Network Validation Tool

1180_Byron · March 29, 2004, 03:38:26 PM

Russell,

   We've been experiencing multiple dropped users during MP sessions and have been reading the forums here. It looks like some users can have mis-configured network settings that can cause other users to be kicked from an MP event. My wish is this:

   A tool that can be run from the clients that will connect to the server via the various ports and basically just verifies that the network is configured correctly. This would save a lot of head-ache in trying to track down the user with the mis-configured (blocked) ports in their firewalls/routers, etc.

   How about it?

Thanks!

Russell Gilbert · March 29, 2004, 05:41:56 PM

Hi Byron,

Yeah, it's an interesting idea -- one we've discussed here before actually, but it was a few months ago in the Wish List forum, so you probably didn't run across it. Take a look at this thread, and see what you think:

http://www.chocolatesoftware.com/forum/index.php?topic=169.msg1089

Russell

1180_Byron · March 29, 2004, 10:51:44 PM

Russell,

Nice to see that ya'll have been kicking this idea around already. That thread is exactly what I am looking for. I'm a programmer also, but never used DirectX APIs. Sounds like you are kinda busy so maybe I'll take on the task myself -- if you know of any resources that detail the comm protocol between FS client and servers that would be great if you could share!

Thanks!

westcoastatc · March 30, 2004, 01:16:33 AM

Been toying around with this idea and actually talked with Russell some too. I put some initial ideas together, which you can view here: http://www.westcoastatc.com/cgi-bin/concheck.pl The problem that I ran into was testing a UDP connection(less) port. It's not like a TCP port at all. The answer lies in having a client application running that will allow the server side to do just what Russell suggested, port sniffing to watch the actual connection being made. I put this aside for awhile, when I realized that flight sim could go out on it's 23457 to our 23456 we respond on our 23456 to their 23457 and the connection works fine.

To make things more interesting, even if the connection on 23456 couldn't be made, directplay steps in and tries 6073. Flight sim will again run fine if the client connects on 6073.

More to the point I think JonF hit this right on. I've done some testing with dial-up connections in larger sessions, and as long as they join last everyone else joins in fine. Add them to the mix right up front and all the other connections behind them get the dreaded "cannot connect to all players"

Erik

johannesmueller · June 08, 2004, 01:18:46 PM

Hi Erik
I've been looking for something similar for a while also (I also can't get your link to work, my connection always 'fails' even though it "should" be set up right - and works with fshost). If we pool together, shouldn't it be possible for us to get a client/server configuration-checker running? Heck, it could even be an app that the user has to download that does the checking - still easier than trying to find/solve the problems on just a clue :-)
Who's in?
John

Megaman · June 16, 2004, 10:40:50 AM

im behind you guys on this - theres nothing worse than players connecting to your server with a tight firewall configured that then boots everyone else off. My regulars get annoyed with that and so do the new players as theyre normally the only ones left on the server.

An idea for this would be a client / server app. the server is used to store the results and does the scanning - the client app opens the udp ports on the PC and requests the test from the server.

Reasons for this is that ive had it many times when people do port scans and promise till they are blue in the face that they have done the changes on their firewalls but in actual fact they havent. Having results stored on a server that all the FS players can have access to via a web page we could all see who the player knocking everyone else off is.

Various VA's Flight groups can setup their own policies such as people refusing to run the test before they join will be banned by an admin...

Just an idea

Cheers

talon121 · May 27, 2005, 02:02:40 AM

Im in the process of writing an 'asp.net' and activex version for IE users to test their ports for valid DirectPlay and FSHost port settings. For either 'serving' or being the client. ---

So that we can determine easily what type of problems the user(s) or servers have in connecting to their respective networks. --

johannesmueller · May 27, 2005, 02:10:58 AM

talon, let us know if there's anything we can do

- other than pass it out to users

John

talon121 · May 27, 2005, 04:21:34 AM

Quotetalon, let us know if there's anything we can do - other than pass it out to users

John

Yes, I hope to get it available in a packaged format ie. You can deploy easily on your webservices for easy access to troubleshooting for any organization using FSHost or other DirectPlay gaming technologies.

Jason
VirtualATC.Net
n455jb@virtualatc.net

Jay · June 03, 2006, 07:20:50 AM

Has this project / idea gone away .... or am I missing something?

Abyss · November 13, 2006, 10:52:13 AM

Quote from: johannesmueller on June 08, 2004, 01:18:46 PM
Hi Erik
I've been looking for something similar for a while also (I also can't get your link to work, my connection always 'fails' even though it "should" be set up right - and works with fshost). If we pool together, shouldn't it be possible for us to get a client/server configuration-checker running? Heck, it could even be an app that the user has to download that does the checking - still easier than trying to find/solve the problems on just a clue :-)
Who's in?
John

I too would also be willing to pool/help with this as I run multiple servers (5 are on one machine and 3 others are on the 2nd machine which most are offline except for one thats for private useage) and ive got an inbox so filled with people emailin about "cannot connect all players errors" and what not that ive just stoped trying to clean it and abandoned the email and just left it to fill up...somthin like this would be a "god send" for people like me...so yea id be willin to help out some how (i also lost one of the server machines due to power spike from a bad surge protector that back fired) so till i get the new mobo and all that stuff set well be with the server i use for private useage (which i turn off every night) but if you want to use it let me know and ill fire it up and well get together and work on somthin...(i hope)