Serious connectivity issues - need serious help from knowledgable networking people!!!!!!!!!

[TyraeL!]

So things were okay for the first several days I had played here, and then 2 nights ago I randomly DC'd and couldn't reconnect to UOF (would get stuck at connecting on login - never got to verifying account). I immediately figured it was a router issue because the one I had was very old and I had reason to believe it was dying. Upon resetting it a couple times and watching as it didn't boot back up properly, I figured it to be the issue - which apparently it was not (though I still think it needed to be replaced).

I purchased a new router and got it all set up but now I am having the exact same issue connecting to UOF, but not to anything else. Apart from some inconsistencies in speed, I can do whatever (at least as far as browsing the web goes). Every time I try to connect to UOF, it gets stuck at connecting on login (again, doesn't get to verifying).

I'm having to leech from a nearby password-free wifi just to try to troubleshoot this shit.

U-Haul was trying to help and seems to think it has something to do with the connection between where I am and where the shard is hosted (Texas I believe). He could explain better what he thinks because I don't know a god damn thing about this.

So, please please, help me get this figured out. I haven't the slightest clue if it's something on my end or a larger problem completely out of my control that U-Haul mentioned. For the record, I have NEVER experienced this issue, ever, not in '97 on GL and not on any other player-run shard I've played since, so I have no idea.

IN A NUTSHELL:

-Can't connect to UOF
-Can browse the internet as per usual
-Bought new router (possible ****-blocking settings?)
-This has never happened before

 

[Radar]

Try looking at the default firewall settings. Sounds like a firewall is keeping you out. Not sure if routers these days come with features like that, but it would be my first guess.

 

[TyraeL!]

Try looking at the default firewall settings. Sounds like a firewall is keeping you out. Not sure if routers these days come with features like that, but it would be my first guess.

You know, I figured it might be something in that arena but hadn't bothered to truly test it.

Here's where I'm at - I reconnected to MY router, and just turned the firewall completely off. As a result, I can now connect to UOF, so hot damn. But now I have absolutely no firewall enabled....how exactly do I adjust specific settings of the firewall to enable me to keep it up but connect to UOF? (I'm really a dumb dumb with this shit).

 

[Radar]

Depends on the firewall.. sometimes you cant. Im not that techy either, I'd just leave it off so I can play

 

[Radar]

O but a lot of times if you put your routers IP address in internet explorer it takes u to a page where u can adjust settings.

 

[Yohee]

Hi Tyrael

Does seem like its the firewall on the router (and that it's set to "paranoid").

The Firewall on the router uses something called NAT - Network Address Translation. It basically blocks any inbound traffic coming from the internet side of the router that hasn't originated from the network side (the side your PC is on).

The good news is that you can setup individual ports on the router (or "pinholes") to pass straight through to your PC without the router getting in the way of the traffic - giving you the protection for 99.999% of the possible ports out there and just letting UO work.

What's a big weird is that as far as I'm aware, UOF should just work without having to setup anything on NAT (I sure haven't) and truthfully I wouldn't even be going down that road if you didn't confirm that turning off the firewall on your old router fixed it. It's also strange that it was working and now isn't at all - which implies that it's something going on at your PC and that turning off the router firewall is fixes that issue, and that it's got nothing directly to do with UO at all. Just to check, it was the firewall on your old router that you you turned off, not the windows one right?

The port that UOF uses is TCP **** - so unless somehow knows of others (or think's I'm mad) I'm happy to PM you how to work out the various IP addresses that you'd need to know to make this change. Without knowing your router exactly I can't tell you exactly what steps to follow, but assuming you are using a PC I can tell you how to work out the router IP address, the IP address of your PC (that you need for the pinhole) and what the screens will likely look like.

 

[illusion]

You know, I figured it might be something in that arena but hadn't bothered to truly test it.

Here's where I'm at - I reconnected to MY router, and just turned the firewall completely off. As a result, I can now connect to UOF, so hot damn. But now I have absolutely no firewall enabled....how exactly do I adjust specific settings of the firewall to enable me to keep it up but connect to UOF? (I'm really a dumb dumb with this shit).

Most routers have a web interface that you can connect to, to open specific ports from the firewall. You will want to just open the port that UOF uses (****).

Also, if you can't figure that out, you should be ok from a security standpoint without the router firewall because your PC (Windows I assume?) has a software level Firewall enabled on it by default (if you disabled the Windows firewall, enable it).

 

[Garet Jax]

just disable all the firewall stuff and get comodo internet security(it's free too). been using it for years NEVER had a virus or intrusion.

 

[halygon]

DO NOT DISABLE THE FIREWALL PERMANENTLY. Wow, why would you guys suggest otherwise? I mean shit, I got a double nat'd firewall on my network. (aka two firewall enabled routers)

What @Yohee and @illusion mentioned regarding opening ports is the correct route. There are many resources on the web for you to identify the correct steps for making a change to your router's firewall. In some routers it is called "Port Forwarding" and others it can be in a myriad of places and names under the "Firewall" area of your router's configuration. Each brand of router's software is different, so you will need to find out the correct directions for yours. That said, once you know how to make the changes on your router you will essentially make the below addition:

Description: UO:F TCP ****
Port Type: TCP
Port Number: ****
IP: Internal IP Address of your PC (or some routers allow this to be open for all IPs on your network)

*Edit: You can also use the following site as a reference: http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/

 

[Bromista]

BUBBLES!

 

[BigDGeorge]

This issue was solved. I advised him to re-enable the firewall which allowed connectivity into UOF after it was re-enabled. I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping your firewall ENABLED at your router. You are inviting attacks and exploits into your home network by disabling it. If you check your router log you will see random attempts to connect with SYN messages which are probably hoping to discover open ports or a potential weakness in your network defense. These SYN messages could also be used as reconnaissance to help map or gather information about your network. It is too easy nowadays to discover ip addresses through automated processes and someone running no firewall is going to be exploited to the fullest extent.

The comodo software mentioned above is virtually useless on a home network with a firewall on the router for INCOMING traffic. What the comodo software helps with is OUTGOING traffic originating from your desktop in the case your computer was infected and the infection is attempting to communicate back out to another host or the source it came from itself. Comodo would be very beneficial for using on something like a laptop and while being on a public wifi.

 

[illusion]

just disable all the firewall stuff and get comodo internet security(it's free too). been using it for years NEVER had a virus or intrusion.

Don't listen to this guy.

Keep all your firewalls on and just poke a hole in your router firewall to port ****, and you should be fine.

 

[Garet Jax]

Don't listen to this guy.

Keep all your firewalls on and just poke a hole in your router firewall to port ****, and you should be fine.

Like I said before. NEVER as in EVER had a virus or any problems on my pc, although I do not surf ghey porn....

 

[BigDGeorge]

Like I said before. NEVER as in EVER had a virus or any problems on my pc, although I do not surf ghey porn....

Your preference. I fail to see how disabling your router's firewall is the right choice to make. It has very limited protection by doing so. Your PC will be fine because of the software firewall you are running, It is no surprise you have had no issues with viruses on your PC.

Do you have NAT enabled?

 

[illusion]

Your preference. I fail to see how disabling your router's firewall is the right choice to make. It has very limited protection by doing so. Your PC will be fine because of the software firewall you are running, It is no surprise you have had no issues with viruses on your PC.

Do you have NAT enabled?

Just turning your firewall off is the equivalent to having a permission issue and just 777 the / directory. Does it fix the problem? Yes. Is it the right way to do it? No, because now your completely exposed. Turning your firewall completely off at the hardware level is fine if you have a software firewall, with considerations. If someone (friend, etc.) connects to your network without a software firewall, they will probably instantly get hacked. In addition to that, it's known to make your router traffic appear slower, as your router would normally filter out most the crap, now you have that crap going thru your router and filtered at your PC, more bandwidth in each packet = slower internet speeds to the end point.

 

[halygon]

Just turning your firewall off is the equivalent to having a permission issue and just 777 the / directory. Does it fix the problem? Yes. Is it the right way to do it? No, because now your completely exposed. Turning your firewall completely off at the hardware level is fine if you have a software firewall, with considerations. If someone (friend, etc.) connects to your network without a software firewall, they will probably instantly get hacked. In addition to that, it's known to make your router traffic appear slower, as your router would normally filter out most the crap, now you have that crap going thru your router and filtered at your PC, more bandwidth in each packet = slower internet speeds to the end point.

Oh it just got nerdy with the 777 permissions in the "/" (cough root) directory.

My worries for a open hardware firewall is the devices on my network AND my PC. Devices like smart TVs, your phones, XBOX 360/ONE, PS3/PS4, Internet connected media boxes all are susceptible if your router's firewall is off.

If you have Win7 on your PC, the network could be classified as home (which makes sense) and have lax security. That's just one issue out of many that someone (or a bot) take advantage of if inside your network.

Long story short - don't be lazy - forward a port in your router and turn that stuff back on.

 

[illusion]

Oh it just got nerdy with the 777 permissions in the "/" (cough root) directory.

My worries for a open hardware firewall is the devices on my network AND my PC. Devices like smart TVs, your phones, XBOX 360/ONE, PS3/PS4, Internet connected media boxes all are susceptible if your router's firewall is off.

If you have Win7 on your PC, the network could be classified as home (which makes sense) and have lax security. That's just one issue out of many that someone (or a bot) take advantage of if inside your network.

Long story short - don't be lazy - forward a port in your router and turn that stuff back on.

Exactly. In addition to what I was saying with friends connecting, what you said with additional devices (phones, xbox, etc) would all be exposed, as they don't have native software firewalls.

 

[Garet Jax]

Your preference. I fail to see how disabling your router's firewall is the right choice to make. It has very limited protection by doing so. Your PC will be fine because of the software firewall you are running, It is no surprise you have had no issues with viruses on your PC.

Do you have NAT enabled?

Yes let me clarify, my router firewall is still enabled. I was talking about all the windows built in bullshit.
Sorry guess I should of read the tread before posting lol.

 

[BigDGeorge]

Just turning your firewall off is the equivalent to having a permission issue and just 777 the / directory. Does it fix the problem? Yes. Is it the right way to do it? No, because now your completely exposed. Turning your firewall completely off at the hardware level is fine if you have a software firewall, with considerations. If someone (friend, etc.) connects to your network without a software firewall, they will probably instantly get hacked. In addition to that, it's known to make your router traffic appear slower, as your router would normally filter out most the crap, now you have that crap going thru your router and filtered at your PC, more bandwidth in each packet = slower internet speeds to the end point.

Can't the router be attacked directly?

 

[Yohee]

That was a hell of an edit George

As I understand it - and I've been out of the industry for six years now so I well may be wrong - no. NAT Firewall cares only about the TCP/UDP ports, if there is a pinhole for the traffic or if there has been a recent request from the network internally.

Maybe if you have no firewall at all you could use port 80 to access the routers web interface directly - but as I understood it that routers kept external and internal traffic segregated so that you'd need some sort of PC intrusion first.