Empty in the serverbrowser!

[ZIRB]

A friend of mine who I play online games with play suddenly cant see any servers when browsing online servers (hitting the BRS-key). He play on his work computer so we assume it's the system administrator on his work that have blocked the ports that UT-INF use. Can this be the case? What can a system admin see? What is his tools? Does he only see "weird data traffic" but cant see what it is and therefor block it? Can he see which computer in the company that generate the traffic?

The most important question us; Is there a way to use another port so by pass the blockade? Is "open this server" a way? We tried that but it didn't work, perhaps because I have ADSL with dynamic IP; perhaps UT cant handle ADSL-connection with dynamic IP when connecting "directly"?

Any wisdom out there in these questions?

 

[Crowze]

It's not dynamic IP - as long as you check it's not changed, then you're fine. If the admin has disabled port 27900, you wont be able to contact the master server for the list of servers. If so, adding servers to favourites would still work. If port 7777 is disabled, you won't be able to join many servers, but some use other ports (I believe JgKdo is one example). You can create a server on a different port by editing your Infiltration.ini (or server.ini, whatever you use), under (usually at the top) Port=7777.

 

[AlmostAlive]

In most cases it would be a problem with the connection to the master server. It could also be that the system admin has blocked certain ports that games often use. If it's a case of blocked ports it's going to be difficult to get around it unless you can host games on different ports. Try connecting directly to the server with the "open location" window. If that doesn't work, your friend is pretty much screwed.

edit : instaposted

 

[ZIRB]

....Try connecting directly to the server with the "open location" window. If that doesn't work, your friend is pretty much screwed.

We tried that. He tried to connect to MY own hosted game using "open location". He typed in the IP I had at the moment (ADSL with new IP every connection session to the internet).

I see two possible reasons for this not to work:
1.His system admin had blocked the connections (ports) to the internet that UT-INF use.
2.It's not possible at all to connect to own hosted games using "open location" when u using an ADSL-connection to the internet.

What do u think? 1 or 2 or something else?

 

[ZIRB]

The port in the Ini-file is now 7777. Can I change it to any number or are some numbers "better" or "worse" than others?

 

[Crowze]

It's not 2, unless your ISP really, really sucks. I can host servers no problem on my ADSL. Most ports above 1024 are fine.

 

[Tiffy]

A minor point here but.......

If the server admin has disabled ports then there is a reason. Your friend, by bypassing this may incur the wrath of his employers an loose all chances of playing INF due to no longer having access to the computer.

If its all "on the level" then I don't see why you don't just ask your server admin to allow the port to connect to games. If it's not then you have to ask yourself "is INF worth loosing your job over"?

 

[ZIRB]

I suggested him to do that and now when it's Monday again he has already talked to the sysadmin and he seems to be helpful. It was not by purpose the port was blocked. I hope they came up with a solution; perhaps that INI-file port thing can help. We will check that. Thanks for ideas so far.

 

[Phuzzybear]

Try using all seeing eye....

 

[ZIRB]

Is it correct that UT search for free port during the installation process? Perhaps this is a way to find out which ports are open?

 

[Crowze]

No. At least, not to my knowledge.

 

[(SDS)benmcl]

Crowze is correct. Also if I am reading the original post correctly having him change the port number will not work. The setting that needs to be changed is on the server. I believe the majority out there use the defaults.

Also there is probably a range of ports blocked, if thats the problem.

Ports normally used are (UDP Ports) 7777,7778,7779,7780,7781. So make sure these ports are open.

Not part of the problem but TCP port 80 is for Remote Admin by default.

These two are not required but maybe usefull for someone. There is mention of UDP Port 27900 which I believe is required for outgoing UDP traffic to the master server. Also UDP port 9999 is required for outgoing UDP traffic to the ngWorldStats site.

 

[MP_Duke]

>>Empty in the serverbrowser!

How is that different from any other day

 

[ZIRB]

Tests have been made - More questions!

##### BENMCL SAID "Also if I am reading the original post correctly having him change the port number will not work. The setting that needs to be changed is on the server."
---> This has now been tested. I was the host and I tested many different port numbers both in the ini-file and in that server config panel. My friend couldn't see me in his browser list and he could not "open this location".

QUESTION 1: What's really the function for the port number in the infi-file vs the port number in the server config panel?



##### BENMCL SAID "Ports normally used are (UDP Ports) 7777,7778,7779,7780,7781. So make sure these ports are open."

QUESTION 2: WHO should make sure these ports are open? My friends SysAdmin, or my friend in his game (if so how?) or me who host (if me; HOW then?)

QUESTION 3: You say "normally used"... Is it something special with these ports or can any ports being used? (I mean except those who are not occupied by those things u mention.)



##### CROWZE SAID: "Most ports above 1024 are fine."

QUESTION 4: ALL ports above 1024? What's the wrong with the numbers below 1024? How many ports exists?

QUESTION 5: The SysAdmin said he had port no 21 open but we made some tests even with this number but it didn't work. Is this because it was below 1024?

QUESTION 6: The SysAdmin seems to be open to help but he has little time to spend on this. Is there anything we could say to him to so he can save energy and quickly solve the problem?

 

[ZIRB]

O Brother, Where Art Thou? *

O Brother, Where Art Thou? Where are u all when I need u the most?

 

[(SDS)benmcl]

Sorry ZIRB I am trying to verify something before I post it.

As far as I can remember the admin has to open the UDP Ports 7777,7778,7779,7780,7781 on the fire wall. I suggest you stick with those ports. I would like to verify this because I don't wish to piss of the admin guy with wrong info. Right now have some problems at work so I hadn't had a chance.

 

[UTProphet2]

What's the wrong with the numbers below 1024

These are commonly used by operating system functions and long lived standards. Not good practice to use them.

The SysAdmin said he had port no 21

I dont know much but I can tell you using port 21 (FTP port) for a UT game is probably NOT a good idea. Consider that if he has 21 open already, he is probably already running an FTP server on it.

Also, I don't think 7777 is what you need. Isn't that what the server uses, not the client?

The client (your friend) needs to open the port that he is sending from, not the server is receiving.

After all, you can send a UDP packet to a remote 7777 from a local 3287 or the like. Remote port is not dependent on local.

Yes?