it's not the end of the world for him if I have to take it and he gets no Media Center features and no movies off the server, but he just had a couple D's. It's not like he's failing every class and I need to take everything away.

 

[NordicNINE]

PS- I was mainly just worried about this week since I'm often at clients' during the day and they're off for spring break. Normally, we can watch them and make sure they don't play. I hate to take everything away since there isn't alot they can do outside since it's too warm for snow to stay around (we're in Minnesota) and it's all muddy everywhere from the melted snow.

 

[NordicNINE]

Originally posted by: newParadime
he'll just dl the free mutlplaer client if hes smart enough to fiugre out teh mac addy thing



~new

PS- When he did have a PC in his room, I just added it to my domain (I have a home business) and changed his user account so he can't login. When we had certain login hours, he figured out that he could unplug the network jack and the PC wouldn't realize the hour restrictions and it had the login info cached and it would let him in. I found policies and registry entries that make the PC not cache any login info, so I nipped that. Luckily I know Win2000/2003 domains & networking, etc well. I just can't find any info anywhere on the port information.

 

[loup garou]

Looks like it uses UDP 88, UDP 3074, and TCP 3074.

 

[NordicNINE]

Originally posted by: werk
Looks like it uses UDP 88, UDP 3074, and TCP 3074.

Thanks. I think this is what I'm looking for.

PS- Also Scott, I'm not sure if you meant to say I'm a bad parent since I won't take the X-box away, but that's the way I read it. I don't think someone should make a statement like that without all the facts.

 

[sswingle]

You want to punish him, so you take it away. Boo hoo if he can't watch movies also. Its sad if the only thing that entertains him in the whole house is the xbox. When i was a kid the xbox didn't exist and I had a 386 computer but I survived.

 

[fuzzynavel]

my parents used to kick me outside and make me play with other kids......life was tough but i survived.....i personally just think they wanted some peace and quiet adult time if you know what i mean!! yuck!!:disgust:

steal the network cable.......remove the gamertag details from the box!

 

[bluestrobe]

Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers
You want to punish him, so you take it away. Boo hoo if he can't watch movies also. Its sad if the only thing that entertains him in the whole house is the xbox. When i was a kid the xbox didn't exist and I had a 386 computer but I survived.

I agree. I was in the era of the Nintendo and the 486 and I had it taken away numerous times. Also had my cable coax taken away a few times so I had to rely on local stations for entertainment. That drove me outside a few times to those nasty things called sunshine and socializing.

Honestly you have to weigh the time you spend "punishing" him and what the results will be. It seems you take more time to try to outwit him with software rather than the old fashion hardware removal theme. Inconveniences always have loopholes to get past them but hardships are a lasting memory.

Gateway problems lead to bigger problems, crush them now instead of limited interdiction.

 

[loup garou]

Wow, looking at the title of this forum, I thought it was the Networking forum. Guess somehow I stumbled into the Tell Others How to Parent forum. Silly me.

 

[bluestrobe]

Originally posted by: werk
Wow, looking at the title of this forum, I thought it was the Networking forum. Guess somehow I stumbled into the Tell Others How to Parent forum. Silly me.

I guess thats why some don't spell a story out to ask for a simple request. Most questions I ask have reasons and stories behind them but I don't hang the bait out there to have other's judge my motive.

 

[NordicNINE]

True. I guess I should have just said "What ports do I need to block for X-box Live".

I guess I didn't know how bad a parent I was.

I kinda also wanted something in the future so it would be easy to turn on or off not just grab the X-box and lock it up somewhere.

 

[skyking]

good trader bump!

oops, wrong forum

1)Disable DHCP
2) assign Ip's to the computers
3) enable MAC filtering, input the macs you want to work
4) disable his MAC if he is a bad boy.
5) Profit!
6) no dhcp, no mac, no joy.
32) no mon, no fun, yur son
7A) too bad, so dad, yur dad

 

[NordicNINE]

I'm sure I got it now.

Can't block the MAC, since the X-box has the ability to change it.
He knows how to change it.

Turning off DHCP makes a much bigger pain for me since he knows how to manually configure an IP, subnet.
Also I work on client computers here and it would be a pain to set IP up manually then turn it back to automatic when they leave, etc..

 

[nweaver]

one thing...the "get around what dad did" teaches creativity, and requires some thought and logic. Teaching him how to solve problems and think is a good skill, so don't overlook that when you say "Just take it away". Lots of kids now days just expect it to go, and can't figure out some things on their own.

 

[Staz]

Something you can try is instead of blocking certain mac addresses, only allow certain ones, ie your current pc's and only them. Not only will that stop the Xbox from connecting, it will prevent other systems that you don't approve of from connecting.

 

[NordicNINE]

Yeah, that I know about.

I've tried it once, but it was just a quickie and it didn't work.
Not sure why, but I took it out anyway.

Again, I would have to add the MAC of every PC I work on (probably 10-25/week) and that would be a pain too.

This isn't a huge deal. I should have worded it different.

When this started about a month ago, I just did the low tech thing and took the little break away cables. It's worked so far, but since his sister also has one and a bunch of his friends, I'm sure he'll eventually get one if I'm gone for a whole day or something.

 

[Falloutboy]

Originally posted by: nweaver
one thing...the "get around what dad did" teaches creativity, and requires some thought and logic. Teaching him how to solve problems and think is a good skill, so don't overlook that when you say "Just take it away". Lots of kids now days just expect it to go, and can't figure out some things on their own.

this is a very good point. it does teach you the skill to "think outside the box"

 

[newParadigm]

isn't ther like an actual network module on teh xbox, its not built i n is it?

casue if its not, you coudl just take that.

~New

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: newParadime
isn't ther like an actual network module on teh xbox, its not built i n is it?

casue if its not, you coudl just take that.

~New

It's integrated.

 

[intogamer]

just set a password