Okay, I know there have been topics like this already, and I searched and read a lot of them. But I think I need help for my specific situation. I'll give you as much info as I can.

I have a PC with cable internet access. It's connected to another computer via a router. The router is lynksys and has a built-in firewall, and I think the main PC (not the one I'm using) also has software firewall, though I don't know what it's called or if it is used on all the computers. I'm playing Jazz 2 1.23 and I can join servers just fine. I can start a server, and I think it shows up on the list (I minimized Jazz 2 and looked at the servers in progress at J2O, and I saw it there), but it must be pinging though I have no way of knowing. When I press F9 in my server it says the sending and recieving baus are both 0 whatever that means.

I also have a listserver patch built into the exe file, but no other hosting patch or anything. I'm new to hosting so I don't know what programs I should download yet. I don't know how to find out my PC's IP address. I tried going to RUN and typing: winipcfg but, Windows can't find it. I have Windows XP btw.

I hope I provided all the info. Please help me out. How can I find out my IP address and what should I download if anything? Is there anything I need to do differently for TSF? I haven't tried to host on it yet. Thanks so much. Here are the basics again.

Windows XP
Jazz2 1.23
cable internet
lynksys router w firewall
software firewall on main PC

Read the manual that came with your router. Find the part that tells you how to do port forwarding. The port you want to forward is 10052.

Thanks. Any programs I should download? Do the same ports work for TSF too?

In order to access your Linksys router's configuration page, you need to enter the gateway's number in where you would normally type in a web address (by default, this is 192.168.1.1). You will have to type in a password (by default, this password is "admin". You may change it in the password settings for the router.) First of all, to even be pinged by others, you will need to disable "Block WAN Request" in the filter settings. These filter settings can be accessed by going to the "advanced" tab. Remember to apply these settings after you have selected them. Be aware, though, that a lot of protection goes down the drain when selecting such options that undo the security of your connection; this allows your computer to be seen by others. Port forwarding is also in the advanced options, in the tab to the right of the filters. Set up the ports desired there with the correct information. To find out your actual IP address instead of your router's, you will need to use WINIPCFG in the Start-Run box in Windows ME or earlier versions of Windows that use the Windows 95 Kernel, and select the appropriate adapter. With Windows XP and the NT Kernel, you will need to use "command" in that same dialog box, go to C:\Windows (cd\Windows in DOS mode) and execute ipconfig (just type in ipconfig). This will give you your IP address. Another way to figure it out from Windows XP is to go to Network Connections and find your currently established connection. Look for "status" to find out what your IP is. This may be handy for hosting servers without any serverlists available. For more information, consult your manual, Linksys, or a networking professional.

By the way, if you experience any problems with your router and your system, you can download newer firmware at their website. This will not enhance your connection speed, but correct issues that have already been resolved.

I don't want to disable anything that will completely let others at my PC. Do I really need to disable the WAN request? What do you mean by let me be pinged by others?

On the forwarding page I don't see any ports. They are all zeros. Is this default? Do I type in the ports?

I think you also need to forward ports 10053 and 10054 (at least, that is what it says on the JJ2 website).

You can enter a range in the box such as 10052 - 10054.

It is also important to note that Linksys routers will temporarily cut all internet connections as soon as you click the "apply" button. Just make sure you log off of things like JJ2 games and IRC and ICQ before changing the settings.

The software firewall shouldn't cause a problem unless you want to host JJ2 servers on that computer. I would recommend removing it altogether, because the router acts as a firewall. If you ever want to set up a proper home network, the software firewall will block port 139 (NetBIOS) and you won't be able to access shares and things.

BTW, thanks for reading my article

What article would that be? If you wrote the article on supplying maximum info in your post so you don't waste people's time, then yes I read it and I agree to that.

Anyway, I wonder if the software firewall is a problem. I set up everything on the Lynksys site, but I still aren't getting anyone joining in, and the baus says 0 when I press F9.

Wait a minute....

At the lynksys forwarding page, I chose 10052-10054 and I chose "both" when I could select TCP, UDP or both. Is this right? Or should I put those ports there and only select TCP, and then underneith also put 10052 and select UDP. And what is the port going to? I don't have to put another port after 10052 UDP?

Nadine, it should look like this:

10052 ~ 10054   Both      x.x.x.x

Where x.x.x.x is the internal IP of your computer you wish to play JJ2 on.

Remember to click apply after you enter everything.

Also make sure you have the right IP address. What Derby said should work. I don't have Win XP though, so I can't be sure.

The software firewall shouldn't be a problem, but if you want to be completely sure, disable it temporarily and then try.

"Block WAN Request" does not need to be disabled. Derby, the "pinging" in JJ2 is not actual pinging. It is sending a UDP packet on port 10052 to find out information about the server, and the server sends a UDP packet back. The time it takes is the ping time that shows up.

Yeah, I am pretty sure you don't need to block WAN request at all. The port forwarding should take care of it. However, if you feel that you need to test your latency time on a non-JJ2 server with the respective port blocked, then you need to disable it so you can get the test results. Other than that, it does not do a lot more for access.

Is there any kind of software at J20 that I can download that makes hosting easier? Like it lets you know if it's pinging, and for how long it takes, ect.

What you say is right, pinging usually means the information is going through and when it comes back the server will be open. However, if the pinging time takes long, no one can join until it stops pinging, right?

Okay, I will see what I can do. If I still have troubles I bug you guys some more. Thanks for your help so far.

Not at J2O, but I can say that J2HG is working on something to that extent.

It isn't available yet.

If you just want a plain launcher program, you can get XJJ2, but it doesn't ping servers for you.

Well, and it's a total surprise too, because I've done nothing different. Last night, after I forwarded the ports, I tested it and it was saying 0 bauds when I pressed F9, but it was taking so long and I didn't think it was working. Well, today I saw the numbers changing, and going back to zero. But no one was joining. I was a little more patient and people started joining horray!

This is good news for you guys too. I have a blazing fast computer and cable modem, so I doubt there will be any lag, atleast not at my end, so the server shouldn't get kicked out, or whatever. I don't really know what I'm talking about, I'm new to hosting so...

But all I can host is the Bash4 CTF levels, and whatever came with Jazz 2. If you have any recommendations on people's favourite battle and treasure levels, let me know. I don't want to limit my servers to CTF, but I do love CTF.

YES!



I wish I knew how to make it bolded AND larger, but I don't.

Great!

BTW, what is your online username? Just Nadine?


Also, I'm wondering about your network setup. Do you have a home network with shares and everything? Or is the router just used to split the internet connection? How many computers do you have?

Well Link, Nadine probably would have been my online username if I hadn't managed to come up with "badhareday", kind of clever eh? I am not good at coming up with unique usernames, so on almost every forum I visit I just use my name, Nadine. At the Yahoo groups and clubs however, I'm known as "rkpellagirl". But in Jazz 2 games, look for "badhareday". Unless occasionally I want to be a little sneaky and come up with something else.

The router is used to split up internet connections, but also for file sharing. I have three computers. Well, my family has two whom I still live with and I saved up enough money to buy my own PC - instead of a car, but I can't drive yet anyway. My brother even discovered that you can RUN games loaded on another PC, but it takes longer to start up. This is cool as it saves space! One computer is my Dad's only used for his home business, one is the "kids'"computer, everyone can use it for games or whatever. My computer I bought for many uses, but bought it to be a great gaming machine. One of my other pesky brothers found out how much better mine is than the family PC, and he was asking me if he could install Wolfenstein (the new one) on mine. Certainly not. I'm not mean - he is, so no way. Plus - and this is the part I love - it's set up so I can have access to the family PC, but that one has no access to mine. If he wants to be a jerk - oops! his saved games are gone! Heh heh. I'm not that mean, but atleast I have an advantage.

Okay, so I probably told you more than you needed to know, but none the less, I've got a pretty sweet deal here. And I can finally host Jazz 2! Now I just need to download some good levels to host.