How to: see/connect-to/host SERVERS!

Argh,

The link to my "networking-for-the-gamer" guide didn't show up properly in my first post, so I'll try again.

Here's the link to the general NON-SINS version of my guide:  (for my SINS-specific guide look up!  at the OP just under the GREEN writing!)
WWW Link


I should also mention that I actually run my servers .exe as a windows "service" and am therefore able to run the game with alternate security credentials, start/stop it from the windows "services" list and have the game "service" monitored and automaticly re-started should it actually crash.

I run ALL of my dedicated servers for games in this way (I find many of them use less RAM and are far more stable when doing so).

here's what needs to be done for you to do what I've done to run any Game.exe as a windows "service" and therefore be able to start at system boot (if you desire), monitor it, run it with alternate security credentials (ie. local system), and be able to restart it!

Here's how,

1. Go to [www.codeproject.com] and download a little app made by Xiangyang Liu called "XYNTServiceProject.zip"

2. Extract XYNTService.exe and XYNTService.ini from the .zip and place in your %systemroot%\gamepath folder. (folder which contains the sins.exe)

3. I renamed the XYNTService.exe and XYNTService.ini to Sins_Service.exe and Sins_Service.ini respectively (I have more than one instance of this service for different apps)

4. Goto Start > Run > and enter "cmd" (without quotes) into the run field, then hit enter.

5. In the command prompt window navigate to your %systemroot%\gamepath folder.

cd\ <--hit ENTER after each command
cd "\program files\Sins" <--use quotes around the path
dir <--to verify that the service .exe and .ini are there
Sins_service -i <--this installs the service to your "services" list in administrative tools.

6. Now we need to modify the service .ini file. Open the Sins_service.ini using notepad. Here is my sample .ini

[Settings]
ServiceName=Sins_dedicated <--the name under which it will show in the "services" list
CheckProcessSeconds = 120 <--how often to check if service still running
[Process0]
CommandLine = f:\games\Sins\Sins.exe <--all on one line
WorkingDir= f:\games\Sins\ <--path to wic_ds.exe
PauseStart= <-- not needed
PauseEnd= <-- not needed
UserInterface = Yes <-- wether or not you can see it in taskmanager
Restart = Yes <-- here's the restart command



WARNING!! the "CheckProcessSeconds=" value should NOT be set too low as you may not be able to down your server to make changes. I speak from experience!!! ;0


7. Now navigate to "Administrative Tools" > "Services" (alternatively run "services.msc" from the START > RUN field) and check the properties for the newly installed service "Sins_dedicated" (or whatever you called it in the .ini file value "ServiceName=") By default it will be set to start automaticaly. Here you may also change which credentials the service should run under. I've left mine at the default "local system" and the service runs fine. DO NOT change the "restart" settings here in the properties, that is what the .ini is for!

8. As soon as you right-click on the new service name and click "START" the service will start, which will in turn start your server!


I have tested and implemented all of the above on my various dedicated servers for various multi-player games.


To those who are averse to cli's and typing (averse to controlling their own destiny....hehe) a GUI to admin the above service can be found at the same website [www.codeproject.com]
I have NOT used the GUI so please no questions related to the GUI (I'm sure it's self-explanatory anyway!)

See you peeps in game!

the Monk

you are a god of gaming . That is just so far beyond leet and any other words.

Wow, I'm glad he's on our side! Seriously, Monk you know your stuff - good to have you aboard! I expect (as with most peer to peer games) there will be hosting and connection issues stemming from people's network/router/firewall configurations. Your material will come in mighty handy over the next couple weeks

Wooah!! The Man, The Myth, The Monk!

This info should most surely go into the FAQ. Thanks for the primer.

Teh Monkzor ftw!

Added to the xfire btw


Just in case my invite fails (running it on the Mac) please add me:

nephilim76


Regards and play soon

Not to be a stickler or anything, but I've never heard those terms you used for NAT before. Now I know it's just semantics at this point and with naming conventions being what they are in the IT world, you're inevitably going to have some jerk correct you (Guess that's me...Hi!)

Coming from a Cisco background, we use the terms Static, Dynamic, and Overload to describe the differing NAT types. Most home user routers (Linksys, D-Link, etc...) use PAT (Port Address Translation, a form of dynamic NAT) to do their port-forwarding, thus the reason I mention this. Some of the other forum users here may try and find those particular settings in their routers and get confused. I couldn't get a copy of your guide ("server not found" message), so if you addressed this already, much apologies! Anyhoo...I liked your posts, especially the second one with the services howto! Thanks!

@ ALL

Hiya back at everyone who already posted! Looking forward to a long stay with this community.

I apologise but the clan-server I'm hosting my guide from has temporarily gone down (I'll have to find the web-admin and get the problem corrected) Sorry for the inconvenience.







@ Slimpinto

No need for corrections. I use only enterprise-level routers/firewalls myself (even at home), so I got my "relaxed" nomenclature from a SOHO-type router (the D-Link Gamer Lounge series) You'll find the afore-mentioned router describing its "NAT-structure" exactly the way I've described it above. As in my guide, I have chosen to "keep-it-simple" in order to not needlessly complicate explanations.

There aren't that many SOHO-level routers out there that allow for seperately (seperate from port-forwarding) controlled "NAT-relaxing" (most still rely on port-forwarding alone, and if they have a NAT-related option its called "gaming-mode" or something similar) so keeping it simple is in order here.


the Monk

Yaaaaarrrrr




That doesent fit, does it... Windows / IT ..... and youve got a picture of a half naked non ..... pervert

just joking

--------------------------------
SINS de deutsche Seite
SINS bz english site
Zweite deutsche Seite
Deutsche Wiki zu SoaSE
Sins Wiki on Wikepedia

I have the D-Link gaming lounge router too...I've never peeked at any of the HELP sections/glossary, it was obvious to me where to go to setup port-forwarding (Hamachi, etc...)...HEHE!

What I feel would ADD to your guide (or for other users here with routers), would be vendor/model specific step-by-step instructions (with screenshots, even better!), so users with little to no networking experience, could set theirs up. Dumming down the lingo, using vendor specific terms, and/or giving generalized "best practices" help, doesn't help the networking layman out very much IMO! Maybe individual replies to this post with that info for the common routers out there is something to consider? Just an idea...

Gives the_Monk an *EVIL EYE*

Where were you when Beta 3 came out!

I'm making this a sticky! Great stuff!

*looks away ashamed* hehe

I'm ashamed to admit that I checked out Sins back when the website consisted of a single webpage! Then, realizing it would be a while before it came out and not wanting to torment myself by constantly checking back to keep tabs on progress I *trails off*.... left the site for a while...     


I didn't check back until sometime last fall and to my surprise Beta 4 was already closed! In my defense I'm a husband, father and director of operations for 2 IT firms.

^^hopes his defense is solid enough, but *ducks* anyway....just in case!

  

good thing you ducked, you had a few rotten pansies flying at you!

You ...... forgot...... never will you be forgiven!!!!!

Just a little piece of information.

Just helped a guy (Revenge) get his game working online. He didn't have a router, but Windows Defender was obviously seeing Sins as a risk and was blocking it from accessing the network completely.

I will be posting back with instructions on how to get Sins to work with Defender. For now Revenge just disabled Windows Defender so that he can play.   


See you peeps in game!

p.s. Eventhough I've now been hosting for a few hours I still haven't "played" the game yet! Maybe later tonight...hehe

the Monk

Hi Everyone,

I had problem playing Sins in multuplayer cause my Norton '08 saw it as a risk so I had to go in n give it permission to run over the internet. Just n FYI.


Sirz

Very nice guide monk. As always

You know me    always ready to help.


Speaking of, here's the information for my own private TeamSpeak server that will be online and available to the public everytime I'm also hosting a SINS game!

IP: 24.78.232.135
port: 8788

login: your username (make sure the bullet is in "anonymous")
p/w: temp

This is my own TS Server (the clan TS is online 24/7) so its not online all of the time. I will have it up whenever I'm hosting (anyone feel free to login) and whenever anyone needs help with networking issues.   

the Monk

monk, gotta say this again. You rock! Thanks for hosting the games even when you couldn't play.

Anytime.    If you see me online I'll always be up for hosting. I'll also run a TeamSpeak server next time so that anyone in-game on my server can also be using voice-chat.

contact me via xfire to coordinate future games if you want.

xfire: the1monk

Thanks for the help monk. Our stats are showing that a lot of people aren't able to host due to router or firewall setup problems. Any ideas on making it easier for everyone?

Now that I've had the opportuninty to host a few games for community members I have been able to de-generalize (is that even a word? hehe) some of my networking information.

Here is all pertinent network-config related information for SINS as I see it.

1. I have seen no evidence that both TCP and UDP port 6112 need to be forwarded to your PC's IP address. All of my testing indicates that forwarding TCP port 6112 to your PC's IP is sufficient.

2. I have also seen TCP port 6000 "listening" for traffic on my host (I'm assuming this is the connection to IronClad Online) so it wouldn't hurt to forward that port to your PC's IP as well.

3. MAKE SURE that any/all security software (that means all firewalls, anti-virus, anti-spam, privacy-protection, internet-monitors, etc.) is set with the proper "exceptions" for SINS or if you don't know how to do that properly then disable it completely. I speak from experience when I say that as long as you're behind a router and not in the DMZ your security software is actually only protecting you from yourself.

**Important** Anyone currently a high-speed internet subscriber and not behind a router is doing themselves and their computer system as huge diservice period.

If I told you that I was going to leave all of my windows and doors unlocked and wide open but that I'd have my burglar alarm on (so I'm safe) and would vacuum the house everyday to clean up the daily dust & debris you'd look at me like I'm crazy! Well....that's how I look at anyone who doesn't see the need for a router....   

4. I can absolutely confirm that the Windows Firewall is in no way blocking SINS. I have hosted ALL of the games that I've hosted from behind a properly configured and running Windows Firewall.


To re-cap:

Ports that need forwarding for SINS (client&host):

TCP 6112 < --- port the game.exe listens on
TCP 6000 < --- port I'm assuming IronClad Online uses

the above ports will need to be forwarded through any network device hardware (router) you have between your computer and the internet as well as allowed connection through any software firewall along the same path.

Having said all of the above. There is still the issue of NAT. What I mean by that is. How "seriously" your router/firewall takes NAT (its job). The best (most pc-user-friendly) explanation I can give on NAT-filtering etc. I've already presented in my first post in this thread as well as in the "easy-to-read" guide linked from this thread. Should anyone however have any more in-depth questions I'll be glad to invite you onto my TeamSpeak server so I can talk you through your issues. For the TS server information please contact my via xfire (the1monk).

Thank you,

now I'm off to bed..  

the Monk 

I remember HW2 had this issue much worse when it was first released. I wish i knew what they did to help fix the firewall/router ect issue. Must say this was mild compaired to ver 1.0 lol i think bout 3 or 4 could host at the time but i digress. The other problem becomes is how the other persons side is configured. HW2 could only take 1 person that wasnt right then any one else that had issues couldnt join.

That's what I mean when I say "NAT-filtering" and how seriously your routers/firewalls are taking their job of NAT-ing.

Please give my guide a read and I'm sure it'll make sense. What many games end-up doing is "encapsulating" their game-traffic (sort of like ssl-tunnels work) which gets the traffic past the "offending" router.

Okay, now I really am off to bed....... or I won't be going to that shareholders meeting tomorrow...  

Yup, I'm having a terrible time connecting too. I can get to the lobby (a room in the 90's usu) and see dozens of people sitting there, but only 2 games in the join list, both of which have been looking for people for the last half hour. Seems I am not the only one with issues.

When I try and host a game I get that popup saying there is something wrong with my router/firewall settings and most people will not be able to join.

I've disabled my Norton, set Windows Firewall to allow Sins + ports 6112 and 6000 for both TCP and UDP, gone into my router and set 6000 and 6112 to forwarding and made sure UPNP was turned on. Still no go.

I really hope there is something the ICO guys can figure out soon, multiplayer is a huge draw to this game (especially since the single player mode is so atypical). And as much as I want to play I am not going to download third party programs to alter my ini and services to do so.