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View Full Version : FSHOST multiplayer 'network port(s) blues'


Gnoopey
July 8th, 2005, 12:40
Did this post initially in the netwings.org forum ... hmm... it's perhaps not too bad to duplicate it in here ...

Getting flight simulator players and multiplayer servers to work together flawlessly is indeed not the easiest task - but in fact, it all comes 'down' to only a few topics...

DirectX - get the last DirectX version from over here ==> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/ (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/)
network ports (TCP & UDP ports) to be openend on (personal) firewalls and routers; and enable port forwarding when router / firewall is using NAT (Network Address Translation)

FSHOST FAQ ==> http://www.chocolatesoftware.com/fshost/faq.html (http://www.chocolatesoftware.com/fshost/faq.html)
FSHOST multiplayer tutorial ==> http://www.chocolatesoftware.com/multiplayer.html (http://www.chocolatesoftware.com/multiplayer.html)
Microsoft DirectX: ports required to play on a network ==> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;240429 (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;240429)
MSN games (the 'dreaded' zone) ==> http://zone.msn.com/en/support/article/support3401.htm (http://zone.msn.com/en/support/article/support3401.htm)
CFS3 - network ports required for multiplayer game ==> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829475/ (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829475/)

from the above linked FSHOST multiplayer tutorial (modifications in red):
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Problems when using a router / firewall ...


I should also mention at this point that if you're using a router, or you're on a network with a shared internet connection, it's possible that you'll have problems either connecting to the game, or seeing all of the other planes in the game. Getting FS to run on a network is a tough problem, and probably worthy of an entire tutorial of its own. But just briefly, I'll say that the network ports that need to be forwarded / openend in your router / firewall for FS2002 are: TCP 47624 and TCP/UDP 2300-2400, and for FS2004 they are: UDP 23456, UDP 6073, and UDP 2302-2400. You might take a look at www.portforward.com (http://www.portforward.com/) for more help on forwarding ports in your router.
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the error "Unable to connect to all players", that most of us have already encountered when trying to enter the netwings.org or other FSHOST's, is also explained in the FSHOST FAQ ==> http://www.chocolatesoftware.com/fshost/faq.html#error_connect_all (http://www.chocolatesoftware.com/fshost/faq.html#error_connect_all)

It 'comes' only from a player, that is already active in that FSHOST session, who has not all ports correctly configured! As long as this player stays active on that FSHOST, others might have problems connecting!

Willy
July 8th, 2005, 14:35
or you're on a network with a shared internet connection, it's possible that you'll have problems either connecting to the game, or seeing all of the other planes in the game. Getting FS to run on a network is a tough problem, and probably worthy of an entire tutorial of its own.

I'm on a shared internet connection with Mrs Willy's machine having the main connection and I'm actually hooked up to a ethernet hub along with her machine and my old one that I let the kids use. Haven't had many problems that I haven't seen others with like the won't let me connect because of someone already on there's firewall settings and the odd FS Host booting me.

Willy