Playing Head to Head via internet IP address

[Ken Rodman]

I have been trying to connect with a couple buddies but have had no luck. I have router and have even direct connected to no avail. We've include Fighting Steel in the firewall exception list but no luck. I know it can be done as we used to play years ago but we have forgotten the secret. We are all running XP.

Help please

[Glossza]

Hi Ken, I'll try to help you

OK with the information you have given, did you try the following:

A) Exceptions in all firewalls (This game needs 2)

1) c:\Program Files\SSI\Fighting Steel\Fighting Steel.exe
2) C:\WINDOWS\system32\dplaysvr.exe

Set exceptions on all computers playing this game

B) Do you and your friends know each of their own internet IP address and each of their own private Lan address?
( important for configuration for each modem/ router)

Do they know your internet IP so they can log in ?

C) Do you know how to set up each players router/modem to config it, this must be done by each player.

IF so - Did you set each modem/ router to Static Nat,or IP passthrough or DMZ settings in your and your friends router and see if that worked.

I use DMZ because the programs above open a lot of ports and its gets a little complex using port fowarding.
Both of the programs ( the two above in the exceptions ) use a lot of ports to access the internet.

Make sure your windows firewall is up to date and anti virus is up to date if using Static Nat, or IP passthrough or DMZ settings

Make sure your turn on Static Nat, or IP passthrough or DMZ settings right before you play the game and turn off Static Nat, IP passthrough or DMZ settings right after you finished playing.

This method disables the routers firewall, but you are still protected by windows firewall and/or antivirus firewall.

This may seem like a lot of work, but once you get the hang of it - its takes couple of minutes, if that much.

Simple process: ( for each computer playing the game)

A) Exceptions in all firewalls ( Windows and Anti-virus programs if they have a firewall) - This is done once

B) Find out your Internet IP ( also called public ip or wan ip ) - needs to be checked everytime you want to play
goto
whatismyip.com and write this address down - xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

C) Find out your Computers IP ( also called private ip or lan ip ) - needs to be checked everytime you want to play.
This address is used to configure the router/modem

In Windows desttop goto
Start
Run
Clear the Field and Type in "cmd" hit return
You should be in a "DOS" box ( Window )
Type In "ipconfig" hit return
Write this down - it should be different than your Internet ip - something like 192.168.1.xxx ( This is your private ip or lan ip )
Then X out - back to desktop

D) Configure the router/modem - this process takes a while to get used to, but once you have it down it takes less than 15 seconds to do.

To configure the router/modem you first must be able to access it.

To access most routers/modems your type in an IP address in your web browser on the top line where it usually says something like http://forums.navalwarfare.org/etc. Erase this line and type in 192.168.1.1 and hit return. Normally most routers/modems are at this address.
As you can see this is a private ip or lan ip. Everything has an IP address - the internet, your router/modem and each computer hooked up to the router/modem has a different ip. This is how all of these machines talk to each other.

In order to configure your router/modem you must do a little research, look at the manual, or ask for help. You may need a username and password. Look up the modem/router on the internet - usually gives a lot of info how to get in and configure it.

Do not change router/modem settings unless you know what you are doing.

Once you get passed this point - all you have to do is configure one thing in the router/modem. Either Static Nat, ip passthrough, or DMZ.
Each router/modem has different names for these items but they are all the same thing.
Once you are at this point you just type in the address you got from step C above, save it and you are good to go.
This must be done for each computer playing the game.
Remember to turn off this feature when you have finished playing the game.
Remember this opens the firewall in the router so only use it to play the game and when finished turn it off. You will still have windows firewall and or antivirus firewall when playing the game.

I can't help you any further unless I know the model #'s and make of the router/modems so i can look them up.

Once the router/modem is configured, the game should work with no problems.

If you're not sure about any of the above settings, I can help you.

Please post more detail,
Need to know:

Modem/router models
Anti virus software / Anti spam software

[Ken Rodman]

Wow!
Thanks for the information. I had about given up.
My router is an SMC Barricade SMC7004VWBR. I use Norton Anti Virus and Firewall software. My buddy uses AVG Free Version and Windows firewall.
I use XP Media center 2005 and my buddy uses XP Home Edition.

We know each others IP addresses. That was the easy part!

Thanks for your advise.

[Glossza]

Does the Wow! mean that you got it working, let us know
How far did you get?

If you need more help from that point , I will help you

John

[Ken Rodman]

No..not yet.

I am still interested but it's hard to find an opponent that will make the effort.

[Glossza]

Hi Ken, If you have two computers in your house , you can try to play the game on both of them at the same time. Make sure you have the game loaded on both with all updates. Find out the ip of each computer - usually - 192.168.1.1xx, each computer will be different. Start the game on one and log in with the other using the ip you got above for the computer you are loggin into. The computers can be connected to a router (usually) or a switch box (port).

I used this method to help me understand how the ip/tcp protocal works before messing with all the router, firewall and antivirus stuff.

If that fails, I am more than willing to host a game so you can log into my computer and play to make sure everything is working.

I am not sure how many other people out there are playing ip/tcp with each other, but I am sure there are some - good for a new post.